More Republicans Enter Race for U.S. Senate

Bielat and Gomez say they’re in; Sullivan may also join the field.

It’s starting to shape up into quite a race, as the field of potential Republican candidates for U.S. Senate continues to grow. This week, two more Republicans threw their hats in the proverbial ring in the race for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the appointment of John Kerry to Secretary of State: Norfolk’s Sean Bielat and Cohasset’s Gabriel Gomez. Candidates have just under two weeks to meet the Feb. 27 deadline to gather the 10,000 certified signatures needed to appear on the April 30 primary ballot. The special election is June 25. After losing two races for Congress, Bielat has opened up a federal campaign office to raise money for a Senate run, according to a report in the Boston Globe. Bielat lost to Barney Frank in 2010 and …

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Fact of the Day

Hopkinton Fast Fact: D3 and FL Look Alike

Hopkinton's congressional district is shaped like our southernmost state.

The Third U.S. Congressional District, which includes Hopkinton, is shaped like Florida. The last hearing by the Special Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting, for which Ashland's Karen Spilka, whose district includes Hopkinton, is a Senate member, is Monday, July 11, at 3 p.m. in the Gardener Auditorium in the State House. The committee is charged with redrawing the state's U.S. Congress, state representative and senate districts to conform to the 2010 U.S. Census. Because Massachusetts' population grew slowly compared to other states, it will have one less congressional district. Residents, businesses or interested people who have not been able to testify at one of the joint committee's hearings may comment by using this form on …

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Redistricting Hearing Features Hopkinton Legislators

Forum is Hopkinton's chance to publicly comment on, question or suggest new electoral borders.

State Sen. Karen Spilka and state Rep. Carolyn Dykema, whose districts include Hopkinton, both members of the state legislature's Joint Special Committee on Redistricting, will be at a public hearing Saturday, June 18, at the McCarthy Center at Framingham State University from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Using census data, U.S. congressional districts must be redrawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts. This will be a particularly tough process in 2011 in Massachusetts. The state's population grew more slowly than other states, so its congressional delegation will be reduced from 10 seats to nine. District lines for state representative, state senator and governor’s council seats must also be redrawn. Saturday's forum is an opportunity for …

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