Gov. to choose Senate replacement

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - With Senator John Kerry confirmed as the next Secretary of State, Massachusetts is left without a second senator in Washington. So, on Wednesday, Governor Deval Patrick is expected to act quickly by announcing a temporary replacement.

The Governor has scheduled the announcement of an interim senator for 11:00 A.M.

Patrick has not indicated who he will choose to fill the seat. The name most often mentioned is former Congressman Barney Frank, a Democrat from Newton who has gotten a lot of advance support from liberal groups. Thousands have signed online petitions to Patrick, asking for Frank's appointment.

Frank, who left the House of Representatives following the 2012 election, has decades of experience working in Washington.

NBC News is also mentioning former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall as a possible Patrick pick. Former governor and 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis has been mentioned as well.

When former Senator Edward Kennedy died in 2009, Gov. Patrick selected former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Kirk to fill the seat. Kirk was replaced by Republican Scott Brown, who won a special election to fill the remainder of Kennedy's term.

In this case, Patrick's choice will only serve in the Senate until June.

A special election to pick a permanent successor will be held on June 25, with a primary on April 30.

For the Republicans, Brown is expected to announce a run by early next week.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston) will be in Springfield on Thursday to discuss a potential run.

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Malden) has already said that he is running, and has already picked up support from some prominent Massachusetts Democrats.

Senator John Kerry has been serving Massachusetts in the Senate for more than 25 years. He ran unsuccessfully for President in 2004.