Kerry's nomination opens key Senate race

BOSTON (AP):

Massachusetts voters weary from one of the nation's costliest and most divisive United States Senate races are all but certain to find themselves thrown back into another tumultuous election now that President Barack Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry for secretary of state.

If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, Kerry would have to resign the seat he's held for nearly three decades, prompting a special election - the state's third Senate contest since 2010.