Party Endorsements To Be Made For Congress, Legislators and Probate Judge

Lamont, Bysiewicz and Constitutional Officers Endorsed at Saturday’s Democratic Convention

Delegates to party conventions will endorse candidates for U.S. Congress, the State Legislature and Judge of Probate May 9-12 following statewide endorsements at major party conventions this past weekend.

U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) is expected to be endorsed by acclamation on Monday, May 9th, at a convention at Crosby High School in Waterbury. Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year, is seeking her third term having been elected to an open seat in 2018.

The convention for the 6th State Senate Convention is set for Tuesday, May 10th at 6 p.m. at the Alvarium Brewery meeting room on John Downey Drive where State Senator Rick Lopes is seeking the nomination for a second term. Delegates from Berlin, Farmington and New Britain will make the endorsement.

On Thursday, May 12th Democratic delegates will endorse a candidate for Judge of Probate for a four-year term following last year’s special election when Republican Attorney Michael Carrier won on the municipal election ballot succeeding longtime Judge Walter Clebowicz who stepped down at the mandatory retirement age of 70. Attorney William Rivera, a former Common Council majority leader, has announced that he will seek the Democratic endorsement. The Probate convention will be held at Casablanca (formerly St. Jean Baptiste Society Hall), 209 Smalley Street at 7 p.m.

The 24th, 25th and 26th State Representative endorsements will be occur later in May at a Democratic Town Committee meeting. Incumbents Manny Sanchez (D-24), Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and Peter Tercyak (D-26) are seeking endorsements for legislative districts that fall within the city’s boundaries.

Convention Photos Courtesy of Frank Gerratana

Thirty-five delegates represented New Britain at the Democratic State Convention held May 6 and 7 at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford where Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Attorney General William Tong were nominated for a second term and State Rep. Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford) was unopposed for State Comptroller. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal was nominated by Senator Chris Murphy at Friday’s convention. Eight Democrats vied for State Treasurer and Secretary of the State endorsements with Attorney Erick Russell and State Rep. Stephanie Thomas (D-Norwalk) winning hotly contested convention ballots. New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and State Rep. Hilda Santiago (D-Meriden) earned the right to an August Primary for Secretary of the State. Dita Bhargava of Greenwich and Sharon Dubois-Walton of New Haven will challenge Russell in the State Treasurer Primary. Republican Bob Stefanowski and a slate of GOP candidates for statewide offices were also endorsed at the Republican State Convention held at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Wolcott resident and Republican political operative Brock Weber, an aide to Mayor Erin Stewart, will challenge endorsed candidate Dominic Rapini in a three-way August Primary for Secretary of the State.