Greenberg Lagged in Comptroller Race.
Good thing he switched races. Republican Mark Greenberg raised just $34,576 in his bid for his party’s nomination for comptroller. In the recently concluded 1st quarter of the year, Greenberg raised a puny $7,340.
Greenberg is expected to make a fourth run for the Republican nomination in the state’s 5th CD. Party leaders are looking for an alternative and have hopes invested in William Petit.
April 10, 2018 3:34 pm Comments Off on Greenberg Lagged in Comptroller Race.
It’s Equal Pay Day–So Jonathan Harris Wants Some Your Money.
Poor Jonathan Harris. He suggested long ago that his fundraising was going great. Today, the Democratic operative whose 2014 campaign emails cost state Democrats more than $300,000 to keep secret is still nagging potential donors for contributions. Harris wants to celebrate National Equal Pay Day by giving money to a man–him.
April 10, 2018 3:09 pm Comments Off on It’s Equal Pay Day–So Jonathan Harris Wants Some Your Money.
Berthel Won’t Seek Republican Nomination in Open 5th CD Seat.
First term state Senator Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) not seek the Republican nomination in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. Berthel was an early party favorite for the nomination in the aftermath of Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Esty’s implosion over her failure to protect female staff members from harassment and alleged violence in the office.
Berthel will seek a full term in November.
April 10, 2018 2:14 pm Comments Off on Berthel Won’t Seek Republican Nomination in Open 5th CD Seat.
Harp Endorses Tong. Republican Shaban Lags in Fundraising.
William Tong picks up a helpful endorsement from Toni Harp, mayor of New Haven and leader of Democrats. The race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general has been intense in New Haven. The size of the delegation makes it one of the convention’s big prizes.
Christopher Mattei, a Hartford Democrat who spent plenty of time in New Haven during his years as an assistant U.S. attorney has some support there. State Representative Michael D’Agostino is from nearby Hamden and has been emerging as a labor favorite.
In other AG news, Republican John Shaban filed what supporters will see as a disappointing fundraising report. The former state representative has raised a paltry $19,000 and has just $9,000 on hand.
April 10, 2018 10:09 am Comments Off on Harp Endorses Tong. Republican Shaban Lags in Fundraising.
Lee Whitnum Brookfield Video.
Oy vey iz mir.
April 9, 2018 9:24 pm Comments Off on Lee Whitnum Brookfield Video.
Walker Paying For It. Bacchiochi Endorsement Costs $5,000 a Month.
Last month’s Penny Bacchiochi endorsement of her formal rival–the one she characterized as a racist in 2014–David Walker came with a hefty price tag. Walker’s gubernatorial campaign paid Bocchiochi $5,000 a six days after her March 7th endorsement. They expense appears in Walker’s first quarter fundraising report as a March payment to the former Republican state legislator who placed second in the 2014 primary for lieutenant governor, ahead of the last place Walker.
Bacchiochi has lowered her price. She made considerably more lobbying for loosening laws regulating medical marijuana while the issue was making its way through the Connecticut legislature.
Walker has hired Bacchiochi to lead his convention operation where it’s do-or-die to win 15% of the vote on any ballot. Walker has $97,000 on hand, according to his campaign finance report. Whatever’s left after the convention would not be enough for the self-regarding Walker to mount a signature-gathering campaign to secure a place on the August primary ballot.
April 9, 2018 4:54 pm Comments Off on Walker Paying For It. Bacchiochi Endorsement Costs $5,000 a Month.
Tong Stops Exploring. Running for AG.
William Tong is a candidate for attorney general. Three days after a poor showing in the AFL-CIO poll of Democratic contenders, Tong announced in an email message that he is in the race. Tong had made some noises about exploring a race for governor before incumbent Democratic Attorney General George Jepsen announced he would not seek a third term.
Here’s the Phillips’ Academy graduate’s announcement:
This is a deeply personal fight for me. My parents came here as immigrants with almost nothing. They worked seven days a week. 15 hours a day. We’ve had to fight for every inch.
If you are like us. If you come from working people. Or if you are a person of color. A woman. Or if you just want decent health insurance. The President of the United States has declared war on you and your family. And, that’s why I am running for Attorney General. The Attorney General is the first and last line of defense against the powerful forces bearing down on us in Connecticut.
As Chair of the Judiciary Committee and a state lawmaker, I’ve taken on forces much more powerful than Donald Trump, and I’ve beaten them. I stood up to the NRA, I stood up to the big banks, I stood up to far right-wing forces opposed to marriage equality and a woman’s right to choose. I’m battle-tested, and I’m ready to take on the unprecedented risks we face.
As Attorney General, I will take the fight to Donald Trump and his hateful policies that are targeting Connecticut. And together, we’ll beat him, too.
Join me in this campaign to fight for Connecticut and our families.
William Tong, Candidate for Attorney General
April 9, 2018 10:26 am Comments Off on Tong Stops Exploring. Running for AG.
Doyle Raises $55,179.55 in Bid for AG.
State Senator Paul Doyle (D-Wethersfield) is more than 2/3 of the way to the magic $75,000 he will need to qualify for public funding in the crowded race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Doyle raised his funds through an exploratory committee that he converted to a candidate committee in March.
Doyle will need to win 15% of the votes on any ballot at the Democratic state convention in May as the other prong in the trudge to winning a spot on the primary ballot and having money to pay for a campaign between the convention and the August vote by enrolled party members.
Tuesday, April 10th is the deadline for candidates to file first quarter campaign finance reports. Some candidates for statewide office–not Doyle–have been calling party leaders to warn them of disappointing fundraising numbers.
April 9, 2018 8:52 am Comments Off on Doyle Raises $55,179.55 in Bid for AG.
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.
April 8, 2018 8:02 am Comments Off on Committed to Connecticut. Witkos Won’t Run for Open Seat in 5th.
D’Agostino Scores Win in AFL-CIO Poll for AG.
Six Series D’Agostino, lawyer for bankers and other corporate titans, scored a big win in the AFL-CIO straw poll for attorney general today.
The results:
Mike D’Agostino: 47.7%
Chris Mattei: 24.8%
William Tong: 11.4%
No one: 8.7%
Clare Kindall: 7.4%
Paul Doyle: 0%
April 6, 2018 4:23 pm Comments Off on D’Agostino Scores Win in AFL-CIO Poll for AG.