Democrats Endorse Sanchez in the 24th

Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-AL) has been endorsed by the Democrats’ 24th District Convention to succeed State Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24) in the State Assembly.

Lopes is currently running for the State Senate in the 6th Senatorial District.

“I am humbled and honored to have been unanimously nominated to represent New Britain and Newington in the 24th assembly district at last night’s convention,” Sanchez commented online on May 19th. “I look forward to spending the next few months discussing the issues affecting our residents and laying out my plan to fight for the hard working people of this district in Hartford.”

“Congratulations to Emmanuel Sanchez on being endorsed in the 24th House District race tonight!” the New Britain Democratic Party said online after the Democrats’ 24th Assembly District Convention on May 18, 2020.

“Thank you all and I will see you on the campaign trail,” Sanchez said.

Ald. Sanchez is a five term incumbent member of the New Britain City Council. He had been one of the two Council members representing the city’s Third Ward, but, in 2017, he sought and won one of the five At-Large (citywide) Council seats. He is currently the Council Democrats’ caucus leader.

A lifelong New Britain resident, Sanchez works as a Development Officer for Major Gifts for the University of Hartford. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, holding a degree in Urban and Community Studies.

Sanchez was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Fifth Congressional District in 2018. He received enough votes at the Democrats’ nominating convention to qualify to run in the primary for the Democratic Party nomination.

But, in a move that won him wide praise, Sanchez decided not to wage a primary campaign. Current United States Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) went on to win that primary, after overwhelmingly winning New Britain, and then made history when she was elected to Congress.

Democrat Richard Lacourciere has also been seeking the Democrats’ nomination for the 24th Assembly District.

Lacourciere, who was a candidate for City Council in the First Ward in 2019, has been running for State Representative on labor progressive issues.

“We need policies and laws that reflect the 21st century job market,” Lacourciere commented online. “That means we need a livable wage for all people, this includes part-time, gig, and contract workers along with expanded sick-leave. As the economy grows and changes we can’t forget those who are making it happen.”

The New Haven Independent reported on May 12, 2020 that Lacourciere is challenging a recent Executive Order issued by Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT) altering the petition process for ballot access.

That Executive Order, issued to address the problem of collecting petition signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic, extended the amount of time for party primary challengers and petitioning candidates in the general election to obtain signatures and reduced the number signatures needed by 30%. It also allows people to sign petitions and submit them by mail or email. But the requirement in the new rule says that each voter signing a petition by mail or email has to sign their own separate petition form.

The New Haven Independent reported that the attorney filing suit against the Executive Order, “Alex Taubes, called the governor’s order ‘so inadequate and ridiculous that the only reasonable conclusion is that he is trying to keep people from the ballot.’ He noted that rather than easing the process, Lamont’s order adds a new burden of handling ‘thousands of pages’ of new paperwork.”

Lacourciere posted the New Haven Independent article online, and commented that, “We are fighting for a fair and democratic process. We know the rules that worked before COVID-19 are not enough. If I lose an election then the people have spoken but if powerful people prevent an election from happening then none of us have a voice.”

If there is a primary for the seat, it would be on August 11, 2020.

The Republican’s are set to have their nominating convention for the 24th Assembly District on May 19th. Republican Alden Russell filed a campaign for the seat on May 11th.

The Twenty-Fourth Assembly District includes the West End, Willow Brook and southern East Side neighborhoods in New Britain and the southwestern part of Newington.

Editor’s note (5/19/2020): The article was updated to add a comment from Ald. Sanchez.