Democratic gubernatorial contenders Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz have agreed to run together on a ticket topped by Lamont, a move to discourage a primary while Republicans battle in a summer-long nomination fight, sources said Monday. The partnership, hatched over the weekend and confirmed Monday, is likely to get mixed reviews.
2018 campaign
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Video primer: How GOP culled gubernatorial field in three ballots
Didn’t have two days to watch the Connecticut Republican convention at Foxwoods? Thanks to a video by Ryan Caron King of Connecticut Public Radio (with a little help from CT Mirror), here is the essence of a three-ballot contest for governor in under three minutes. Enjoy.
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Lauretti to petition, potentially forcing 6-way GOP primary
Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, a gubernatorial candidate who fell short of qualifying for a primary at the Republican convention over the weekend, said Sunday he will begin a petition drive Monday to get on what could be a very crowded GOP ballot in August. Mike Handler posted a message on Facebook saying he would end his petition drive, leaving the GOP with six contenders.
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Markley wins LG endorsement; Stewart, Stevenson to primary
MASHANTUCKET — State Sen. Joe Markley of Southington won the Republican endorsement for lieutenant governor Saturday, but faces a three-way primary in August with New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart and Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson for the nomination.
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Mark Boughton wins GOP endorsement on third ballot
MASHANTUCKET — Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton won the Republican endorsement for governor Saturday, emerging as the choice of GOP delegates from a field of eight candidates on the third ballot. But he faces a primary in August with at least three and as many as seven candidates, including two wealthy businessmen who bypassed the state convention.
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Matthew Corey, GOP pick for U.S. Senate, embraces Trump
MASHANTUCKET — Republican delegates voted Friday to endorse Matthew Corey, a U.S. Navy veteran and three-time congressional candidate who says he welcomes the opportunity to make his race a referendum on President Donald Trump, as their choice to oppose the U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat seeking a second term.
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Manny Santos wins in 5th CD, but Ruby O’Neill to primary
MASHANTUCKET — Manny Santos, the former mayor of Meriden, won the Republican endorsement for the open seat in the 5th Congressional District on a second ballot Friday, but he faces a primary from at least one challenger, Ruby O’Neill, a founder of the National Latino Republican Coalition. It was the only district with a contest for the GOP nomination.
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Erin Stewart switches to LG as GOP opens convention at Foxwoods
Connecticut Republicans open their two-day state nominating convention Friday afternoon at Foxwoods Resort Casino, where Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Tim Herbst arrive as the consensus leaders in a field of gubernatorial contenders that just shrank by one: New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart is seeking the nomination for lieutenant governor.
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Suddenly, Democrats are lining up for Esty’s seat
WATERBURY — With just 12 days until Democrats endorse a successor to U.S Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, the field is suddenly coming into focus as a political newcomer with significant backing, Jahana Hayes, entered the race Wednesday, with a two-time gubernatorial nominee, William E. Curry Jr., expected to follow on Friday.
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Bysiewicz gets publicity, but no money, from Emily’s List
Emily’s List, a national campaign fundraising network for Democratic women who support abortion rights, endorsed Susan Bysiewicz for governor Wednesday, but Connecticut’s campaign finance laws bar the group from helping meet Bysiewicz’s immediate need: Qualifying for public financing by raising $250,000 in small-dollar donations. She was $90,000 short a month ago.
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Ganim to petition for place in Democratic primary
Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate fighting skepticism that a convicted felon can win statewide office, is opening a petition drive for a place in the August primary that signals to party leaders that any hopes of his going away are misplaced.
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Harris ends bid for governor, endorses Lamont
Jonathan Harris dropped out of the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination today and endorsed Ned Lamont, giving the Greenwich businessman a jolt of momentum less than a month before the Democratic nominating convention.
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GOP fails in its courtship of Bill Petit for Congress
He was flattered. The calls came from people like U.S. Rep. Steven Stivers of Ohio, the chair of the GOP’s congressional recruiting arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. But William A. Petit Jr., a state legislator with name recognition born in tragedy, was unpersuaded. He is not running for Congress.
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D’Agostino endorses former rival Tong in AG race
Rep. Michael D’Agostino, D-Hamden, a commercial litigator who quickly became an unexpected champion of progressive politics in a short-lived exploratory campaign for attorney general, endorsed Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, on Wednesday in the four-way race for the Democratic nomination for A.G.
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Bysiewicz challenges Lamont over campaign financing
NEW HAVEN — A sharp moment in an otherwise collegial candidate forum Sunday probably reflected the current pecking order in the crowded Democratic race for governor: Invited to challenge any rival with a question, Susan Bysiewicz targeted Ned Lamont, the decisive winner of a recent Connecticut AFL-CIO straw poll.