Chair Of Mass. Democratic Party To Step Down, Lead Patrick PAC

Updated July 16, 2013

The chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party is stepping down to become executive director of Gov. Deval Patrick's political action committee.

John Walsh was named party head in 2007 after helping Patrick win the governor's office a year earlier. In a statement Tuesday, he called his nearly seven-year tenure leading the party "extremely rewarding."

His announcement is likely to generate speculation about Patrick's political future beyond his current term, which ends in January 2015. The governor is not seeking re-election.

Walsh told reporters Tuesday that Patrick said no when he asked him if he had any plans to run for the White House in 2016.

Patrick formed the Together PAC to help pay for his travels on behalf of President Obama's re-election effort. Walsh said the PAC will continue on a similar mission with Patrick traveling on behalf of other Democrats.

“Governor Patrick is the most remarkable political leader I have ever met and I am so excited to work more closely with someone who excites my sense of possibility for the future and inspires me everyday,” Walsh said in a statement.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom

This article was originally published on July 16, 2013.

This program aired on July 16, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.