John Kerry Confirmed As Secretary of State

With only three dissenting votes, the U.S. Senate has confirmed John Kerry as the new secretary of state.

Kerry will take over for Hillary Clinton, who is leaving her post after four years.

The move means Kerry will have to resign as Massachusetts' senior senator. 

, has announced he is running for the seat. has hinted that he may run. 

As for an interim senator for Kerry's seat, Gov. Deval Patrick plans to announce his pick on Wednesday, Jan. 30, according to the Boston Herald.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair John Walsh released the following statement today following the U.S. Senate's confirmation of John Kerry to be Secretary of State:

"John Kerry represents the best that Massachusetts has to offer to our nation and the world. We are very proud of his appointment as Secretary of State and confident he’ll succeed as he has for 28 years in the United States Senate where he has been at the forefront on war and peace issues, an international leader on environmental sustainability and also fought for important Massachusetts projects to keep our economy moving forward. As John Kerry moves to the forefront of the world stage, Massachusetts voters will have an opportunity to choose a successor who lives up to the high standards he has set."