Special election to fill Kerry's Senate seat set for June 25
One day before John Kerry is expected to be confirmed to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the date has been set for a special election to fill the Massachusetts Democrat's Senate seat.
The election will take place June 25, with the primary set for April 30, Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin announced today, according to the Boston Globe.
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Galvin said he will make nomination papers available soon this week. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is the only candidate to have formally declared, but other possible contenders include Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., and former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who was ousted in November by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Candidates have four weeks to wrangle 10,000 certified voter signatures for their names to appear on the primary ballot.
"It's going to be a momentous week,'' Galvin said. "Once we set the date, the race is on."
Kerry, who last week sailed through his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is set to submit his resignation Tuesday right before the Senate votes on his nomination. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will then announce his temporary appointment to serve in the interim.
Though Patrick has not indicated whom he might select to the temporary seat, former Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., noted his interest earlier this month.
