2013_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Massachusetts

2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

US special election held on June 25, 2013

The 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held on June 25, 2013, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class 2 United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

The vacancy that prompted the special election was created by the resignation of Senator John Kerry, in order to become U.S. Secretary of State.[1] On January 30, 2013, Governor Deval Patrick chose his former chief of staff, Mo Cowan, to serve as interim U.S. Senator. Cowan declined to participate in the election. A party primary election was held on April 30, to determinate the nominees of each party for the general election. The Massachusetts Democrats nominated U.S. Representative Ed Markey, while the Massachusetts Republicans nominated Gabriel E. Gomez, a businessman and former Navy SEAL.

The race drew remarks from the media, because of its potential similarity to the 2010 special election, when Republican state senator Scott Brown upset the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.[2][3][4][5] However, Gomez trailed Markey in every opinion poll taken, and Markey defeated him by a 10.2 percentage point margin, despite low turnout.[6]

As of 2023, this is the last time a Republican Senate candidate won any county other than Plymouth, which Geoff Diehl carried with a plurality in 2018. Thus, it is also the most recent time a Republican candidate won a majority in any Massachusetts county.

Background

The incumbent senator, John Kerry (Democratic), was nominated to serve as U.S. Secretary of State by President Barack Obama on December 21, 2012.[7][8] He was confirmed by the Senate on January 29, 2013,[9][10] and in a letter to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Kerry announced his resignation from the Senate, effective February 1.[11] Kerry was sworn in as secretary of state on the same day.[12]

Patrick's former chief of staff, Mo Cowan, was appointed to replace Kerry in the Senate on the same day, and immediately ruled himself out of the special election.[13] The special primary elections took place on April 30. Democratic U.S. Representative Ed Markey and Republican businessman Gabriel E. Gomez won their respective primaries.

Democratic primary

U.S. Representatives Ed Markey and Stephen F. Lynch both announced campaigns for the open seat. Markey was perceived as more left-wing than Lynch.[14]

Candidates

Declined

Debates

Endorsements

Stephen F. Lynch

Politicians

  • Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, state representative from the 10th Hampden District[34]
  • Frank A. Moran, state representative from the 17th Essex District,[35]
  • Michael Finn, state representative from the 6th Hampden District[36]
  • John Sweeney, West Springfield city councilor[36]
  • George Kelley, West Springfield city councilor[36]
  • John Merrigan, Franklin County register of probate[37]
  • Johnathan Blodgett, district attorney of Essex County[38]
  • Susan Kay, mayor of Weymouth[39]
  • Joe Connolly, treasurer of Norfolk County[39]
  • Arthur Matthews, Weymouth town councilor[39]
  • T.J. Lacey, Weymouth town councilor[39]
  • Jane Hackett, Weymouth town councilor[39]
  • Frank Burke, Weymouth town councilor[39]
  • Greg Shanahan, former Weymouth town councilor[39]
  • Linda M. Pereira, Fall River City Council president
Labor unions
Ed Markey

Politicians

U.S. presidents and vice presidents
U.S. cabinet members
U.S. senators
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
Governors
Other state constitutional officers
State legislators
County officials
  • Tom Bowler, sheriff of Berkshire County[52]
  • Dave Sullivan, district attorney of Northwestern County[52]
Mayors
City councilors
Celebrities and prominent individuals
Newspapers and publications
Labor unions
Business people
Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
Hypothetical polling

Results

Municipal results of the 2013 Democratic Senate primary
More information Party, Candidate ...

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

Declined

Debates

Endorsements

Gabriel E. Gomez
Politicians
Michael J. Sullivan
Politicians
Daniel Winslow
Social and political activists
  • Barbara Anderson, veteran anti-tax activist[100]
Newspapers

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
Hypothetical polling

Results

Primary results by municipality
More information Party, Candidate ...

General election

Candidates

Withdrawn

Debates

Fundraising

More information Candidate (party), Receipts ...

Top contributors

More information Ed Markey, Contribution ...

Top industries

More information Ed Markey, Contribution ...

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
Hypothetical polling
With Markey
With Lynch
With Brown
With Weld

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Markey won 6 of 9 congressional districts.[113]

More information District, Gomez ...

Notes

  1. In February 2013, Cowan was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator John Kerry, who had become U.S. Secretary of State.

References

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