GOP Senate Candidates Tackle Economy, Social Security, Immigration at First Debate

State Rep. Daniel Winslow, former U.S. attorney Michael J. Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel E. Gomez discussed a wide-range of issues in the hour-long debate

The quest to become the "Washington outsider" representing the Republican Party in this year's Massachusetts special U.S. Senate election was underway at Stonehill College Tuesday night when GOP candidates met in their first primary debate. "Electing either of the Democratic nominees would be a sign of 'surrender' that we have given up," State Rep. Daniel B. Winslow (R-Norfolk) said in his closing statement, referring to U.S. Congressmen Ed Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston). Winslow, former U.S. attorney Michael J. Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel E. Gomez discussed a wide-range of issues in the hour-long debate, including Roe vs. Wade, gun control, immigration, social security and the economy. The debate was …

• Photos (1)

Patch Facts

5 Things To Know on March 12: Republicans Debate for First Time

A great way to start the day with a quick look at the events and happenings in town.

Welcome to “5 Things,” your daily source for community events, happenings in town and other little tidbits of information. Here are five things you need to know on Tuesday, March 12. 1. Rain: Tuesday will be a cloudy and rainy day, with heavy rain forecasted for later in the day and temperatures into the mid-50s. But it should not last for long – the rain is forecasted to move out overnight and Wednesday is supposed to be a sunny day. 2. Republicans: The three Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts will debate for the first time on Tuesday night at Stonehill College. The debate will include all three Republicans, Cohasset resident Gabriel Gomez, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and state Rep. Daniel Winslow …

• Photos (1)

Who’s the Frontrunner in GOP Senate Primary?

One candidate has name recognition, but experts say no one has separated themselves from the field yet.

The window for the three combatants for the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate special election to make a name for themselves is a small one, with the April 30 primary just seven weeks away. Observers don’t believe there is a clear frontrunner at this point among the field of State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez. But strong fundraising, advertising and ground operations could change that quickly. Frank Talty, co-director of the UMass-Lowell Center For Public Opinion, believes Sullivan has a “slight advantage” at the moment because of his previous job, but not enough to pull away from Winslow and Gomez at the moment. “He had received some media attention in that …

• Photos (1)

Five Candidates in U.S. Senate Race Hope to Fill Seat Left Empty by Kerry

Two Democrats and three Republicans submitted the needed 10,000 names by Wednesday's deadline.

Two Democrats and three Republicans submitted the required number of signatures to run in the special election for U.S. Senate, according to the Boston Globe. U.S. Reps. Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) each filed more than double the 10,000 certified signatures required. Markey led the way with nearly 34,000 signatures, while Lynch had just over 25,000. On the Republican side, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan filed nearly 19,000 signatures, followed by former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset at almost 17,000 and state Rep. Daniel Winslow of Norfolk at more than 13,000. Those totals only include those signatures submitted to the Secretary of State's office by Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline. City and town …

• Photos (6)

Patch Facts

5 Things To Know on Feb. 27: Student Cafe Reopens with $5 Lunches

A great way to start the day with a quick look at the events and happenings in town.

Welcome to “5 Things,” your daily source for community events, happenings in town and other little tidbits of information. Here are five things you need to know on Wednesday, Feb. 27. 1. Rain: Wednesday will be a rainy day, with more than an inch of rain expected by the end of the day. The temperature will be in the 40s and winds will blow from the east up to 20 miles per hour. 2. Lunch: The best lunch deal in town returns on Wednesday, and you can help local students prepare for their career. The Scholar’s Den reopens for the second semester on Wednesday at North Shore Community College's Essex Agricultural School campus. Full meals are served at 11 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. for $5. Call ahead for reservations. 3. Fair: The Topsfield Fair may be…

• Photos (4)

Markey, Lynch Agree to Six Debates Before Senate Primary

Locations for Democratic Party debates include Boston, Lowell, New Bedford, Worcester and Springfield.

Congressmen Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch, the two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, have agreed to participate in six debates between now and the April 30 primary, according to the Boston Herald. The Boston Herald’s Chris Cassidy Tweeted that three of the debates will be general format, with the remaining three focusing on jobs, domestic issues and foreign policy. One of the debates will be held in Boston, and others will be held in Lowell, New Bedford, Worcester and Springfield. The location of the sixth debate has not been determined. Markey and Lynch are facing off to see who will take on the winner of the Republican primary in the June 25 special election to fill the seat vacated by John Kerry’s appointment as Secretary of …

• Photos (1)

Lynch, Markey Hit the Road, Republicans Get Started

Nomination papers deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 27

With only days to go before nomination papers are due in the race for U.S. Senate, last week was a busy one for announced and potential candidates looking to fill the seat left vacant by John Kerry’s appointment to Secretary of State. The Republican field lost one prominent candidate, and another generated a bit of controversy. On the Democratic side, Congressmen Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) have been working through their pre-primary debate schedule and campaigning across the state. Democrats Markey and Lynch hit the road Both Democratic candidates hit the road again last week from Pittsfield to Salem, meeting with residents and attending fundraisers. Markey had campaign stops in Taunton, Fall River, Lowell …

• Videos (1)

Tisei Will Not Jump in to Special Senate Election

Richard Tisei had been considering a run for U.S. Senate after former Sen. Scott Brown declined to enter the race.

Former Massachusetts Senate minority leader Richard Tisei announced that he will not run in the special Senate election to fill the seat vacated by John Kerry. On Friday, after former Sen. Scott Brown announced that he will not run for the seat, all eyes turned to Tisei, who announced he was considering running. But on Saturday evening, Tisei put a stop to that, citing bad timing and a desire to see others have a shot at the seat. "I've been humbled by so many people who've urged me to run for this seat, following Senator Scott Brown's decision not to run on Friday," Tisei wrote in a statement Saturday night. "I believe it's imperative that the Republican party put forward a strong candidate who can help bring much-needed change to …

• Photos (1)

Tisei Weighing U.S. Senate Run

The former state senator's announcement came on Friday after Scott Brown said he would not run in the U.S. Senate race.

Former state Senate Republican Leader Richard Tisei says he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by John Kerry after the long-time senator was appointed Secretary of State earlier this week.  “In the coming days, I will be talking with family, friends, and supporters to consider the best role that I can play in helping to bring new, alternative leadership to Washington,” Tisei said in a statement released Friday. Tisei, who previously ran for lieutenant governor and Congress, said he was shocked to see Scott Brown announce he would not be running for the seat. "The news that Scott won't be running again came as a surprise to me, as to many others," Tisei said in the statement. "I've known him for many years and …

• Photos (3)