Massachusetts: Endorsements

Gov. Deval Patrick commended the state Senate Thursday for its vote asking for State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's resignation.

"On a bi-partisan basis, the Senate today unanimously re-affirmed that elected officials should be held to the highest ethical standards," the Milton Democrat said. "I support and respect their action."

Boston City Councilor Stephen Murphy said Thursday that, in light of the corruption charges state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson now faces, he is supporting Sonia Chang-Diaz in Suffolk's 2nd Senate District general election race.

Murphy, a Hyde Park Democrat, backed Wilkerson in the primary this year against Chang-Diaz, but committed to staying neutral in the general election when Wilkerson vowed to run a write-in campaign.

"I'm clearly saying that Sonia Chang-Diaz is a better choice right now," Murphy told PolitickerMA.com.

UPDATED: Despite state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's arrest Tuesday on corruption allegations, Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon is staying uncommitted in the state senator's general election race, rather than endorsing Democratic nominee Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Yoon, a Dorchester Democrat, endorsed Wilkerson in the Democratic primary this year but then declared himself uncommitted when she decided to run a write-in campaign after losing the Democratic primary.

The Boston Herald endorsed four state House candidates this week.

The Herald noted in its editorial Monday that with so few competitive races this year, it makes picking candidates easier but that "in the interest of a thriving democracy we certainly hope this is the low point."

The daily backed Republican state Sen. Scott Brown in his race against Needham Democrat Sara Orozco in the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District.