President Barack Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry to become the next Secretary of State and replace Hillary Clinton as the nation's top diplomat.

Obama joined Kerry at the White House Friday afternoon to make the announcement.

Many expected Kerry to be the president's pick after U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice took her name out of the running last week. Rice had been under scrutiny by Republicans in Congress for statements she made in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya.

If confirmed, Kerry's departure as the state's senior senator would open up the seat to an interim senator and later a special election, which would be the second special election for a senate seat in the state in three years.