Delahunt leaving congress, electoral chain reaction expected

Published on Thursday, March 04, 2010

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Congressman William Delahunt of Quincy disclosed Thursday the news many political junkies expected in recent weeks - he won't run for reelection to the South Shore and Cape and Islands district he has represented since eking out a primary win over Phil Johnston in 1996 and joining Congress in 1997.

The news will touch off a scramble for a rare open Congressional seat. Sen. Scott Brown posted a strong showing in Delahunt's district in his upset win in the January special election against Attorney General Martha Coakley and Republicans feel they have a strong shot at winning the seat.

State Rep. Jeff Perry (R-Sandwich) has already declared his candidacy and will formally launch his campaign Friday. Former Treasurer Joe Malone of Scituate and Sen. Robert Hedlund of Weymouth may run for the seat. Republicans Donald Hussey of Hingham and Ray Kasperowicz of Cohasset are also running.

Among Democrats, Sen. Robert O'Leary of Barnstable is giving the race serious consideration and Weymouth Rep. Jamie Murphy told the News Service over the weekend that he'd consider a run. South Shore businessman Philip Edmundson is also reportedly considering a run.

Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating has signaled interest in the seat and Quincy Rep. Ronald Mariano has also indicated he'd give it a look.

Sen. Michael Morrissey of Quincy and Rep. Joseph Driscoll of Braintree have expressed interest in the DA's job if Keating gives it up. If Morrissey and Driscoll don't run for reelection, it will touch off competition for their seats; the same is true if O'Leary and/or Hedlund leave the Senate – Republican Sen. Henri Rauschenbach held the Cape and Islands seat before O’Leary and Democrat Brian McDonald previously held Hedlund’s Senate seat.

In a statement, Sen. John Kerry praised Delahunt's work on Coast Guard, heating oil and foreign policy. "This departure leaves a void because Bill Delahunt is an incredibly strong voice for Massachusetts in Washington," Kerry said.

Rep. Gerry Studds, a Democrat, held the seat for 14 years before Delahunt, the former Norfolk County district attorney. Delahunt aides could not be reached Thursday night. The Congressman disclosed his plans to leave Congress in an interview with a Boston Globe reporter.