Reports: Obama Will Choose Sen. John Kerry as Secretary of State Nominee

John Kerry will be President Obama's pick to become the next Secretary of State, and replace Hillary Clinton as the nation's top diplomat, according to several media outlets citing sources.

The New York Times, among others, reports that the Massachusetts senator and former Democratic presidential nominee will be the selection for the post. 

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 Massachusetts in three years.