Tisei mulling bid for U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts

Richard Tisei is mulling a bid for U.S. Senate. (photo courtesy of Tisei)

The gay Republican who failed in his bid to unseat a Democratic U.S. House incumbent in the last election on Friday issued a statement suggesting he may pursue a bid for Senate.

In the wake of news that former Republican Sen. Scott Brown won’t run for the Senate seat being vacated by outgoing Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who on Friday officially began his duties as secretary of state, Tisei said he’ll “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.”

The complete statement follows:

“The news that Scott won’t be running again came as a surprise to me, as to many others. I’ve known him for many years and served with him in the state senate.  I have great respect for his independence and bi-partisan record in the Senate. His decision not to be a candidate in the special election for the U.S. Senate is a great loss for the Commonwealth.

Today, our country faces many challenges. It’s a time when we need to find common ground in order to begin to address the very real problems that threaten our future.

Scott’s exit from the race was obviously unexpected.  That said, 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.

Whoever our party puts forward as its nominee in this special and critically important election needs to embody the change that the people want and deserve.  The American people want to see our government work again and our nation prosper.  More of the same is not an option.”

Last year, Tisei ran against Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.) in an attempt to unseat the pro-LGBT Democrat from his seat representing Massachusetts’ 6th congressional district. Despite outraising Tierney in funds, Tisei ultimately lost the election by a slim margin of 48-47.

Should he win the Republican nomination, Tisei would be the first openly LGBT person to run as a Republican nominee on a U.S. Senate ticket. He’d also be the first openly gay Republican elected to the U.S. Senate, and the second openly gay person to sit in the chamber after lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).