Gabriel E. Gomez claims 25,000 signatures gathered in Republican Senate primary effort

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

Gabriel E. Gomez today said he has gathered more than 25,000 nomination signatures, leading the former Navy SEAL and private equity adviser to predict that he will now qualify as a candidate for the Republican US Senate primary.

In a statement posted on social media websites, the Cohasset resident said that he plans to hold a campaign kick-off, accompanied by his family, on Thursday.

“Our campaign against crushing debt and partisan D.C. gridlock starts Thursday morning,’’ he said.

Gomez is the second Republican to claim success in the race to collect more than 10,000 certified voter signatures, which are due to be filed with city and town clerks across the state by close of business Wednesday. Next week, the campaigns must collect the certified signatures and deliver them to Secretary of State William Galvin’s office by March 6.

On Monday, Daniel Winslow declared that he had collected 25,000 signature, and that he will qualify for the ballot. Winslow is a former state representative and former top aide to governor Mitt Romney.

Campaign officials for Gomez have acknowledged hiring a professional signature collection firm to gather signatures. The Winslow campaign has said it used both volunteers and a company in its effort.

Former US Attorney Michael Sullivan is using an all-volunteer effort, the Globe has reported.