Kerry’s resignation from the Senate will be effective February 1 at 4 pm. The special election to fill his seat will be held on June 25th (primary on April 30th). The winner will serve the remainder of Kerry’s term, through January 2015. The 2014 Senate election will be for a full six year term.
When Senator Kerry resigns on Friday, Massachusetts will lose the seniority it has held in the Senate for decades. Kerry was the seventh most senior member and Ted Kennedy, before he passed away, was the second most senior member. Elizabeth Warren, the newly elected Massachusetts Senator has been in office less than a month.