Brown won’t seek Kerry’s seat

BOSTON — Republican former Sen. Scott Brown says he won’t run in a Massachusetts special election to fill Democrat John Kerry’s seat.

The former congressman released a written statement Friday making his decision official.

He cited the strain of running a third Senate campaign in less than four years. He cites “the prospect of returning to a Congress even more partisan than the one I left.”

He says there may be better ways to continue in public service. He did not elaborate.

Brown was defeated in November by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He won the seat in a 2010 special election.

U.S. Reps. Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch are seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat being vacated by Kerry, who is leaving the Senate to become secretary of state.