Democratic Mayoral Candidates Debate Scheduled – CANCELLED

Editor’s note (6/30/2021): The New Britain Progressive has decided to focus on its new online TV news show, New Britain Forum by the New Britain Progressive, instead of its previously planned candidate debate. So, the online debate between the three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Mayor, that was to be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021, has been cancelled.

The New Britain Progressive has announced the date of the online candidate debate it will hold, ahead of the anticipated Democratic Primary for Mayor.

Three Democrats are running for the Democratic nomination for the city’s top office, Community and Democratic leader Veronica T. DeLandro, Democratic state Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and political activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong. While Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s hold on the Republican nomination appears locked-up, it presently appears that everyday Democratic voters will cast ballots to determine their party’s nominee from among the three candidates.

The debate is to be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 10:00am. All three candidates have been invited to the debate.

The debate will be held online and can be seen on the New Britain Progressive at newbritainindependent.com.

Nominations by the Democratic Party are a potentially two step process. The Democratic Party’s governing Town Committee makes endorsements of candidates for city offices between July 20th and 27th. But, candidates not endorsed by the Town Committee can send the decision on the nomination to Democratic voters in a primary by collecting petition signatures. If no other candidate submits enough signatures to qualify for a primary by the deadline, which is August 11th, the Town Committee’s choice becomes the nominee of the Democratic Party.

But, with all three Democratic candidates running strong campaigns, the decision on the party nomination appears likely to go to Democratic Party voters at a Democratic Mayoral Primary, to be held on September 14, 2021.

While the same process applies to the Republican Party, most observers believe that Stewart will become the Republican nominee on August 11th, without a primary of Republican voters.