Yakima Native a Step Closer to Becoming a US Senator

Former Navy Seal and Yakima native Gabriel Gomez has won the Republican primary in the US Senate race in Massachusetts to succeed John Kerry.  Kerry gave up his senate seat to become US Secretary of State and a special election was held today. Gomez, a 1983 graduate of Eisenhower High School won a three-way Republican primary with over 51% of the vote.  He will face Democrat, veteran Congressman Edward Markey in a special election set for June 25th.   Unofficial results show Markey beating fellow U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch in today's primary. Markey has served in the US House since 1976 and is the dean of the state's congressional delegation. He had the early backing of Kerry.  Gomez, 47, has portrayed himself as a new generation of Republican. The son of Colombian immigrants, he grew up in Yakima, graduated from Eisenhower, went on to become a Navy pilot and SEAL, earned an MBA from Harvard and launched a private equity career.   This was his first run for public office.

.