Committed to Connecticut. Witkos Won’t Run for Open Seat in 5th.

State Senator Kevin Witkos will not seek the Republican nomination for Congress in the 5th District. Witkos will run for a sixth term representing the 8th State Senate District, which includes Simsbury, Canton, and Avon among its 11 towns.

Witkos is the second ranking Member of the Republican caucus. He began his legislative career with a 2002 upset victory over state Representative Jessie Stratton, who had hoped to become speaker of the house in the term Witkos and voters in Canton and Avon denied her.

Republicans in the 5th are awaiting an announcement from state Representative William Petit (R-Plainville) o whether he will run for the seat suddenly open after beleaguered Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Esty announced she would not seek a fourth term.