17th Middlesex State Representative Vanna Howard reads to LCCPS students. (Photo courtesy Henry Marte

While an official announcement has yet to be made, a signature campaign already underway all but confirms that 17th Middlesex State Representative Vanna Howard will indeed throw her hat into the ring to replace State Senator Ed Kennedy in the upcoming Special Election.

The City of Lowell’s Elections Office confirms that someone obtained nomination papers on Howard’s behalf in recent days, while multiple sources also tell InsideLowell Howard herself was gathering signatures around town last night.

As the process for replacing Kennedy has played out since his passing October 1, the third term House member from Lowell has yet to respond to multiple requests for comment.

There was much speculation that an announcement would be forthcoming this past week, once the special election calendar was set for a February 3, 2026 Primary and March 3 Special Election. However, InsideLowell was told midweek that any public confirmation would likely come next week.

With Howard’s campaign now having pulled papers and actively gathering the 300 signatures required to be placed on the ballot, it appears a foregone conclusion she and Elliott will engage in a heavyweight battle of State Reps for the right to represent the 1st Middlesex District in the State Senate. Elliott formally declared his candidacy October 17.

Meanwhile, other potential candidates for the seat have fallen by the wayside over the last week, with Lowell City Councilor Erik Gitschier ending public speculation last weekend on his Facebook page. Former Councilor John Drinkwater told InsideLowell this past Wednesday that the timing wasn’t right for him to run, as did former Councilor John Leahy, who at one time did consider mounting a campaign for the seat his father, Daniel Leahy, once held.

The last big-name domino to fall remains David Nangle. The former 17th Middlesex Representative, who Howard defeated in 2020, was said by multiple sources to be strongly weighing a return to the political arena. Those same sources told us last night that Nangle has not ruled out running for the Senate seat and that the election calendar set by the Secretary of State’s office provides enough time for him to further weigh a decision.