Malloy’s Major Announcement

The promise of major announcements from Democratic candidates for governor continues.  Former Stamford mayor Dan Malloy has raised $250,000 in contributions of $100 or less, making him the first to reach the formidable threshold for public financing of his campaign.  Reaching the quarter of a million dollar threshold means Malloy will have an initial $1.25 million from taxpayers to finance his August primary campaign.

First quarter campaign finance reports released in April showed no other candidate for governor is close to tapping into the campaign finance bonanza, only three weeks from the state party nominating conventions.  That $1.25 million will keep Malloy competitive in the money stakes, which Lamont’s personal fortune has allowed him to dominate. Malloy gets a bonus of up to another $1.25 million, depending how much Lamont spends.

The Citizen Election Fund’s future is in doubt as a federal appeals court reviews a district court decision that found the scheme unconstitutional.  State officials have been sweeping money from the fund to try to close the state’s yawning budget gap.  Nevertheless, Malloy has succeeded where others have only struggled, and delegates will take note.