Tim Herbst is on the summer Republican Town Committee circuit to talk about why his two terms as a young suburban CEO, shrinking an unfunded pension liability, striking savvy bargains with labor and offering relief from tax increases, makes him the Republicans’ best hope to win Connecticut’s open race for governor in 2018. But his elbows are out, even when trying to impress.
2018 campaign
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers prepare for 2018 campaign by raising lots of cash
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s members of Congress, all Democrats, are preparing for the pivotal 2018 elections by getting a head start in the campaign money race. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, raised more money than any Connecticut member of the House of Representatives in the first six months of this year.
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Boughton: Income tax phase-out is one piece of 10-year plan
DANBURY — As he explores a third campaign for governor, Republican Mayor Mark Boughton is testing a message not seriously proffered in two decades: a call for elimination of the state’s tax on wages. He says it’s not a stunt, but voters will have to wait to hear how he thinks Connecticut could get by without nearly half its revenue.
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Murphy raises $2M in last quarter, total cash on hand at $5.1M
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Wednesday he raised $2 million for his 2018 re-election campaign in the last quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to $5.1 million.
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Lauretti, Lembo score big in fundraising debuts
Republican Mayor Mark Lauretti of Shelton and Democratic Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo each raised about $145,000 in their first months as a candidate or exploratory candidate for governor in 2018, new highs for non-incumbents in the era of public financing in Connecticut. Democrat Chris Mattei, a former federal prosecutor seeking office for the first time, raised $118,343 in his first two-plus months as an exploratory candidate.
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Ted Kennedy Jr. rules out run for statewide office in ’18
Ted Kennedy Jr., whose famous name has made him the subject of speculation for higher office since his election to the state Senate in 2014, issued an 84-word statement Monday ruling out a run in Connecticut’s open race for governor or any other statewide office in 2018.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Would-be Democratic governors speak of taxes, red lines, the ‘fiscal mess’ and sporks
In the current struggle to craft a state budget, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, at a news conference Thursday, did not give any direction to state lawmakers beyond threatening to veto the existing Democratic and Republican proposals. He declined to state specific proposals that would qualify as “make-or-break” issues for him. His would-be replacements on the Democratic side were not as hesitant when we caught up with them Saturday night.
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Jepsen to skip ‘the misery’ of running for governor
Attorney General George Jepsen, who has been talking with friends about the pros and cons of running for governor in 2018, made it official Thursday morning on a radio appearance: He is going to take a pass on what is likely to remain the toughest job in Connecticut politics for the foreseeable future.
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Joe Ganim to explore the limit of second chances
With the formation of an exploratory committee for governor, Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim is about to test the notion of whether Democrats statewide are as forgiving as voters in Connecticut’s largest city.
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Lembo opens an exploratory campaign for governor
Connecticut now has a dozen candidates raising money for declared or exploratory campaigns for governor as Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo confirmed Thursday what has been suspected for months and known for weeks: He, too, is interested in running for governor in 2018.
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Up for re-election, Murphy says he’s focused on activism, not campaigning
WASHINGTON — Despite the advantage President Donald Trump’s political gaffes may give them, many Senate Democrats face tough re-elections next year, but Chris Murphy isn’t one of them. The senator, who is defending what is considered a safe seat, says he won’t begin running for re-election in earnest until next year and for now prefers to invest in grassroots activism instead.
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Visconti takes the road less traveled for governor
Joe Visconti, who bolted the Republican Party to make an independent run for governor in 2014 and consequently was denied a seat as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2016, opened an unconventional campaign for governor Wednesday. He is skipping the GOP’s nominating convention and will petition for a direct primary.
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Mattei becomes 3rd Democrat to explore run for governor
Chris Mattei, a former federal prosecutor who helped send former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland back to prison, opened an exploratory campaign Wednesday, becoming the second Democrat in 24 hours to begin testing his viability in the open race for governor in 2018.
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Harris first to explore run for governor since Malloy exit
Jonathan Harris, who resigned Monday as commissioner of consumer protection, intends Wednesday to become the first Democrat to open an exploratory committee for governor since Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced last week that he would not seek a third term in 2018. Others are expected to follow.
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Mark Greenberg opens campaign for comptroller
Mark Greenberg, a Republican businessman who was the GOP nominee for Congress in the 5th District in 2014, announced his candidacy Wednesday for state comptroller.