2013 Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election

2013 Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election was held on June 25, 2013, to fill the United States House of Representatives seat vacated by longtime incumbent Ed Markey. Markey had resigned from the House of Representatives after winning a special election to the United States Senate to succeed John Kerry, who had been appointed United States Secretary of State. The election was won by Democratic nominee Katherine Clark, who defeated Republican Frank Addivinola and several independent candidates, maintaining the district's strong Democratic tradition.

Background

The vacancy was triggered when the district's longtime representative, Ed Markey, was elected to the United States Senate in a separate 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts. Markey had served the Massachusetts's 5th congressional district since 1976, succeeding Tip O'Neill who had moved to the Speakership. The district, covering parts of the Boston suburbs including Medford, Malden, and Waltham, was considered a safe Democratic seat. The special election was scheduled by Governor Deval Patrick, with primaries held on October 15, 2013, and the general election on December 10, 2013.

Candidates

The Democratic primary featured a competitive field. The nominee was Katherine Clark, a state senator from Melrose who had previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her main opponents included Carl Sciortino, a state representative from Medford, and Peter Koutoujian, the Middlesex County Sheriff. The Republican primary was won by attorney Frank Addivinola, who defeated several lesser-known candidates. Also appearing on the general election ballot were independent candidates including James Aulenti of the Libertarian Party and James Hall of the Green-Rainbow Party.

Campaign

The campaign was largely focused on federal issues, including the Affordable Care Act and the economic policies of the Obama administration. Katherine Clark emphasized her legislative record on issues like gun control and women's health, aligning herself with prominent Massachusetts Democrats like Elizabeth Warren and the retiring Ed Markey. Frank Addivinola, a political newcomer, positioned himself as a fiscal conservative and criticized the Democratic leadership in Washington, D.C.. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee provided significant support for Clark, while national Republican groups largely bypassed the race, viewing the district as uncompetitive. Key endorsements for Clark came from The Boston Globe, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and EMILY's List.

Election results

In the low-turnout December election, Katherine Clark won decisively. She carried every municipality in the district, performing strongly in Democratic strongholds like Somerville and Revere. The results solidified the district's status as one of the most Democratic in the nation. Clark's victory was part of a strong night for Democrats in Massachusetts, following Ed Markey's Senate win and Marty Walsh's election as Mayor of Boston.

Aftermath

Katherine Clark was sworn into the 113th United States Congress in early January 2014, beginning a tenure in the House of Representatives that continues to the present. She quickly assumed a leadership role, later being elected to the House Democratic Caucus leadership. The special election result had no impact on the partisan balance of the House, which remained under Republican control following the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections. Clark has since been re-elected comfortably every two years, representing a redrawn district that continues to include parts of the Boston metropolitan area. The election marked the end of the political transition period in Massachusetts following the departure of John Kerry and Scott Brown from the United States Senate.

Category:2013 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Massachusetts's 5th congressional district Category:Special elections to the United States House of Representatives in Massachusetts