Sullivan Holds Big Fundraising Lead in 5th CD Contest. Meehan Lags Behind Hyde.

Retired federal prosecutor David X. Sullivan has built a commanding lead over rival candidates for the 5th CD Republican nomination to face first term incumbent Democrat Jahana Hayes. Sullivan reported at the end of the first quarter of the year raising around $135,000.

Bizarre hopeful Robert Hyde, of Simsbury and the bar at the DC Trump hotel, has raised a few dollars shy of $25,000. That’s a couple of thousand dollars more than Ryan Meehan, recently of Texas and Greenwich, who recently moved into the district to make the race. Meehan’s poor fundraising will come as a disappointment to his campaign consultants. A fourth candidate, Ruben Rodriguez, a Waterbury Republican, has raised less than $4,000.

The unique coronavirus has halted traditional campaigning and fundraising. Town committees meet by phone or internet, if at all. Delegates are unavailable for the usual get-together with eager candidates. Glad-handing is verboten. Delegate isolating is especially hard for candidates who entered the race late, like Meehan, though will be a mercy for Hyde and party activists who want to avoid him.

Delegates will meet by some means in May to pick an endorsed candidate.