Markey announces bid for Kerry’s Senate seat

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Ed MarkeySen. John Kerry (D-MA) is likely headed for the State Department as Secretary of State, and Scott Brown (R-MA) is leaving the Senate at the request of Massachusetts voters who preferred Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Brown is expected to run again, and long-time rep Ed Markey (D-MA) has announced his candidacy.


Kerry is not expected to have any difficulty earning Senate confirmation, and under Massachusetts law, a run-off election will have to be held to fill his seat.

Brown won the seat of the late Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in an upset, giving the Republicans a major victory in one of the Democratic Party’s most significant strongholds. But he was unable to withstand the challenge from Warren in one of the high-profile races on the 2012 Senate electoral calendar.

According to The Hill, Markey will start out a campaign with over $3M in his campaign warchest.

RBR-TVBR observation: Markey has a long and active history when it comes to communications legislation. He has spent many years as the ranking Democrat (either as Chairman or Ranking Member) of the House Communications Subcommittee. Although he gave that up a few years ago, he is well-versed and deeply interested in communications issues, and still sits on the Communication Subcommittee, just not in the top Democratic seat.

Interestingly, Kerry will be leaving the same role in the Senate. But don’t look for Markey to simply slide into Kerry’s leadership role should he win the seat. He would be Senator 100 out of 100 in terms of seniority.