Sanchez Endorsed by Working Families Party

Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) has been endorsed by the Working Families Party for Mayor of New Britain.

“New Britain needs a new vision,” said the Working Families Party, “a city Government that puts working families at the front and center. Bobby Sanchez has made it clear, as one of the leading progressive voices at the Capitol, that he is the right person to bring this vision forward.”

“I’m incredibly proud and humbled to receive the endorsement from the CT Working Families Party,” Rep. Sanchez said.

Rep. Sanchez is currently seeking the Democratic Party nomination in this year’s election for Mayor. He won the endorsement of the New Britain Democratic Party’s Town Committee on July 26th, but activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong collected petition signatures to qualify for a September 14, 2021 primary in which everyday Democratic voters decide their nominee for Mayor.

The Working Families Party is a separate political party from the Democratic Party, but it frequently cross-endorses major party candidates, mainly Democrats.

The Working Families Party says that it, “is an independent progressive political organization fighting to reduce inequality and striving to achieve a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-faith, egalitarian society,” adding,

We run aggressive issue and electoral campaigns across the state. We endeavor to abolish inequalities grounded in hierarchies of race, patriarchy, and wealth in order to raise standards for working families and achieve an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

The Working Families Party endorsement means that, if Rep. Sanchez wins the Democratic Party’s Mayoral primary on September 14th, he will appear on both the Democratic Party and Working Families Party lines on the ballot in the November 2nd general election. Voters supporting Sanchez would be able to cast their vote for him either as the Democratic Party nominee or as the Working Families Party nominee.

Rep. Sanchez said that, “While serving as a New Britain State Representative, I have been happy and inspired to fight alongside the Working Families Party in our shared mission to bring true social, racial and economic justice for all communities, no matter your race, gender or ethnicity.” Sanchez added,

Now more than ever New Britain needs a mayor that will uphold that commitment. For too long, the current administration has picked winners and losers depending on where you live in our city causing our schools to be underfunded, small businesses left behind and the tax burden falling on our working-class residents.

The Working Families Party said that, “We believe New Britain can aspire to be a city where everyone is welcome, no matter who they are or where they come from, and where everyone can thrive – a place for opportunity for the many, not the few. Bobby can bring this vision forward.”

The Working Families Party has organized phone calling in support of Sanchez’ campaign ahead of the primary.

The Working Families Party (WFP) endorsement of Rep. Sanchez has raised criticism from among Strong’s supporters. Strong is campaigning on a decidedly progressive agenda, on issues such as housing, education, community services, local economic development and restorative justice. She has said that she is, “running on a working class platform.”

One Strong supporter commented online that,

This is really shocking. Usually when there are 2 progressive candidates in a primary, WFP just stays out, but that isn’t even the case here because we have a strong progressive and a moderate. I’m truly shocked that WFP picked the moderate. And by the way, that’s not name calling to call Bobby a moderate. It is something he and his biggest supporters have said openly.

The Working Families Party says that it, “considered Alicia Strong and Representative Bobby Sanchez for the endorsement, and they were greatly impressed by both candidates. Carlos Moreno, State Director of Connecticut Working Families Party, said.

Alicia Strong represents the best of New Britain, a dedicated activist and staunch advocate for justice and progress for the city,” says Moreno. “We have no doubt that she’ll shake things up in Connecticut. Her star shines bright.

It remains to be seen if the eventual Democratic nominee for Mayor will prevail against Republican Mayor Erin Stewart in the November city elections. Stewart has repeatedly eluded political consequences to her own re-elections of unpopular policies and politics of her administration, including low funding for the city’s schools, higher property taxes, increased City Hall spending, floating city annual budgets with long-term taxpayer debt, the failed attempt to allow mining on public watershed land and what many view as the generally uncouth brand of the politics of her political machine.

Editor’s note (8/27/2021): The article was updated with additional comments from the Working Families Party.