In the next couple of months two U.S. Senate seats will be decided by special elections in Massachusetts & New Jersery. With the current 100 congressional members divided by Democrat (51 seats) Republican (47 seats) Other Parties: 1 Independent; 1 Independent Democrat (both caucus with the Democrats). Will the elections give democrats a larger margin in the Senate or will the political divide deepen? Join me tomorrow morning for a conversation about the upcoming special elections and learn why Oregon should care? The 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts will be held on June 25, 2013, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class II United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015. The vacancy that prompted the special election was created by the resignation of Senator John Kerry, in order to become U.S. Secretary of State. On January 30, 2013, Governor Deval Patrick chose his former Chief of Staff Mo Cowan to serve as interim U.S. Senator. Cowan declined to participate in the election. A party primary election was held on April 30 to determinate the nominees of each party for the general election. The Massachusetts Democrats nominated congressman Ed Markey, while the Massachusetts Republicans nominated Gabriel E. Gomez, a businessman and former Navy SEAL. The race has drawn remarks from the media, because of its potential similarity to the 2010 special election, when Republican State Senator Scott Brown upset the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. The 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey will be held on October 16, 2013 to fill the New Jersey United States Senate Class 2 seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015. Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who retook office in 2003, died on June 3, 2013. On June 4, 2013, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that the primary would take place on August 13, 2013, and the special election on October 16, 2013. On June 6, 2013, Christie appointed New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to fill the Senate seat until the elected winner can be sworn in. Chiesa will not be a candidate in the special election.
- KBOO