Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Barney Frank Wouldn't Mind Subbing In As Senator
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 4, 2013
Modified Jan 4, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 4, 2013
Modified Jan 4, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We might not be quite done with Barney Frank just yet. With John Kerry lined up to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State (assuming he is confirmed), there will be a temporary opening in the Senate until a special election can be held. And former Representative Frank let it be known today that he would be okay with the gig...but only for a few months.
On Morning Joe Frank explained the situation. "A month ago, or a few weeks ago, I said I wasn’t interested," he said. "It was kind of like you’re about to graduate, and they said: 'You gotta go to summer school.' But [the fiscal cliff deal] now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial history."
And so Frank says he "told the governor I would now like, frankly, to do that."
And what did Governor Deval Patrick think of that? While he conceded to the Boston Globe that Frank would "be a great senator," all he told Frank was, according to the pol, "'Thank-you for telling me.' As you expect, he was noncommittal."
Beyond admitting he'd be up for a spin in the Senate, he also made it clear he wanted to be remembered for his role in the House. Which leaves a summer special election wide open for former Senator and moderate Republican Scott Brown to try again after being defeated by Elizabeth Warren.
With Kerry leaving his Senate seat, that means former Senator Scott Brown, the moderate Republican defeated by Elizabeth Warren last month, could run again.
Tagged
barney frank
john kerry
senate
us senate
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Inside Luigi Mangione's legal strategy before his federal guilty plea
Newly unsealed transcripts and court filings reveal how his lawyers weighed a mental health defense — and the risk it could have posed to his federal case.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 12:37 p.m. ET
NYC proposes crackdown down on AI customer service chatbots
Customers would have to be provided the option of speaking with a human.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
NYC proposes crackdown down on AI customer service chatbots
Customers would have to be provided the option of speaking with a human.
By
Arya Sundaram
Early Addition: There's a new hot duck, this time in Queens
By
James Ramsay
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
By
Ryan Kost
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
By
Mike Hayes
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .