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

A primer on public financing of campaigns in Connecticut

  • Politics
  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • July 2, 2014
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Money illustrationSuddenly, qualifying for Connecticut’s voluntary system of publicly financing campaigns, the Citizens’ Election Program, is make or break for candidates in the race for governor. And making the cut is proving difficult.

Just ask Tom Foley. His application will be considered today for the third time, bolstered by additional qualifying contributions he submitted since last week.

Or you could ask John P. McKinney. The Senate Republican leader and gubernatorial candidate acknowledged last week he was unable to raise the $250,000 in qualifying funds by himself, so he is pooling his contributions with a running mate, David M. Walker.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton ended his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor two weeks ago, conceding he could not qualify.

Foley quickly raised more than $250,000, but he still is having his problems. The GOP convention-endorsed candidate for governor is pursuing public financing this year after largely self-funding his first campaign four years ago. But his application has yet to be approved after two tries.

Not all his qualifying contributions have met the standards of the so-called “clean elections” program, which was created after Gov. John G. Rowland resigned 10 years ago in the face of an impeachment inquiry and a federal criminal investigation into his relationship with state contractors.

The CEP has changed the political landscape in Connecticut.

Here is how it works.

How do they qualify?

To obtain public financing, a major-party candidate must meet two tests: Qualify for the ballot and demonstrate broad public support by raising a threshold amount in small-dollar contributions, anywhere between $5 and $100.

There are a few wrinkles. For a statewide candidate, 90 percent of the qualifying money must be raised in Connecticut. (Legislative candidates have similar district-related standards to meet: 150 local contributions in a House race, 300 in a Senate contest).

Principals of state contractors or prospective contractors cannot make qualifying contributions.

Neither can children under age 12. (Yes,  they can exercise their First Amendment right to write a check at 12, even if they can’t vote until 18.)

Office Qualifying amount
Governor $250,000
Other statewide officers $75,000
State Senate $15,000
State House $5,000
What do they get?

That depends. For major-party candidates for statewide office, it’s pretty straight forward. They get the amounts below.

Office Primary grant General election grant
Governor $1,354,250 $6,500,400
*Other State Offices $406,275 $812,550
State Senate $38,990 or $83,550** $93,690
State House $11,140 or $27,850** $27,850

* Those offices are lieutenant governor, secretary of the state, comptroller, treasurer and attorney general. Candidates for lieutenant governor can only get a grant for a primary. In the general election, one grant goes to the ticket of governor and lieutenant governor.

** The larger amount goes to legislative candidates in districts dominated by one party. The theory is the primary is tantamount to the election in those districts.

How about minor party candidates?

Theoretically, they can get public grants awarded on a sliding scale, based on their ability to show public support. In reality, it’s a tough road.

First, a little background about what it means to be a major party. Contrary to popular belief, Democrats and Republicans are not guaranteed major-party status.

A major party in Connecticut is one defined as winning 20 percent of the vote in the previous election. In the 1990 race for governor, which was won by an independent, Lowell P. Weicker Jr., the Democrats came perilously close to losing major-party status. Democrats of a certain age still shudder at the memory.

Minor-party candidates are eligible for general-election grants if their party received a certain percentage of the vote in the previous election for that office or they collect an equivalent number of petition signatures.

To get equal treatment with the major-party nominees, a petitioning candidate would have to collect signatures equal to 20 percent of the votes cast in the previous election for that office.

Here’s the math: with 1.1 million votes cast for governor in 2010, that means collecting 222,000 signatures to obtain a full grant in 2014. Most political operatives would say that is impossible. That’s the bad news for a minor-party candidate.

The slightly better news is that lesser grants can be obtained by hitting lesser petitioning thresholds. Gathering signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast in the previous election earns a one-third grant; 15 percent gets a two-thirds grant. That is still a hard lift.

Here is what Jonathan Pelto, a petitioning candidate for governor, must do in 2014 to get some public financing: He needs a minimum of 111,000 signatures to collect $2,166,800. Is that doable? Pelto says he expects to opt out of the voluntary system.

Office 10 percent 15 percent 20 percent
Governor $2,166,800 $4,333,600 $6,500,400
Other Statewide Offices $270,850 $541,700 $812,550
State Senate $31,563.33 $63,126.67 $94,690
State House $9,283.33 $18,566.67 $27,850
How does it work for those who opt out?

If they can afford it, they can self-fund. There is no limit on what candidates can spend on their own campaigns.

Ned Lamont spent $9.65 million in 2010, mostly his own money, in a losing campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor. The same year, Tom Foley spent $12.8 million, including $11 million of his own money.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who already has qualified this year, beat both of them with public financing.

If they can’t afford to self-fund, candidates still can raise money from individual donors and political committees, as was the case prior to the Citizens’ Election Program.

Individuals can give maximum donations of $3,500 to a candidate for governor. The state parties can give up to $50,000. Political committees formed by two or more individuals, labor unions or business entities can give $5,000.

What are the status of the statewide candidates?

Every Democrat has applied except Treasurer Denise Nappier, who still is working on raising $75,000 in qualifying contributions.

Grants have been approved for Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and Comptroller Kevin Lembo. Attorney General George Jepsen’s application is pending.

Among Republicans, Foley and McKinney have applied for funding, as have all three candidates for lieutenant governor: Penny Bacchiochi, Heather Bond Somers and Walker.

Grants have been approved for Bacchiochi and Timothy Herbst, the nominee for treasurer.

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

Mark Pazniokas is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Lamont, top lawmakers make progress streamlining emergency orders issued during pandemic
by Keith M. Phaneuf

It remains unclear whether the two parties will agree on the extent of the governor’s emergency powers during future crises.

Clark Chapin is the GOP choice for state auditor
by Mark Pazniokas

Clark Chapin has been nominated to succeed the late Rob Kane as the Republican auditor of public accounts.

Keep youths out of the justice system, or hold them accountable? Judiciary committee advances bills that do both
by Kelan Lyons

Republicans were concerned about a provision in one bill that would erase certain juvenile records.

Three measures seek to promote regional sharing, cost savings
by Tom Condon

People believe the property tax burden can be significantly reduced by sharing services on a regional basis.

Gov. Lamont’s cannabis bill passes out of Judiciary Committee, but not without changes
by Kelan Lyons

Revisions allow medical card-holders to grow their own plants and proposes that 55% of revenue go toward social-equity efforts.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
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.

Opinion There is no equity without standardized race, ethnicity and language data
by The Rev. Robyn Anderson

Over a year into a pandemic that has cost the lives of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color at rates that are unjust and preventable, we cannot allow ourselves or our state to continue to use the word “equity” without the data to show policies really are addressing injustice. We all know the disparities aren’t about race; they’re about racism.

Opinion Baseball is still a civil rights battleground
by Steve Thornton

For over 150 years, the baseball field has been a battleground for civil rights. Bigoted politicians like Texas governor Greg Abbott are still fighting the Civil War — on the wrong side of history.

Opinion Getting connected for Connecticut students
by Sabrina Tucker-Barrett

There is one key to ensuring the success of Connecticut students: we must keep them connected. Whether your children are in fifth grade or freshman year, they have or will continue to learn virtually in some capacity, which means unstable Wi-Fi during class, delays in homework submission or inability to research are unacceptable.

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