 Spilka was a candidate in the 2013 special election to succeed U.S. Representative Ed Markey of , who resigned in June 2013 to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.The primary election was held on October 15, 2013, and Katherine Clark won the Democratic nomination.Spilka came in fifth behind Clark, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, State Rep. Carl Sciortino, and State Sen. Will Brownsberger.