Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Debicella faces tough race against Himes

  • by Ana Radelat
  • September 6, 2013
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Washington – Republican Dan Debicella hopes the second time is a charm.

Declaring a rematch this week against Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat who defeated him in 2010, Debicella is hoping voters are exhausted by the recession and disgusted by the status quo in Congress.

“If people think Washington is getting it right, they should vote for Jim Himes,” Debicella said. “If they believe there’s a better way -– one where we are Americans first and Democrats and Republicans second -– they should send me to Washington.”

While Debicella fell to Himes in a 53 percent to 47 percent vote in 2010, he is proud that it was the most competitive congressional race in Connecticut that year.

“This is going to be very competitive again,” he said.

But Debicella is definitely an underdog. Himes has solidified his hold on the Fairfield County-based 4th District since 2010, analysts say.

“Himes has done a real good job of positioning himself where he needs to be,” said Gary Rose, head of the political science department at Sacred Heart University.

Rose said Himes was considered a liberal when he first ran for Congress in 2006, winning a seat from former Republican Rep. Chris Shays. But the lawmaker has “moved more effectively with public opinion in the district,” said  Rose. “He’s not really viewed as a liberal Democrat anymore.”

The district has also changed since Debicella’s last run for Congress, becoming more Democratic.

Because of this, the Cook Political Report has classified the 4th District as “solid Democrat” and says Debicella’s decision to run doesn’t change things.

”The district is too Democratic,” said David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report.

Other obstacles Debicella must overcome are in Washington, not the 4th District.

As finance chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Himes will raise millions of dollars for his party this year and is a valuable asset to the national Democratic Party. It is certain to help his campaign if needed. 

Then there’s the advantage of the incumbency, which usually gives lawmakers greater name recognition, resources, and ability to raise campaign cash.

In contrast, Debicella has gotten the nod from the Connecticut Republican Party, but is still off the national GOP’s radar.

Yet Debicella, 38, is ready for a fight.

The Republican raised nearly $2 million in campaign cash the last time he challenged Himes, who raised more than $3 million.

Debicella said he hopes to raise more money this time, since about $3 million is needed “to really saturate the district.”

If Debicella is able to raise as much political money as he expects, he’ll certainly catch the eye of the national Republican party and ratchet up the competition.

He says Himes, who has been in Washington for about six years, is an “entrenched” politician. He accuses Himes, who once worked for Goldman Sachs and sits on the House Financial Services Committee, of granting special favors to Wall Street.

Debicella grew up in Shelton and Bridgeport, where his father was a policeman.

He founded an Internet company in the 1990s, served in the state Senate for two terms and most recently worked for Bridgewater Associates.

He’s also the protégé and former campaign manager of George “Doc” Gunther, the longest-serving state legislator in Connecticut history.

A first-time father of a 2-month-old son, Debicella said he quit Bridgewater Associates to concentrate on the campaign.

He hopes having Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy instead of President Obama at the top of the ballot next year will make a difference. Obama on the ticket helped Connecticut Democratic candidates last year.

“This election is going to look like 2010, not 2012,” Debicella said.

No one has indicated an interest in challenging him in a GOP primary, and Debicella said he thinks that’s unlikely.

“But you never say never,” he said.

Debicella hopes to run as a fiscal conservative and social moderate, a brand of Republicanism that seems to gain the most traction in Connecticut. While he shares Republican worries about the federal budget and deficit, Debicella defends abortion rights and the use of stem cells in research.

When it comes to Syria, Debicella said he’s leaning toward Obama’s position –- that a U.S. air strike is needed to dissuade it from using chemical weapons.

“The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable,” Debicella said. “But I need to know what the goal is of the missile strikes. What’s the end game?”

Himes, like most members of the Connecticut congressional delegation, is struggling with the issue and is uncertain how he will vote for a resolution that would give Obama authority to use military force.

Himes has ignored Debicella’s entry into the race, and his office has not responded to media requests seeking reaction.

“We don’t have a comment at this time,” a Himes spokesman said.

While Debicella slams Himes for his ties to Wall Street, the Republican challenger is plugged into the financial community and is likely to raise money from it, too, said Rose. “It’s going to be an election between Goldman Sachs and Bridgewater.”

Rose said Debicella may hope for a large GOP turnout to vote against Malloy next year, especially in Fairfield County -– home to all of the governor’s GOP challengers.

“But he’s going to have to convince people that change is really needed,” Rose said.

Ronald Schurin, political science professor at the University of Connecticut, agreed that Malloy’s fortunes may affect the Himes-Debicella race. But whom it would help is unclear at this point, Schurin said.

“You never know,” he said. “Things could go well for Malloy and Democrats. The economy is turning around, and the state has a surplus right now, but things could change.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Radelat

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Long lines for free food persist more than a year into the pandemic, causing concern among advocates
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

While food insecurity remains high, the state is not seeing a corresponding increase in food stamp recipients.

Everybody in, especially those left out
by State Rep. Anne Hughes

In the wake of the spate of gun violence massacres, resuming again with deadly consequences, we are at a familiar crossroads: Do we revert to our usual, American individualized ‘othering,’, or do we reconcile that there is no ‘them’- only ‘us,’ that we refuse to claim? I’m campaigning to reframe the American ‘us’ from some of y’all to “ALL of us all!”

New Haven at a zoning crossroads
by Robert Orr

Unbeknown to many, most Connecticut zoning (and that of many other states) designates people of color to segregated areas. For that reason, zoning won the moniker, Exclusionary Zoning. Although there’s no mention of race or color in zoning regulations, clever dimensional requirements, put together in the 1950s, achieve exclusion.

My father should have had options
by Viewpoints Contributor

Max Fey, a Farmington resident whose father Mark lost a battle with pancreatic cancer, shares why it is critical to pass HB 6425 ASAP. This bill would authorize medical aid in dying, so that all Connecticut residents at the end of their lives would have the option to end unbearable suffering.

Can independent primary care doctors survive dominance of hospital health systems?
by Peggy McCarthy | C-HIT.ORG

hospital systems and private businesses are increasingly buying private medical practices and taking over their business operations.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Everybody in, especially those left out
by State Rep. Anne Hughes

In the wake of the spate of gun violence massacres, resuming again with deadly consequences, we are at a familiar crossroads: Do we revert to our usual, American individualized ‘othering,’, or do we reconcile that there is no ‘them’- only ‘us,’ that we refuse to claim? I’m campaigning to reframe the American ‘us’ from some of y’all to “ALL of us all!”

Opinion New Haven at a zoning crossroads
by Robert Orr

Unbeknown to many, most Connecticut zoning (and that of many other states) designates people of color to segregated areas. For that reason, zoning won the moniker, Exclusionary Zoning. Although there’s no mention of race or color in zoning regulations, clever dimensional requirements, put together in the 1950s, achieve exclusion.

Opinion My father should have had options
by Viewpoints Contributor

Max Fey, a Farmington resident whose father Mark lost a battle with pancreatic cancer, shares why it is critical to pass HB 6425 ASAP. This bill would authorize medical aid in dying, so that all Connecticut residents at the end of their lives would have the option to end unbearable suffering.

Opinion Enriching the already rich — it’s been the American way.
by David Holahan

There are supposed to be two certainties in life: death and taxes. Here's a 2021 corollary: As the rich get richer and richer, they pay less and less into the U.S. Treasury. It’s no joke, my fellow 1040 filers. A recent study by economists and the IRS found that the richest Americans —yes, those infamous one-percenters— have been cheating on their taxes to the collective tune of at least $175 billion a year.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO