Mass. special election to replace Kerry likely June 25; primary April 30
Updated, Monday 1/28 at 3:10 pm ET: Massachusetts officials expect Sen. John Kerry's resignation letter Tuesday after he is confirmed to be secretary of state, as expected.
If he is confirmed and the letter of resignation is received tomorrow, state elections officials will set the date of the special election to replace Kerry as June 25th with a primary on April 30th, said Brian McNiff, spokesman for the Massachusetts Secretary of State Elections Division.
Kerry's resignation is expected to be effective Friday. But state law indicates that the date needs to be set not from the effective date of the resignation, but from the date it is received, McNiff said.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said Monday he would appoint a temporary replacement Wednesday.
"If the senate votes tomorrow, and the Senator is confirmed and he submits his resignation tomorrow, then I expect to make the announcement on Wednesday," Patrick said earlier Monday, according to Patrick's office.
Patrick added that he has "pretty much" made a final decision, but didn't indicate who it would be.
"I told you we’re going to have someone that I am convinced will be a wise steward of the interest of the people of the Commonwealth while we wait for the people to elect a senator in a special election," Patrick said. "And I continue to believe that the main event is the special election."
Ex-Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has publicly expressed interest in becoming the temporary senator, but it's not clear that he is the pick.
If he is confirmed and the letter of resignation is received tomorrow, state elections officials will set the date of the special election to replace Kerry as June 25th with a primary on April 30th, said Brian McNiff, spokesman for the Massachusetts Secretary of State Elections Division.
Kerry's resignation is expected to be effective Friday. But state law indicates that the date needs to be set not from the effective date of the resignation, but from the date it is received, McNiff said.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said Monday he would appoint a temporary replacement Wednesday.
"If the senate votes tomorrow, and the Senator is confirmed and he submits his resignation tomorrow, then I expect to make the announcement on Wednesday," Patrick said earlier Monday, according to Patrick's office.
Patrick added that he has "pretty much" made a final decision, but didn't indicate who it would be.
"I told you we’re going to have someone that I am convinced will be a wise steward of the interest of the people of the Commonwealth while we wait for the people to elect a senator in a special election," Patrick said. "And I continue to believe that the main event is the special election."
Ex-Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has publicly expressed interest in becoming the temporary senator, but it's not clear that he is the pick.
No comments:
Post a Comment