Politics & Government

Will the GOP Field a Candidate in U.S. Senate Race?

Senate race will have a Democratic primary, and a Libertarian candidate has now announced. But still no Republican contender.

With local Republicans still scrambling to find someone to run in the race for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by John Kerry’s appointment to Secretary of State, we do have some other contenders who have jumped into the fray.

On Monday, Beverly Libertarian Daniel Fishman announced he would attempt to get on the ballot for the U.S. Senate special election. Fishman garnered finishing third behind Congressman John Tierney and Republican candidate Richard Tisei.

"The thing I became most aware of on the campaign trail is that there is a large group of citizens in Massachusetts who are not being represented by the Democratic machine, which elects favorite sons time after time," Fishman said in a release. "Nor are they represented by the Republican party which is tied to a national platform a social tolerance policy from 1950."

Find out what's happening in Arlingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fishman announced his senate bid “in a private conversation with a few close supporters,” the release said. A campaign website has been launched at www.fishmanforsenate.com.

Although Republicans still appear to be struggling to find an official candidate, former judge and state Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) announced today he is forming an exploratory committee for the U.S. Senate seat.

Find out what's happening in Arlingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But, each day, it seems, another GOP candidate announces they aren’t going to seek the seat.

One possible contender, Fox News contributor Keith Ablow, issued a press release Monday saying he would run if Republican Party leaders unite around him, although he stated that “such unity looks improbable at this time.”

Several local Republicans considered running for the seat but have since decided against it.

Former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey announced Monday that she would not seek election to the seat. Healey told the Globe Monday she was "grateful for the advice of those who urged her to get into the race” but said she’s decided against it.

Healey's announcement follows Scott Brown’s, Tisei’s and Tagg Romney's decisions to opt out of the race. Romney, the eldest son of former governor and 2012 Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, released a statement Monday afternoon saying that he will not run for U.S. Senate.

Two Democrats – Congressman Stephen Lynch and Congressman Edward Markey – will face off in an April Primary. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Arlington