Esty’s In. Will Seek Democratic Nomination in CT-05.
One-term former state Representative Elizabeth Esty (D-Cheshire) has formed a campaign committee to seek the Democratic nomination for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th District. The seat is being vacated by Democratic Congressman Christopher Murphy to run for the U.S. Senate. Esty defeated Republican incumbent Al Adinolfi in 2008. He returned to toss Esty out two years later.
Daily Ructions understands that Esty expressed interest in the Democratic nomination for special election prompted by the the conviction and resignation of Meriden state Senator Thomas Gaffey early this year. Esty was rebuffed. Some Democrats are wondering how Esty will make a case in the shadow of her embarrassing defeat by Adinolfi last fall.
Esty is married to Malloy administration environment chief Dan Esty.
7 comments
She is a rising star. She is bright capable and compassionate. She gets it. She lost over her thoughtful support of abolishing the death penatly. It was a ground zero election in Cheshire. It was nothing to be embarrassed about. She has my vote. The 5th district would be well served with her as congreswoman
For all her trouble with the death penalty, I’d say her loss to adinolfi was less embarrassing and more interesting – that it was even close shows she can clearly campaign. Ill give her good odds, besides anything is better than the speaker! Donovan could never win the 5th in a general, why waste our time!
This lady is highly qualified. After all, she’s married to a chief!
She has no chance. Donovan and his union money will bury her. If she can’t win a state House race what possible chance could she have for Congress. I think this lady has delusions of grandeur.
Esty will get the support of those who think Donovan can’t win the seat. There’s a growing number of Democrats who think that. Donovan will bury any of his opponents in union money, but as we’ve seen in CT elections, money is no sign that you’re going to win (Ned Lamont, Linda McMahon, Nancy Johnson).
So she couldn’t even get the blessing of dems for a State Senate special election? It sounds to me that this woman is dead in the water. I doubt she will be able to raise any money are get any institutional support. Perhaps she should set her sights on something more attainable, say school board?
Two things drive elections: money & organization.
To take her lightly is unwise. Her pedigree is Yale / Harvard and she’s been donating to Congressional candidates for a long-time with significant dollars. I’m sure anyone can find the numbers on OpenSecrets. And with her friendly connections to both the POTUS and Guv, I’m confident she can fundraise… both in CT and nationally.
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit if she’s the leading fundraiser come June 30th. But we’ll see…
As for organization, she’s damn good. She was the key organizer when the Cheshire Dems took the Council in 2005. And that was an issue used by then-state Senator Chris Murphy when he went to Washington to ask Rahm for money in his bid to unseat Congresswoman Nancy Johnson. So I don’t question her organizational abilities either.
I don’t how the Dem primary will play out, but despite her 2010 loss, she should be considered a player in the CT-5.
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