U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano.
With Congressman Ed Markey (D-Malden) leading the pack among Democrats vying for U.S. Senator John Kerry’s potentially-vacated seat, U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) announced Tuesday that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
Capuano, who lost the Democratic nomination to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley last time around, to fill the late Senator Ted Kennedy seat, said he’d rather stay put in Congress this time around. Coakley ultimately lost the race to Republican Scott Brown. Brown was voted out during November’s Presidential Election and replaced by Elizabeth Warren.
“After careful consideration, I have decided not to enter the race for US Senate,” said Capuano. “Instead, I look forward to focusing on the important issues facing the new Congress. My current work in the House and whatever opportunities the future may hold, afford me the greatest honor of my life, fighting for the Citizens of the Commonwealth.”
Capuano did not say whether or not he’ll be supporting Markey. The two have served in Congress together as part of the Boston delegation since Capuano was elected in 1998.
The only other Massachusetts Congressman still on the rumor block is South Boston moderate Democrat Stephen Lynch. Of course, on the Republican side, many are postulating that Brown will take another shot at getting back to the Senate. However, he has not indicated that as of yet.
In another turn, one of the largest trade unions in Greater Boston – IBEW Local 103 – said it would not support Markey’s run, calling him a “weak” candidate. The union’s Business Manager, Mike Monohan, said the powerful union would likely stay out of any Special Election for Kerry’s seat. That is in stark contrast to that union’s huge presence in last year’s race between Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Brown – where the IBEW heavily supported Warren.