Working Families Cross-Endorse Sanchez and Council Candidates

The Working Families Party have nominated Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and all five members of his At-Large Council slate.

The Connecticut Working Families Party announced support for the five nominees as part of its announcement of the its for municipal office statewide in the 2021 elections.

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 announced support for Sanchez prior to the Democratic primary on September 14th, and also endorsed the five Democrats running with Sanchez for At-Large City Council seats. Those candidates are Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL), Amy Labas-Barbosa, Ald. Richard Reyes (D-AL), Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) and current Board of Education Member, Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims (D)

Sanchez was nominated by Democratic voter in that primary, as their candidate in the November 2nd city elections, along with all five At-Large Council candidates on his slate, making them the Democratic Party nominees for those offices.

Earlier this month, Carlos Moreno, State Director, Connecticut Working Families Party, said that Sanchez’ nomination, “marks the first step towards setting New Britain on a new path,” adding,

The current administration has thrived on divisive politics, leaving whole neighborhoods behind and schools short on resources, while criminalizing immigrant communities and supporting developers and landlords instead of working families.

The Working Families Party nomination means that Rep. Sanchez and the five At-Large Council candidates on his slate will appear on both the Democratic Party and Working Families Party lines on the ballot in the November 2nd general election. Voters supporting Sanchez and these Council candidates will be able to cast their votes for them either, as the Democratic Party nominee or as the Working Families Party nominee.

While Democratic voters made Rep. Sanchez their choice in the November elections, it remains to be seen if he will prevail against incumbent Republican Mayor Erin Stewart in November.

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.

But Moreno said, earlier this month, that,

After years of Republican mismanagement, the city needs new leaders that are committed to building a city where everyone is welcome, where everyone can thrive. Bobby Sanchez is the right person to tackle this challenge and lead New Britain forward. His victory, along with primary victories of Francisco Santiago, Chris Anderson, Richard Reyes, Violet Jiménez Sims, and Amy Labas, running for City Council, will open the possibility of a truly progressive governing majority in the city, and a chance for renewed investments in education, opportunity, and equitable growth.

Moreno said that the Working Families Party also lauded Democratic candidate and activist Alicia Hernandez Strong who also ran in the Democratic primary for Mayor at which Sanchez was nominated. Speaking for the Working Families Party, Moreno said that, “we want to thank Alicia Strong, who has run an incredible campaign. Her deep commitment and dedication for social justice in New Britain has inspired voters all across the city.”

The Connecticut 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.

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 is also supporting candidates this year for city and town offices in Bridgeport, Danbury, Hamden, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Norwalk and Windham.