Lamont aide Nick Simmons expected to seek 2024 Democratic nomination in 36th Senate District. Path not cleared for scion.

Governor Ned Lamont’s deputy chief of staff, Nick Simmons, is expected to seek the 2024 Democratic nomination for state senator in the 36th District, Daily Ructions has learned. The seat is held by Republican Ryan Fazio. He’s likely to seek a third term.

Simmons may not enjoy a coronation to the Democratic nomination. Democrat Trevor Crow, who lost to Fazio in 2022 by 89 votes out of the 42,845 cast, may take a second run at Fazio. With that narrow margin, Crow would have a strong claim to the nomination. The district includes Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan. Fazio recaptured the traditionally Republican seat in the summer of 2021 in a special election caused by the resignation of Democrat Alex Kasser. Kasser claimed her contentious divorce made it impossible for her to continue to live in Greenwich.

Nick Simmons is the brother of Caroline Simmons, who is serving her first term as mayor of Stamford. She has been in a prolonged battle with local Democratic activists. They could use a low turnout summer primary between Simmons and Crow to send a firm message to the high-handed mayor about her own political prospects.

A former currency trader, Nick Simmons did a turn at the U.S. Department of Education before returning to the Lamont administration as deputy chief of staff at the start of the governor’s second term.

Published November 1, 2023.