Brown endorses full slate of Mass. GOP congressional hopefuls

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON – Senator Scott Brown this morning announced that he was endorsing all nine Republican congressional candidates running in Massachusetts, and planned to contribute $1,000 to each of their campaigns.

Brown had been active previously in several of the campaigns, but had not endorsed the full slate of congressional hopefuls. There are nine contested races this year; the only incumbent without a challenger is Representative Michael Capuano, a Somerville Democrat.

“On November 2nd, the people of Massachusetts are ready to send another message to Washington,” Brown said this morning in a statement. “Right now, we need new independent voices in Washington who will fight for more jobs, lower taxes and stand up to the out-of-control government spending that has driven the national debt to record levels. I am proud to support these candidates.”

The endorsements include:

- Jeff Perry, a state representative, who is running to represent the 10th Congressional District. He is facing Bill Keating, the Democratic nominee and the Norfolk County District Attorney. They are running for an open seat, being vacated by the retirement of Representative Bill Delahunt.

- Vern Harrison, a businessman, who is running to represent the 9th Congressional District. He is facing Representative Stephen Lynch, a South Boston Democrat.

- Gerry Dembrowski, a physician and small business owner, who is running to represent the 7th Congressional District. He is facing Representative Edward J. Markey, a Malden Democrat.

- Bill Hudak, an attorney and small business owner, who is running to represent the 6th Congressional District. He is facing Representative John Tierney, a Salem Democrat.

- Jon Golnik, a small business owner, who is running to represent the 5th Congressional District. He is facing Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat.

- Sean Bielat, a veteran of the Marine Corps, who is running to represent the 4th Congressional District. He is facing Representative Barney Frank, a Newton Democrat.

- Marty Lamb, a small business owner and attorney, who is running to represent the 3rd Congressional District. He is facing Representative James McGovern, a Worcester Democrat

- Tom Wesley, a Navy veteran and businessman, who is running to represent the 2nd Congressional District. He is facing Representative Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat.

- Bill Gunn, a small business owner, who is running to represent the 1st Congressional District. He is facing Representative John Olver, an Amherst Democrat.

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.