On Senate, Boyle Takes a Pass

Congressman Brendan Boyle

By Irish Echo Staff

Congressman Brendan Boyle, one of the leading congressional figures when it comes to issues of Irish American concern and interest, is staying where he is.

Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat, will not be running for the forthcoming Pennsylvania open Senate seat.

The Hill newspaper reported that Boyle "had been mulling a potential bid for months to fill the open seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). However, he declined to take the plunge, pointing to family considerations as the main reason for his decision.

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"I appreciate those supporters who reached out to me over the last few months to ask me to run. But as I told them, this is just not the right time for a statewide campaign for my family," Boyle told The Hill in what the paper reported as an exclusive statement.

The report added that according to a "senior Democrat," a few prominent party figures, including labor leaders, called Boyle over the last month to urge him to run. Boyle told them he would consider it but was leaning heavily against it. He is expected to run for a fifth term in the House next year.

The report concluded that a bid by the 44-year-old Boyle would likely have been an uphill climb given the high-profile candidates who are already in the race, or are expected to launch campaigns.

However, another leading Irish America House member is named in the report as a possible Senate contender and that is Congressman Conor Lamb whose district is in the Pittsburgh area in the western part of the Keystone State.

 

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