Stunner: Police Officers Association of Connecticut endorses Rob Blanchard. Blow to incumbent Hwang.

Rob Blanchard, the Fairfield Democrat running in the 28th Senate District, has scored an early October surprise, Daily Ructions can report. Blanchard is the only Democratic Senate challenger to receive the endorsement of the Police Officers Association of Connecticut.

The POACT endorsement will keep incumbent Republican Tony Hwang further on the back foot as he struggles to respond to a savvy challenger occupying the broad middle ground in the four-town district. Republicans have long thought they owned the copyright on public safety issues and police support. That began to crumble when they remained silent in the face of Republican Donald Trump’s assaults on the rule of law. It has grown worse.

Hwang will find it difficult to perform renovations on his reputation in the final weeks of the campaign. Photoshopping his campaign logo from clothes purchased with public campaign funds is an odd way for the former executive searcher freshen his campaign for a sixth term.

The Fairfield Republican was given no opportunity to exercise a small-minded veto of the police association endorsement of Blanchard, like he exercised with the Sierra Club.

POACT “is an organization dedicated to keeping its members informed on legislation being debated at the Capitol which directly affect police officers, their working conditions, their wages and benefits and public safety, and to promote the involvement and action of police officers in such debates.”

The endorsement of the police officers comes on the heels of expressions of support for Blanchard by two gun safety organizations. Mom’s Demand Action designated him a Gun Sense Candidate distinction. He received an “A” grade from Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV).

The 28th Senate District is comprised of Bethel, Easton, Fairfield, and Newtown.

Published October 2, 2024.