With Downing out the special election field narrows

State Senator Ben Downing, a young rising star in the Massachusetts Democratic Party, is not running in the special election for US Senate.

Downing, a Democrat, said Friday that he spoke with friends, families and colleagues about a possible run and the response was “overwhelmingly positive.” “I will be forever grateful for their words of encouragement, advice, and endorsement,” Downing said in a statement.

However, Downing continued, “I wish their faith in me was enough to sustain a campaign, but I know that every consideration – especially financial – must be made before a race of this type is undertaken. After considering every aspect of a possible campaign, I have determined that I will not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming special election.”

A run in the special election would have been very difficult for Downing because he has no federal campaign funds to speak of and his base of support is in a rural part of the state. All of his potential competitors for the seat, particularly Congressman Ed Markey, have intimidating federal war chests and bases of support in dense areas that give them a huge advantage in such a short a race.

As of now only Markey is the only declared candidate making him the front-runner.