Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas castigates delegates for leaving state convention before dismissal. Mauro replies and notes she has never visited New Haven.

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas won a surprise victory at the 2022 Democratic state convention. Four years ago, Thomas won the party endorsement on the third ballot, defeating four other Democrats. Three of the Democrats won at least 15% of the delegate votes on one ballot.

Only one of the contenders failed to reach the 15% needed to qualify for a primary: Josh Elliott. Politics is a fickle ol’ business.

Thomas went on to win the 2022 primary and the general election.

This year, the Norwalk Democrat was unopposed for re-election, as were her fellow Constitutional officers. When state Democrats gathered at The Bushnell on May 16th, candidates for those statewide offices were at the voting–after the contested race for governor. Many delegates declined to remain in the historic hall, where Winston Churchill once commanded the stage, for the pro forma nominations of the under ticket.

Thomas was not pleased that so few of her fellow Democrats were in their seats to hear the speeches nominating and seconding her. She expressed her displeasure in a long email message to delegates. Thomas wrote that her letter was “not an admonition. It’s a cautionary tale.” It is posted below in its entirety.

It read like an admonition–at least. That’s how one Democratic committee chair read Thomas’s message. New Haven’s Vincent Mauro shared his reaction with two state party officials in a message obtained by Daily Ructions:

To Sarah and Chair Alves:

Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas chose Memorial Day weekend to publicly admonish delegates who left last Saturday’s convention early. That choice of timing and tone deserves some scrutiny.

The governor’s race was contested. Everything else on the agenda that day passed by acclamation — no votes, no decisions that required anyone’s presence. These are Democrats who give up their weekends to knock doors, staff phone banks, and do the unglamorous work that wins elections. They deserved better than a public rebuke over a non-issue.

It’s also worth noting that Secretary Thomas has never once, in her entire tenure, visited New Haven’s Democratic Town Committee — not to speak, not to attend an event, not to show up for the people who form the backbone of this party in our city.

Admonishing hard-working delegates on a holiday weekend, for leaving a convention where their votes weren’t even needed, says more about ego than it does about civic duty. If she wants the loyalty and attention of grassroots Democrats, the path there is showing up for them — not lecturing them after the fact.

Vin Mauro Jr.

Dear Delegate, A week ago, we gathered at the Bushnell, and I was loudly endorsed as the Democratic Party’s nominee for Secretary of the State…sort of. The truth is that many of you left right after the vote for Governor.  And as the walk-on music played for William, then Sean, then Erick, many more of you walked out.  I heard many people exclaim how they loved the atmosphere that day – how upbeat despite the contests playing out.  How wonderful to be surrounded by like-minded Democrats.  But as each constitutional officer took the stage, the frivolity was lessened by the rapidly emptying hall. It’s a shame that many of you missed Haritha, a recent UConn grad who represents the future of the party, nominate me for the office.  And you missed the heartfelt, yet funny words of Ellen, a hard-working registrar of voters who puts in the daily elbow grease required to roll out the many voting reforms that Democrats have worked hard to pass over the past three years. Sure, you can watch it all on CT-N (clip provided below), but I can’t help but think – this is a reflection of the electorate at large and the reason Donald Trump is President. There is an anonymity in large groups that makes the individual feel like they aren’t needed.  During elections, the results can be disastrous.  Voters think they can stay home because someone else will ensure the outcome.  Voters think that if a race isn’t competitive, their vote isn’t needed.  Voters think that when life happens, someone else will take their place. The truth is that there is no such thing as a “safe” election.  We can never miss a vote, assuming that someone else will fill the void.  I can’t help but dream about what could have been if all eligible Democratic voters had not made those calculations and had voted in 2016 and 2024.  This is not an admonition. It’s a cautionary tale.  Everything is on the line in 2026 and 2028.  And the same reasons that some of you walked out of the Bushnell (family events, free beer at Pratt Street, an aching back, etc.) will exist among the general population on Election Day.  There is a reason turnout drops almost 25% between Presidential elections and midterm elections in Connecticut. We, the leaders of the Democratic Party, have to model good behavior to other Democrats, and let’s grab some unaffiliateds along the way.  We can’t turn them off with negativity.  We can’t make them feel like the race is “in the bag” in Connecticut.  We can’t let them think a bad back excuses them from participating in the election. We cannot afford to have one person feel like they should stay home instead of showing up to vote this year, and every year. Take a listen to Haritha, Ellen, and me, and I hope you will be inspired (thank you CT-N.com for always being present to record these public happenings!).  A special thank you to all of you who stayed until the bitter end.  It was wonderful to see your smiling faces and hear your laughs.  I am in this role to be of service to you, the state of Connecticut, and the United States of America.  A great country that has given me much that I am not willing to lose. With deep gratitude for the nomination, and onwards to November.  Let the real work begin! Stephanie Thomas Connecticut Secretary of the State

Published May 29, 2026.