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

AFL-CIO endorses Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, Jahana Hayes

  • Politics
  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • June 22, 2018
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

mark pazniokas :: ctmirror.org

Jahana Hayes

The state AFL-CIO rejected convention-endorsed Democrats in two high-profile primaries Friday by backing political newcomers with strong union ties: Eva Bermudez Zimmerman for lieutenant governor and Jahana Hayes for the open 5th Congressional District seat.

The endorsements give a strong boost to two women who would bring racial diversity to the ticket, a move some Democrats say is necessary to mobilize the party’s urban base. Zimmerman, who is Puerto Rican, would be the first Hispanic holding statewide office, while Hayes would be the first African-American elected to Congress as a Democrat from Connecticut.

Zimmerman’s win over former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is a significant blow to her political comeback after eight years out of office — and an implicit rebuke of Ned Lamont, the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee who had raised expectations he would pick a minority as a running mate.

By endorsing Zimmerman, the delegates disregarded calls by leaders to remain neutral in the Aug. 14 primary for lieutenant governor out of deference to Lamont, who chose Bysiewicz as his running mate shortly before the party’s state convention. Bysiewicz had been running for governor.

The hurriedly organized candidacy of Zimmerman, 31, an SEIU organizer, became a rallying point at the Democratic convention for delegates unhappy that Lamont had failed to pick a minority for his running mate, dashing expectations raised by Lamont. She won 40 percent of the convention vote.

“I’ve got to say the system is not rigged,” Zimmerman told the labor delegates, referring to her showing at the Democratic convention.

Hayes, 45, a Waterbury educator who was the national teacher of the year in 2016, is facing Mary Glassman, a former nominee for lieutenant governor and Simsbury first selectman, in a Democratic primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Elizabeth S. Esty, who withdrew over her mishandling of a harassment complaint against her chief of staff.

With the encouragement of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Hayes made a late entrance into the race, nearly winning the endorsement at convention roiled by complaints of irregularities. Hayes had a lead, but lost to Glassman after a series of vote switches.

In contested races for other Democratic nominations, the labor federation endorsed Lamont for governor, but delayed endorsements for attorney general and treasurer until after the primary. Delegates voted 103 to 57 for William Tong for  attorney general, just missing the two-thirds necessary for endorsement.

ctmirror.org

Eva Bermudez Zimmerman

The choice of Lamont over Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, who served seven years in prison after his conviction on corruption charges in 2003, was expected, as Lamont easily won an AFL-CIO straw poll in April and the endorsement of the Democratic state convention in May.

But the ability of Hayes to win two-thirds of the delegates was less than certain. Both Hayes and Glassman addressed the delegates Friday, as did Zimmerman and Bysiewicz.

Glassman was challenged by one delegate during a Q & A about her support as a municipal official for legislation that could have lowered the prevailing wage for construction workers in municipal projects. She asked to be considered on a 30-year record in politics, not a single issue.

Hayes was physically embraced by Lori Pelletier, the AFL-CIO president, after addressing 192 delegates from 80 local unions. She left the Hartford Hilton Hotel to a standing ovation — as did Zimmerman.

Hayes became pregnant as a teenager, but finished high school and slowly made her way through higher education — attending community college and eventually earning a four-year degree and master’s. As a single mother, she worked at state’s Southbury Training School, where short-staffing often mandated involuntary double shifts.

“I went to my bosses and said I can’t do this. I am physically and mentally unable to do this every single day,” Hayes said. “They  said to me you can find another job. But instead, what I did I found my union brothers and sisters.”

She was a member of District 1199, an affiliate of SEIU. As a teacher, she remains a union member.

Even in an era of dwindling union membership, labor remains influential in Democratic primaries in Connecticut, which has the highest per-capita union membership in New England and is one of the top five in the U.S.

“It’s boots on the ground,” said Sal Luciano, who retired recently as the head of AFSCME Council 4, but remains as executive vice president of the AFL-CIO.

The AFL-CIO previously endorsed the Democratic congressional incumbents seeking re-election:  U.S. Reps. John B. Larson of the 1st, Joe Courtney of the 2nd, Rosa L. DeLauro of the 3rd and Jim Himes of the 4th. Murphy was endorsed Friday.

Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, who are unopposed for the Democratic nominations, were endorsed in April.

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
Connecticut House joins national civil rights campaign over Black hair styles
by Mark Pazniokas

The Connecticut House voted for a bill intended to protect Black women from discrimination over their hair.

CT legislature poised to make early budget pledge to help cities and towns
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The state House is expected to approve more than $100 million in new, annual PILOT grants to municipalities.

Connecticut GOP picks Susan Hatfield as state chair
by Mark Pazniokas

Susan Hatfield, vice chair of the Connecticut Republican Party, will complete the term of the former chair, J.R. Romano.

Senator alleges voter fraud, but no complaint was filed
by Mark Pazniokas

Rob Sampson said a voter in his district was told an absentee ballot already had been cast in her name.

In an evolving economy, lawmakers take roles once played by unions
by Mark Pazniokas

Economic trends and union struggles are pushing lawmakers to resolve through legislation questions once answered by collective bargaining.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The historical basis of zoning begs for reform
by Lawrence Rizzolo

Discussions of race are fraught with emotion. Witness the zoning reforms being discussed in our legislature. I will attempt to advance a dispassionate argument that is based on government-sponsored racism that occurred during my lifetime and led to the structural problems that persist today.

Opinion Lamont must stop waffling on the Killingly power plant issue
by Tennyson Benedict

On January 19, Gov. Ned Lamont gave his bluntest comments yet regarding the controversial Killingly natural gas plant, saying, “I don’t want to build Killingly.”  Yet, Lamont still refuses to wield his executive authority to actually stop its construction, and instead offers vague suggestions that market forces will stop the plant’s construction.

Opinion Religious freedom is less than righteousness
by Spencer Hill

The CT Viewpoints opinion “Religious freedom is more than religion” shows just how entrenched is the sincerely held belief that one man’s notion of “freedom” dictates the liberty of others.

Opinion To boost economy, state should invest in the ‘last mile’ of broadband connectivity
by Thomas J. Peters, Ph.D

In his budget address on February 10,   Gov. Ned Lamont announced his intent to expand broadband connectivity in Connecticut, an effort to be lauded. Connecticut enjoys a significant competitive advantage for economic development in the Connecticut Education Network (CEN), “ a 2,500 route mile, all optical, high-performance internet network.”

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