Young Democrats President Travis Tanuis challenging John Olsen for men’s DNC spot.

Not everyone in state Democratic politics wants to wait in line. Travis Tanuis, currently leader of the fractious Young Democrats of Connecticut, announced this weekend that he will challenge incumbent John Olsen for the seat reserved for a Connecticut man on the Democratic National Committee.

The contest will take place at this weekend’s Democratic state convention at the Mohegan Sun casino The convention was expected to be a tranquil affair as delegates nominate U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy for a third term. The election of two DNC members follows.

Olsen has spent much of his adult life as an unofficial or official Democratic force, first as head of the state AFL-CIO and later taking a demotion to the DNC.

Tanuis may try to inject Israel’s fight against terror into the contest.

No one will be surprised if a woman challenges party veteran Marti Carlson for the seat on the DNC reserved for a woman. This year marks Carlson’s 30th anniversary in frontline party politics. The Guilford Democrat helmed John Larson’s 1994 primary for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Published May 6, 2024.