UPDATED and CORRECTED: Lamont WILL NOT Name Moriah Moriarty to Replace Retiring Denise Merrill.

A Wednesday afternoon switch in the appointment of a replacement to serve the remainder of Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s third term. Moriah Moriarty will not, as reported below, be succeeding Merrill. Daily Ructions regrets the error. Moriarty’s many well-wishers want to reaffirm their expressions of admiration and goodwill in the aftermath of the sudden change of plans.

Governor Ned Lamont will appoint Moriah Moriarty to replace Denise Merrill, who retires Thursday at noon as secretary of the state, Daily Ructions has learned.

Moriarty is one of five elections officer at the secretary of the state’s office. Her mother, Maureen Moriarty, is a veteran East Hartford Democrat and serves as the director of U.S. Representative John Larson’s district office.

Lamont spoke often in 2022 of adding diversity to state government. His appointment of Moriarty continues the state’s tradition of only white people serving in that constitutional office. Both political parties hold primaries for the nomination for secretary of the state on August 9th. State Representative Stephanie Thomas is the Democratic endorsed candidate. Dominick Rapini is the Republican endorsed candidate.

Paul Kezer, who was elected in 1990 and served for one term, is the only Republican to have won the office in nearly 70 years. Merrill was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018.

An announcement on the appointment may be made Thursday. Lamont is not expected to adopt Republican state chairman Ben Proto’s suggestion of Len Fasano or John McKinney.

Revised and published June 29, 2022.