Former Massachusetts Governor Weld says will not run for Senate

BOSTON (Reuters) - Republican former Massachusetts Governor William Weld said on Monday he would not seek the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by John Kerry's appointment as secretary of state.

While two prominent Democrats have started their campaigns ahead of the June 25 special election to fill the seat, the state's Republican Party has had a harder time finding a major candidate, which could give the party a chance to add to their 45 senators in the 100-seat chamber, where the Democrats hold the majority.

Former Senator Scott Brown, who polls had shown having a strong chance with Massachusetts voters, said on Friday he would not seek a return to Washington, having lost a re-election bid to Democrat Elizabeth Warren in November.

"While I am grateful for the kind expressions of support and encouragement which I have received, I will not be a candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts in the special election this year," Weld said in a statement released by Mintz, Levin, the Boston law firm where he now works.

Democratic Representatives Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch have already launched their campaigns. They and any other Democrats to enter the race will face off in an April 30 primary.

Weld served as Massachusetts's governor from 1991 through 1997, when he resigned his post after President Bill Clinton nominated him as ambassador to Mexico, a post he was never confirmed in.

Weld's election in 1991 began a 16-year streak of Republican governors in Massachusetts, which ended in 2007 with Mitt Romney.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, on January 30 named his former chief of staff, William Cowan, to hold Kerry's U.S. Senate seat until a successor is picked.

Cowan told reporters he viewed the appointment as temporary and had no plans to run in the special election.

(Reporting By Scott Malone; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-massachusetts-governor-weld-says-not-run-senate-155202419.html

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