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Us Senate Race

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Republican Senate Hopefuls Call for Repeal of DOMA in Debate

GOP candidates for U.S. Senate debated Wednesday night at the Channel 5 studios in Needham.

The Republican candidates for U.S. Senate leaned on their diverse backgrounds to explain positions on issues ranging from the economy and debt reduction to gay marriage Wednesday night. Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL and businessman from Cohasset, said that hearing from a variety of perspectives served him well in the military and that he would bring those lessons to bear working with fellow Republicans and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), saying "Obamacare is bad for Massachusetts" and simply layers federal bureacracy on top of the state's system, highlighted an upcoming legislative proposal on Beacon Hill to reduce health care costs. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan talked about making …

Lynch, Markey Spar Over Health Care, Bank Bailouts

Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate debated Wednesday night at the Channel 5 studios in Needham.

In the days leading up to the first Democratic U.S. Senate debate, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) has been called upon frequently to explain the vote he took against the health care reform bill in 2010. Wednesday night, Lynch and U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden), who represents Winchester, went several rounds on the topic. They faced-off for 30 minutes at the Channel 5 studios in Needham following a contest among the three declared Republican candidates. For Markey, President Obama's initiative, aimed at universal health care coverage, was "the proudest vote of my career." "Steve, when that vote came up you were wrong," Markey said. For Lynch, taxes and a lopsided deal for insurance companies were among the problems that …

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

U.S. Senate Candidates Face Off in Debate Wednesday Night

The forum will feature Democratic and Republican challengers in Needham at WCVB.

Five candidates seeking the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by John Kerry will debate for the first time in one place Wednesday night in Needham. The two Democrats and three Republicans vying for the vacated position will face each other in two separate, 30-minute debates in an event sponsored by the Boston Media Consortium and held at the Channel 5 studios. The debate will air live from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be moderated by R.D. Sahl. Patch will be among the media organizations covering the event. The primary election is April 30. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden), who represents Winchester, will square off against U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston). In the latest UMass Lowell poll, Markey leads Lynch 50 …

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Who’s the Frontrunner in GOP Senate Primary?

One candidate has name recognition, but experts say no one has separated themselves from the field yet.

The window for the three combatants for the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate special election to make a name for themselves is a small one, with the April 30 primary just seven weeks away. Observers don’t believe there is a clear frontrunner at this point among the field of State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez. But strong fundraising, advertising and ground operations could change that quickly. Frank Talty, co-director of the UMass-Lowell Center For Public Opinion, believes Sullivan has a “slight advantage” at the moment because of his previous job, but not enough to pull away from Winslow and Gomez at the moment. “He had received some media attention in that …

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Five Submit Required Signatures for U.S. Senate Race

Two Democrats and three Republicans submitted the needed 10,000 names.

Two Democrats and three Republicans submitted the required number of signatures to run in the special election for U.S. Senate, according to the Boston Globe. U.S. Reps. Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) each filed more than double the 10,000 certified signatures required. Markey, who represents Winchester, led the way with nearly 34,000 signatures, while Lynch had just over 25,000. On the Republican side, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan filed nearly 19,000 signatures, followed by former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset at almost 17,000 and state Rep. Daniel Winslow of Norfolk at more than 13,000. Those totals only include those signatures submitted to the Secretary of State's office by Wednesday's 5 p.m…

Monday, February 25, 2013

Gomez to Join U.S. Senate Race This Week

Former Navy SEAL Gabriel, a former Navy SEAL, is planning several events this week to kick of his run for the U.S. Senate.

Former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez will officially launch his U.S. Senate campaign on Thursday and Friday, according to the Boston Herald. Gomez, a Republican from Cohasset, will run for the seat vacated by new Secretary of State John Kerry. His campaign kicks off Thursday with events in Boston and Springfield, according to the Herald. Friday will bring more events on the North and South shores, though the Herald didn’t specify any venues or times. Gomez, known for evading the spotlight, will also likely stop for several “meet-and-greet” events with local leaders and supporters during those two days. However, the events will not be open to the media, according to the Herald.  Once candidates are certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, …

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lynch, Markey Hit the Road, Republicans Get Started

Nomination papers deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 27.

With only days to go before nomination papers are due in the race for U.S. Senate, last week was a busy one for announced and potential candidates looking to fill the seat left vacant by John Kerry’s appointment to Secretary of State. The Republican field lost one prominent candidate, and another generated a bit of controversy. On the Democratic side, Congressmen Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) have been working through their pre-primary debate schedule and campaigning across the state.  Democrats Markey, Lynch Hit The Road Both Democratic candidates hit the road again last week from Pittsfield to Salem, meeting with residents and attending fundraisers.  Markey, who represents Winchester, had campaign stops in …

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

More Republicans Enter Race for U.S. Senate

Bielat and Gomez say they’re in; Sullivan may also join the field.

It’s starting to shape up into quite a race, as the field of potential Republican candidates for U.S. Senate continues to grow.  This past week, two more Republicans threw their hats in the proverbial ring in the race for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the appointment of John Kerry to Secretary of State—Norfolk’s Sean Bielat and Cohasset’s Gabriel Gomez. Candidates have just under two weeks to meet the Feb. 27 deadline to gather the 10,000 certified signatures needed to appear on the April 30 primary ballot. The special election is June 25.  After losing two races for Congress, Bielat has opened up a federal campaign office to raise money for a Senate run, according to a report in the Boston Globe. Bielat lost to Barney Frank in 2010 …

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Tarr, Winslow Considering Runs for U.S. Senate

Republicans Bruce Tarr and Dan Winslow may be joining the U.S. Senate race.

Republicans continue to come forward exploring the possibility of running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the appointment of John Kerry to Secretary of State, but so far only one has officially announced a run. With just 21 days until nomination papers have to be filed, two more Republicans announced on Tuesday that they were exploring their options – State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). Also in the mix: Former Nantucket selectman and county commissioner Douglas Bennett says he’s making a bid for the seat. And according to the Boston Globe, former Navy Seal Gabriel Gomez, of Cohasset is considering a run. Several Republicans have already been down this path in the past week and …

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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 more than 16,000 votes in the 6th Congressional District election last fall 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 …

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