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Scott Brown Won’t Be Seeking John Kerry’s Old Senate Seat

Feb. 1, 2013 2:18pm Madeleine Morgenstern

BOSTON (AP) — Former Sen. Scott Brown has confirmed he won’t run in a Senate special election, dealing a blow to Republicans who hoped to steal the seat formerly held by Democrat John Kerry.

Brown released a statement Friday afternoon making his decision official.

“I was not at all certain that a third Senate campaign in less than four years, and the prospect of returning to a Congress even more partisan than the one I left, was really the best way for me to continue in public service at this time,” he said. “And I know it’s not the only way for me to advance the ideals and causes that matter most to me.”

The decision likely means the Senate seat will stay in Democratic hands. GOP officials in Washington and Massachusetts widely considered Brown the strongest possible Republican candidate in a state that traditionally favors Democrats.

Brown won the 2010 special election for longtime Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat following his death, but lost a bruising re-election battle last year to Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Republican remained popular among Massachusetts voters, still had a statewide political organization and demonstrated an ability to raise tens of millions in campaign donations.

Democrats already have two congressmen in the race to replace Kerry, who has resigned his seat to become secretary of state: U.S. Reps. Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch will face off in an April 30 primary.

Brown said his instinct was to run: “Over these past few weeks I have given serious thought about the possibility of running again, as events have created another vacancy requiring another special election,” he said. “I have received a lot of encouragement from friends and supporters to become a candidate, and my competitive instincts were leading in the same direction.”

Lynch, who formally entered the race on Thursday, issued a brief statement saying he understood Brown’s reasons.

“He has basically been campaigning nonstop for three years. It’s perfectly understandable that he wouldn’t want to undertake another campaign,” said Lynch.

The winner of the special election would have to face voters again in November 2014, when Kerry’s current term expires.

With Brown out of the running, potential Republican candidates include former Gov. William Weld and former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey.

Weld, who recently returned to Massachusetts to join the Boston law firm Mintz Levin, has said he would consider a run for the Senate if Brown did not seek the seat. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

A message was also left with Healey, who served as lieutenant governor from 2003-2007 under then-Gov. Mitt Romney and lost the governor’s race to Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick in 2006.

Patrick this week named William “Mo” Cowan, a former top aide, to fill Kerry’s seat on an interim basis until the election.

The general election is June 25.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (32)

media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:46am
Why bother mentioning a recommended replacement during the same resignation announcement to make the maximum amount of impact for the success of the next person? That’s one of the reasons Republicans do not win elections, they don’t regard “I’m not running next election” announcements as important media opportunities when people are actually paying attention, that you can get both your brand name, and the candidates name in the minds of voters in one press conference?

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txjb
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:10pm
Thank you Scott , you were a big disapointment the first time , really big . You will never get your glory back .

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Independent_Bill
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 6:36pm
What he probably wanted to say was if I couldn’t beat that headcase Warren, no republican will ever get elected to the senate in Mass. So why waste my life trying.

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buster2
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 6:11pm
You ran and were elected as a conservative and turned out to be a mini dem. You would fit right in with todays Congress just don’t think the citizens of your state would buy the story line this time.

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RAMJR
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 5:47pm
Scott Brown was, by no means, a Conservative. He has always been a Progressive. He sealed his fate when he got in and showed his true colors, over good looks and nice smile. We’ve had too much of that already….with no substance in the White House.

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pragmaticpatriot
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 5:05pm
i wouldnt sit in a seat he sat in either, nasty liberal cooties!

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SocialistSlayer
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:43pm
“”"”Former Sen. Scott Brown has confirmed he won’t run in a Senate special election, dealing a blow to Republicans who hoped to steal the seat formerly held by Democrat John Kerry.”"”"”

Are you kidding me ??? This man is nothing but a Liberal Commie anyway ! The Republican party proves over and over why they are toast and the Conservatives will not support them in 2016 – I’m voting Libertarian from now on – At least these people stand for their beliefs !

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:05pm
Are there conservatives in Massachusetts?

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- rickfromthecape
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:13pm
  Yes, and we are taxed without being represented.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:25pm
  Leave as soon as you can Rick. Let them drown in their “utopia”. No sense in you going down with their ship. Help support freedom where freedom might still have a chance.
  
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Cavallo
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:05pm
The Best thing that Brown did was force the Fascists to violate the rules and traditions of the Congress to get ObamaCare passed.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:50pm
I’d prefer a constitutionalist run for the seat but someone of that ilk wouldn’t stand a snowballs chance in that state.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:25pm
  a strict constitutionalist who is fiscally conservative and socially liberal can do some damage in MA
  
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- savagenatn
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:06am
  slayer no doubt about it. You have to be a sick twisted left wing hack to get elected in this pathetic commie state. Our Founding Fathers are no doubt spinning in ther graves over the way this state has turned out. Un f’ing believable
  
  Report this comment
spirited
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:44pm
Did he learn anything that he will make public knowledge for the good of the Country?

>Just heard Hillary giving her “I”, “Me”, “My” farewell speech. (eeeh gads!!!)

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- barber2
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:00pm
  SPIRITED : She just wants to get the Democrat Media Parrot Heads repeating her scripted accomplishments for the 2016 Game Plan. Instead, I hope the “Remember Benghazi ” label haunts her forever. Obama more so. That and the ” Al Jeezera Gore” label. They have all earned to be branded as such by their actions, their lies , and their hypocrisy .
  
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soybomb315_II
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:32pm
why the long face? Just get mitt romney to run for it

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- BARRYS_BEARD
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:42pm
  Would you just change your name to BROKEN RECORD? For hell’s sakes, you say the same thing day after day, week after week, month after month. We understand you have a man crush on Gary Johnson. We get it. Move on. Please.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:52pm
  BARRY: Thank you. I said the same this morning to Soy and Associates ! Soy thinks that is ” stiff necked ” of me ?! Huh ?! Think it’s more Pot calling the Stove routine !
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:06pm
  yes, the two of you are stiff-necked brothers because no matter how many times your progressive ideology fails, you continue to push away constitutional ideas and candidates. You would follow the republican party into the gates of hell, huh? You will be humbled some day and remember your arrogance.
  
  “For hell’s sakes, you say the same thing day after day, week after week, month after month”
  -Thanks for the compliment. I know you dont think that is a compliment, but it is.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:08pm
  And by the way, this isnt the republican primary – you wont be able to get rid of dissenting opinions by fiat
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:34pm
  Soy: well, sounds like you will happily continue to be both stiff-necked and a broken record.
  
  Report this comment
QuantumVerp
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:31pm
Why run again? He will get paid anyway. For life. Vacation time. Why try to make a difference in the Senate? They don’t make any difference. Cash your chips in and leave. Let another schmuck get on the gravy train.

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- rickfromthecape
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:18pm
  I think it’s more like “why run for the 3rd time in for years just to have to run again in 18 months?”. Can’t say as I blame him. I think you might see him run in the regular election.
  
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- RaydocX
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:26pm
  Face it, Massachusetts chose a woman with a glaring difficulty with truth and an agenda to hurt businesses in the name of the 43% over a man who did not always stand with his side of the aisle…
  
  speaks volumes for the lack of critical thinking in Mass. But he would face no different opposition… maybe they could convince Marion Barry to move to Boston and run… or they could import Weiner… I see Hillary is out of a job, maybe she without telling anyone quietly bought a brownstone 7 months ago…
  
  I know… Obama’s illegal uncle can be appointed to the position, guaranteeing him employment, and so a green card.
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:30pm
Anyone else get the feeling anyone who isn’t a staunch alinsky radical being slipped roofies and then have small children laid down next to them long enough to get a few pictures?

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AUsername
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:29pm
real conservatives need to focus on that gop primary and get a real conservative on the ballot.

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BARRYS_BEARD
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:28pm
The good people of Taxachussettes are looking for someone with Cherokee or Navajo blood, not this white guy.

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barber2
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:27pm
” A congress even more partisan than when I left.” Thanks to Barack Obama , the radical Democrats, and their jack-booted propaganda enforcer, the MSM….

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:32pm
  The problem with saying “partisan” is that it’s just code speak for Alinsky ridden.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:42pm
  BARBER2, Maybe the state Republican Party can find a candidate that “might” not vote with the Democrats about 60% of the time. But, they are in Massachusetts.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:54pm
  RJJ: Interesting that being a ” moderate” can mean different things in different areas of the country ! It sure doesn’t describe an Obama Democrat in Chicago !
  
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