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J.R. Romano wins a second ballot to lead Connecticut’s fractious state party committee. Joe Markley dropped out after the first ballot. Romano went on to defeat John Pavia.

Romano: 33.5

Pavia: 24.5

Markley: 22

A second ballot will begin after a recess–and some frantic horse trading.

Serious Republican competitors will be scrambling today to turn out a crowd of protesters to urges Governor Dannel P. Malloy to veto the budget the Democratic legislature passed Wednesday. Malloy announced in an email Saturday that he will be kicking off the Democrats’ 2015 campaign effort In Hartford Sunday at 12:45 p.m.

This is the sort of activity Joe Markley understands. Rivals John Pavia and J.R. Romano may have to strain to make an impression. Clock is ticking.

UPDATE: Fairfield Republicans organize.

Fairfield Republicans
June 4 at 8:56am · 

MALLOY TO VISIT FAIRFIELD SUNDAY – In a shocking turn of events, Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau has asked Governor Malloy to headline his re-election campaign kick-off event Sunday at 3pm at the Southport Brewing Company. A rally is being planned across the street from the restaurant starting at 2:30pm to show opposition to the Governor’s Budget. If you do attend, we ask that everyone remain civil, do not block access and that everyone be respectful to the businesses in the complex. Southport Brewing Company is very supportive of many organizations in Fairfield and has been the venue for many political events and we hope you will all continue to support this local business.

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CBIA leaders retreated to a Rocky Hill hotel Thursday morning to develop a strategy to fight massive tax increases taking shape during the state legislature’s budget deliberations. Business is worried. Concern rarely becomes action with the business organization.

republican Tom Foley’s campaign has claimed a late advantage with independent candidate Joe Visconti’s departure from the race for governor Sunday morning. Event happened during a Foley bus tour stop in Brookfield.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman issued a statement late this afternoon on the death of former Ronald Reagan press secretary and control advocate James Brady.

The joint statement included this quote from the duo:

“Jim Brady was a tireless public servant and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his efforts to reduce the scourge of gun violence in America. There was a time when Washington worked in a meaningful way to enact common sense gun violence prevention laws. That was due in no small measure to the efforts of James Brady and his wife, Sarah. To his family, friends, and colleagues, we extend our condolences.”

Wyman must be hoping memories in Connecticut have faded. When Jim and Sarah Brady came to Connecticut in 1993 to persuade legislators to support an assault weapons bill, Wyman, serving her 4th term in the House, refused to be moved by their common sense arguments. When she had chance to join the bipartisan coalition for the bill, Nancy Wyman chose to support the coalition opposing the gun violence prevention law.

Politics mattered more to Wyman that public policy. Even noble Jim Brady, confined to a wheelchair and struggling to speak, could not move Nancy Wyman.

Spare a few moments to hear Franklin Roosevelt on the day of the battle and Ronald Reagan 40 years later. FDR wrote the prayer you hear him say as he announces to the nation that the liberation of France is underway.Let our hearts be stout.

A timeless inspiration.

Tom Foley won a convincing 1st ballot victory for the Republican nomination for governor. The Former ambassador to Ireland had enough votes to heave John McKinney over the 15% primary threshold on the end-of-ballot switches in the 4th Congressional District.

Danbury’s Mark Boughton easily qualified for the primary, setting up a three way contest for August.

Team Foley thinks a three way primary will be less destructive than a head-to-head with Boughton. That strategy caused a bundle of Foley delegates to switch from Foley to McKinney, with Stamford providing a hefty 17.

She made it up. Penny Bacchiochi lied. Rival David Walker’s campaign made no racist comments about Bacchiochi and her family. Walker has accepted her apology.

It is not often politicos see the unraveling of a malicious fantasist in two days.

A tumultuous day of bombshells at Connecticut’s Legislative Office Building, Daily Ructions has learned, with federal law enforcement officials swooping on House Republicans to inquire about printing contracts. Federal agents interviewed House Republican caucus members and staffers. Inquiry is said to involve business conducted with a politically connected Florida printing firm.

The investigation will put a damper on plans for House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (R-Frigidaire) to douse himself in quivering lips and other emotions as he announces next week he will be departing at the end of this term. He won’t need to rehearse that quaver in his voice.

House Republican leaders are said to be huddling to try to determine a way forward through the wreckage that a federal investigation into shadowy political practices always leaves in its wake.

Interviews with legislators and other interested parties are expected to continue.

Federal investigators received an introduction to some of the Capitol village’s unsavory ways during a 2012 investigation of the intersection of legislation and campaign contributions to former Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan’s congressional campaign.

More as details emerge.