Brown Resigns State Post; Special Election Scheduled

Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown has resigned his state Senate seat so he could be sworn in as a U.S. senator.

Chief of Staff Greg Casey delivered a pair of resignation letters to the Massachusetts Senate clerk and Senate President Therese Murray on Thursday just an hour after Gov. Deval Patrick certified the results of his Jan. 19 election.

The resignation was effective immediately. Brown is to be sworn in on the U.S. Senate floor at 5 p.m. by Vice President Joe Biden.

Secretary of State William Galvin set an April 13 primary and May 11 general election date to fill the seat.

Brown represented the Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex District since winning a special election in March 2004.

He will replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died in August of brain cancer.