DeLandro Announces $20,000 in Mayoral Exploratory Fundraising

Democrat Veronica T. DeLandro has announced that she has raised $20,000 toward a possible run for Mayor in one month.

“I’m thankful to see that a number of people have shown support this early in the exploratory phase,” said DeLandro.

DeLandro’s campaign says that, if her efforts exploring candidacy are successful, she, “will seek to challenge the incumbent Mayor of New Britain.”

An exploratory committee allows a potential candidate to raise money and build an organization while they consider whether to run for office, or even which office they plan to seek.

Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has already announced that she is seeking re-election. Democratic Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and Democrat Alicia Hernandez Strong have also announced exploratory committees to consider running for Mayor.

DeLandro’s campaign says she has raised money from family and friends and then held three fundraisers, “where she raised over $20,000 from 250 donors.” In addition, her campaign says that she is hold a “Listening Tour”, hearing from, “small business owners, seniors, faith leaders, community-based organizations, and local university students who will share their ideas, concerns, and opportunities for New Britain.”

“What I want to accomplish in March,” DeLandro says, “is to continue the momentum from February by raising money, raising awareness and connecting with New Britain residents to hear from them on how we can move New Britain onward together!”

DeLandro announced in January that she is considering running for Mayor of New Britain and filed an exploratory committee.

DeLandro has served as District Director for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and now provides consulting, training and coaching to nonprofit organizations at VTD Consulting Group, which she founded. She previously had a career at ESPN before she began working with organizations with a focus on philanthropy, college access and mentoring.

DeLandro ran for City Council in 2017, very nearly winning an upset victory in an uphill race in the City’s First Ward, where Republicans have historically had the advantage in city level elections, and then was selected as the City Council’s first woman and first African American Clerk of Committees. She has also previously served on the city’s Youth & Family Services Commission and the school system’s Graduation Odyssey Task Force.

Editor’s note (3/2/2021): The article was updated to correct the spelling of “exploratory” in the headline.