Primary Apparent for Democrats in 24th

Democrat Richard Lacourciere has announced that he has qualified to primary endorsed Democrat, Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-AL) for the 24th Assembly District Democratic nomination.

If verified by election officials, it would set up an August 11, 2020 primary for the Democratic Party nomination in the 24th Assembly District between Sanchez and Lacourciere.

Sanchez, who is the Democrats’ leader on the City Council, was unanimously 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.

After nomination conventions, however, people may collect petition signatures from registered voters in the party, in this case the Democratic Party, to qualify to primary for the nomination. Voters registered as Democrats then choose that party’s nominee for the November election.

Normally, a Democratic candidate would have to receive signatures from five percent of registered Democrats in the district, but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT), in an Executive Order, lowered that number by 30%.

Lacourciere announced online today, June 10th, that he collected enough signatures to qualify.

“Democracy is alive and well! I’m excited that so many democrats in the 24th wanted a voice in choosing their new state representative,” Lacourciere commented. “We reached hundreds of signatures, more than we needed just to be safe, and can say with confidence we will be on the ballot for the August 11th primary.”

“From the first signature of former majority leader David Pudlin,” said Lacourciere, “where I left the clipboard on top of his grill and shouted the instructions from 10 feet away, we’ve received an outpouring of support from every voting district in the 24th.”

Sanchez commented that, “I personally believe that primaries are healthy for our party and welcome him to the race.”

“Democrats in the 24th district,” Sanchez said, “are going to have a choice between two different approaches to representing them. I am ready to be a progressive voice in Hartford with the experience to deliver results.”

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.

“And as someone who has been fighting for the people of New Britain for ten years as a city councilman,” said Sanchez, “I look forward to talking with voters about how I can use this experience to best represent them.”

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.

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.”

Republican Alden Russell is also running for the seat.

The 24th Assembly District includes the West End, Willow Brook and southern East Side neighborhoods in New Britain and the south west corner of Newington.