Boston's mayoral race may overshadow special election

(MyFoxBoston.com) – It's April, and the political drama is still going strong. Boston will have to pick a new mayor and Massachusetts will have to pick a new senator.

Which race will get the most attention? FOX 25's Sharman Sacchetti asked Boston residents if they had heard about the mayor's decision not to run, and most responded with a resounding yes.

However, many could not name the candidates running in the special election for U.S. Senate.

For that reason, the mayoral race threatens to take what little interest is left in the special election.

The special election for U.S. Senate already had little enthusiasm with a field of candidates voters struggle to recognize.

Democratic Congressman Ed Markey is well ahead of Congressman Stephen Lynch in the polls. Even though he denies it, Markey has been running a low profile campaign, a strategy that could very well work if focus is turning to Boston's mayoral race.

Boston University Professor Thomas Whalen agrees a race for Mayor of Boston threatens to overshadow the special election for U.S. Senate.

"I, for one, am more interested in who is going to be Mayor of Boston than the next U.S. Senator," Whalen said.

"Who is going to go to the special election primary?" Sacchetti asked Whelan.

"There's not going to be a lot of enthusiasm there. The only people that are going to go are the true believers, which on the Democratic side are the liberal organizers. So that's obviously going to benefit Ed Markey," Whelan responded.

Voter fatigue is likely going to play a factor in the upcoming election as well.

Since 2010, voters in Massachusetts have participated in one special election, one U.S. Senate election, and a race for President.

The primary for the next special election is set for April 30.

Cox Media Group