Manny Sanchez Claims Win in 24th District Primary

Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-AL), the Democratic City Council leader, announced that he has won the primary election and, with it, the Democratic Nomination in the 24th Assembly District.

“I am humbled to announce my victory as the Democratic nominee for State Representative in the 24th district,” said Sanchez. “Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers and voters in New Britain and Newington that made this victory possible.”

“I look forward to continuing to speak with residents of the district about what issues matter most to them heading into November,” Sanchez added.

Sanchez was the endorsed Democratic candidate, in the August 11, 2020 Democratic primary for the 24th State Assembly District. He and Richard Lacourciere competed in the primary for the Democratic nomination.

Sanchez campaigned on plans to seek a health care public option, “Meaning that no person, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, will be left without access to affordable and high quality healthcare,” he said.

Sanchez said that he will advocate for funding for equitable education. “New Britain needs $30 million more per year to spend the same per student as similar school districts and $40 million more to spend the same as the state average.”

Sanchez says that he wants the state to take up legislation to help workers and small businesses from the economic effects of COVID-19. He says he plans to support stronger legislation the ensure pay equity for communities of color and women.

Credited with his advocacy against the plans to sell the city’s Patton Brook Well and against the plan to allow mining of city watershed mining, Sanchez also says that he wants to protect natural resources.

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’ campaign says that he,

was raised in New Britain by a single mother. Growing up, Manny’s mother emphasized the importance of education and hard work. Driven by the values instilled in him by his mother, Manny graduated from UCONN and got to work for his community as an Alderman.

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.

Sanchez, as the official Democratic candidate, is to face Republican Alden Russell in the November general election to decide who will represent the people of the 24th Assembly District in the state legislature.

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

In other news, as of 10:30pm on August 11th, unofficial results from the Secretary of the State show Joe Biden as having received 2,995 votes from New Britain Democrats, while Bernie Sanders, who has suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden, received 64 votes in New Britain. Tulsi Gabbard received 13 votes, while 21 New Britain Democrats voted for uncommitted delegates.

Meanwhile, those same unofficial results show 599 New Britain Republicans voting for President Donald Trump (R), while 31 voted for Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente and 75 voted for uncommitted delegates.

Neither presidential primary will affect the outcome of each party’s nomination, since both contests were decided before Democrats or Republicans in Connecticut had the chance to vote.