Scramble Begins to Win Wooden’s Place on Democratic Ticket.

State Treasurer Shawn Wooden’s brief and carefully crafted announcement Thursday that he will not seek a second term has bewildered Democrats sorting the possibilities of a replacement.

Wooden is withdrawing from the frontline of state politics after concluding, “Things like juggling financial resources to pay for college or making the time needed to teach children life’s most important lessons aren’t always easy in public life. As the proud father of you two young Black boys, I know that, today, the best thing I can do is put my own ambitions aside and put them first.”

The Hartford Democrat ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2011, but was elected to the City Council that year. Wooden suffered a bruising defeat in a 2014 primary against incumbent state Senator Eric Coleman. Four years later, Wooden won the state party’s endorsement for treasurer and defeated Greenwich Democrat Dita Bhargava in an August primary. Wooden beat Republican Thad Gray in their fall contest.

Wooden’s carefully managed public image received a boost in September when he was picked in September to lead the National Association of State Treasurers. He and his office, which was marked by the frequent hirings and departures of aides, refused to confirm or deny to Jon Lender that actors were hired to portray his children in an ad he fronted for CHET, the state’s college savings plan.

Democratic hopefuls who seek to win the party’s nomination to succeed Wooden four weeks from Saturday face some daunting obstacles. Due to the nature of the business conducted in the treasurer’s office, candidates are restricted in soliciting campaign contributions from people in the financial industry.

The Democratic nomination is a valuable prize. A Republican has not been elected treasurer since 1994–that result set in motion a staggering scandal of influence for sale. Republican Paul Silvester and several top aides were convicted of corruption.

Prospective candidates began making calls shortly after Wooden’s announcement to test their support. The field will take a few days to take shape. Party leaders and delegates may want to refresh their recollection of the Earl O’Garra and Adam Cloud saga before making any commitments.

Published April 7, 2022.