Lesser Folds. Middletown Democrat Retreats to Senate Re-election. Abandons SOTS Race After Humiliating Convention Loss.

Less than two weeks after formally declaring his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for secretary of the state, Matthew Lesser has abandoned the race. Lesser had been maintaining the fiction of an exploratory campaign for statewide office until April 28th. As last weekend’s state nominating convention approached, Lesser stood near a Hartford street corner and announced he was running for the office that has been held by three-term Democrat Denise Merrill, who announced last year should would not seek re-election.

Lesser’s maneuvering to change convention balloting order rules last week allowed a considerable army of detractors to unite in public to thwart him. When balloting for secretary of the state began on Saturday afternoon, the Middletown Democrat’s support had collapsed so completely that he did not receive the unanimous support of Middletown delegates. He never came close to overtaking state Representative Stephanie Thomas. Lesser battled with Meriden’s Hilda Santiago for a distant second place.

As the second ballot delegate switches began, Lesser was reduced to accepting some pity votes from the surging Thomas camp to insure Lesser made it into the two-candidate final ballot where he was swiftly ground to dust by the Norwalk Democrat. Lesser invoked a mercy rule and withdrew from the final ballot as Thomas broke into an early and decisive lead.

Through it all, Lesser promised supporters he would take his campaign into an August primary. Instead, Lesser decided Monday to give up his campaign for secretary of the state and seek a third term in the Senate. He’ll face Rocky Hill’s popular Republican mayor, Lisa Marotta, in November.

Published May 9, 2022.