The Massachusetts Senate special election took place yesterday, with Rep. Ed Markey (D) unsurprisingly winning the seat. Markey was up against former Navy SEAL and private equity investor Gabriel Gomez (R).
While Markey had been consistently leading in the polls, Gomez insisted to the end that he was a serious competitor, largely based off the unpredictability of low voter turnout. In the end, Gomez was unable to attract a majority of Massachusetts’ independent voters, which he needed for the win. Markey ran as the Democratic establishment choice in the race, and this year the Democratic Party put their full weight behind the candidate, hoping to avoid another 2010 mishap when Scott Brown (R) won the state’s special election to replace former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D). Democrats outspent Republicans 2-1 on television and Markey had several key politicians stump for him including former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Gomez on the other hand, touted himself as independent from the national GOP Party and did not receive as much support from Republican groups and funders.
Markey will be finishing out the term of former Sen. John Kerry (D) who resigned in February to become Secretary of State. He will take over for Governor Deval Patrick’s interim senator, William “Mo” Cowan. Cowan, Patrick’s former Chief of Staff, chose not to run in the special election. Markey will be up for re-election in 2014, for a full six year term. The special election to fill Markey’s vacated 5th Congressional District will be decided by Governor Patrick and will take place 145-160 days after the seat is officially vacated.
While Markey had been consistently leading in the polls, Gomez insisted to the end that he was a serious competitor, largely based off the unpredictability of low voter turnout. In the end, Gomez was unable to attract a majority of Massachusetts’ independent voters, which he needed for the win. Markey ran as the Democratic establishment choice in the race, and this year the Democratic Party put their full weight behind the candidate, hoping to avoid another 2010 mishap when Scott Brown (R) won the state’s special election to replace former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D). Democrats outspent Republicans 2-1 on television and Markey had several key politicians stump for him including former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Gomez on the other hand, touted himself as independent from the national GOP Party and did not receive as much support from Republican groups and funders.
Markey will be finishing out the term of former Sen. John Kerry (D) who resigned in February to become Secretary of State. He will take over for Governor Deval Patrick’s interim senator, William “Mo” Cowan. Cowan, Patrick’s former Chief of Staff, chose not to run in the special election. Markey will be up for re-election in 2014, for a full six year term. The special election to fill Markey’s vacated 5th Congressional District will be decided by Governor Patrick and will take place 145-160 days after the seat is officially vacated.
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