Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, was endorsed without opposition Tuesday night for reelection to the House of Representatives while he simultaneously challenges Gov. Ned Lamont in a Democratic primary for governor.
He was nominated by Sana Shah, the vice chair of the Democratic town committee, who said, “We’ve got your back.”
Elliott may yet have a primary for his 88th House District seat: Anthony Fiore, who has opened a campaign committee, said he will petition for a place on the primary ballot in August.
Fiore, 22, the deputy chief of staff for the College Democrats of Connecticut, watched Elliott’s endorsement. He did not seek to have his name placed in nomination by Democratic town committee members.
There is no law against seeking the two offices, but Elliott cannot raise or expend money for the House race while he seeks public financing for the gubernatorial races.
“I do politics differently than a lot of people,” Elliott told the Democratic town committee, which endorsed him by acclamation. “And I just know what works for me.”
Elliott, 41, who was elected to the House a decade ago, alluded only indirectly to his other campaign, saying that over the past 10 months he has focused on “building community” with long conversations around the state, not just the quick pitch of a candidate.
“I get to hear the concerns first hand, not just within the first two or five minutes, but over the course of a longer period of time where I can get to know you, you can get to know me,” Elliott said.
Elliott, the owner of an organic food store founded by his mother in Hamden, told the DTC he was lost in his 20s before he got active in politics.
“I’m so grateful as I go into this,” Elliott said. “I am never going to be the smartest person in the room. I’m never going to be the hardest-working person in the room. But my God, I will at least try to be the person who cares the most.”
