Rep. Lynch: Verified

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) got pretty excited about a blue checkmark by his name on Thursday.

Thank you to @gov for verifying our account! #bluecheck

— Rep. Stephen Lynch(@RepStephenLynch) January 10, 2013

Lynch, who joined Twitter in June 2011, has apparently suffered in silence without Twitter verifying his membership until this week.

Most, but not all, members of the House use the official Twitter verification “checkmark” alongside their name to denote their identity, as well as serve as a sign that the Twitter account is for official congressional use. In contrast, most campaign accounts are not verified, and do not link to official House websites.

The process is different in the Senate, where more Senators leave their Twitter accounts “unofficial” due to Ethics rules, but still get the blue checkmark indicating their true identity.

And many of the new members of Congress just sworn in earlier this month, including some of the accounts House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is promoting on his own Twitter feed, still do not have the verified identity alongside their new Twitter handles.

#FF New GOP Members: @repannwagner @repkevincramer @replukemesser @rep_rodneydavis @repdesantis @reprichhudson @repkerryb @repholding

— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) January 4, 2013

Lynch is considering running in the special election to replace Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who, if confirmed, is stepping down from the Senate to become secretary of State.

Updated at 6:14 p.m.

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