Connecticut Democrats Select Murphy, DNC Members For Re-Election

7 Presidential Electors Also Chosen

by Brian Scott-Smith CTNewsJunkie

UNCASVILLE, CT – With the 2024 legislative session in the rearview mirror, the Connecticut Democratic Party held its state convention Saturday at Mohegan Sun and nominated US Sen. Chris Murphy for a third term.
The party also re-elected its two Democratic National Committee members, Marti Carlson and John Olson, and chose seven presidential electors for November: Dorothy Grady, David Kostek, Tiffani McGinnis, Mike Pohl, Geraldo Reyes, Kevin Sullivan, and Nick Balletto.
In her opening remarks, Nancy DiNardo, the state party chair, called the upcoming election “one of the most important elections in our lifetimes.”

Her message was echoed by the rest of the speakers at the event, including Murphy, who said he never takes anything for granted.
“I’m going to campaign hard from here until November and try to bring as many Democrats along with me as I can,” Murphy said. “I’m excited to be on the ballot. A lot of people may not vote. Why? I hope people understand the stakes of this election. I know a lot of people are frustrated by what’s happening overseas. But when I talk to young people, they are also really concerned about what would happen to the safety of our streets if a Republican Congress repeals the 2022 Gun Bill. They are very concerned about losing their ability to have access to the full range of reproductive health care services.”
Murphy also recognized fellow Democrat Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and said when it comes to campaigning, he’s there for everyone.

“So, within what’s allowable by the law, I am going to spend money not just to help myself, but to help make sure the Democrats do well all across the state,” Murphy said. “Obviously, the 5th District matters to me, having represented it for six years. Jahana is a close friend, and so I am absolutely going to spend a lot of time with her to the extent she wants me to campaign together and make sure that we both get re-elected.”

2nd District Congres2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney talks about the Connecticut Democratic Party holding its state convention in his district for the first time Saturday at the Mohegan Sun. Credit: Brian Scott-Smith / CTNewsJunkie

Congressman Joe Courtney from the 2nd District spoke at the convention, saying Saturday was the first time the party had held a state convention in his district. He buoyed the crowd, saying the eastern region of Connecticut is the state’s fastest growing job market, particularly Norwich and New London.
“It’s number two in New England, and it’s in the top tier nationally, partly because of the Mohegan tribe that employs thousands of people at this amazing facility, along with their brothers and sisters at the Mashantucket Pequot facility,” Courtney said. “But last year also we saw Electric Boat shipyard hire 5,300 new union workers into this region.”

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz discusses the upcoming election during the Connecticut Democratic Party’s state convention Saturday at the Mohegan Sun. Credit: Brian Scott-Smith / CTNewsJunkie

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz’s message to the delegates was one of urgency with elections just around the corner.
“In five months, we have a critical election,” Bysiewicz said. “And the choices we face could not be more clear. It’s a choice between autocracy and democracy. Chaos and stability. Fact and fiction. But here in Connecticut, we stand united in our belief in science, in women’s rights, in worker rights and LGBTQ plus rights. And we believe that Black Lives Matter.”
Bysiewicz’s comments were met with loud applause as she also called upon candidates and legislative leaders to stand and be recognized, saying they will be the foot soldiers in democratic victories.

“They will be leading us to victory because they will be door knocking,” she said. “They will be calling, they will be texting, and I will be calling them every week to find out how many doors they’ve done.”
Gov. Ned Lamont also took to the stage but offered a sobering message.

Gov. Ned Lamont discusses the stakes of the election in November during the Connecticut Democratic Party’s state convention Saturday at the Mohegan Sun. Credit: Brian Scott-Smith / CTNewsJunkie

“Just imagine if we lose the House or the Senate,” Lamont said. “You know the ending. Roe v. Wade is a canary in the coal mine. You have no idea what they’re going to do yet. Labor rights gone, IVF at risk. Obamacare. They’ve already said that’s it, so much for affordable, accessible health care. It’s just scary what they could do. The right to organize at risk, everything that we have fought for as a country, going back generations, are at risk. That is what is at stake in this election. And we’re not going to let it happen, not on our watch, starting right here in the state of Connecticut. It’s not going to happen.”

Murphy was nominated without a challenger and said he didn’t take his job or the people of Connecticut for granted – and that was one of the reasons he walks across the state every year.
“It’s a little harder. I’m a decade older. But I do it for two reasons. First, I just love this state and I fall in love with it over and over again when I spend a week walking across it. Our fierce localism that every place is different, unique with a cohesion and sense of community across this postage stamp of a state,” Murphy said. “The other reason I do it is just as simple.”

5th District Congresswoman Jahana Hayes speaks during the Connecticut Democratic Party’s state convention Saturday at the Mohegan Sun. Credit: Brian Scott-Smith / CTNewsJunkie

He continued: “I want to show the people of this state that I don’t take this job for granted. I want to show the people of this state that I’m willing to do something hard, something a little weird, in order to make sure I’m listening to everybody, whether they watch cable news religiously or even if they barely know the names of their senators. Everybody counts in this state. Everybody matters in this state.”

Hayes congratulated Murphy before thanking the delegates for their continued trust in her since 2018.
“If you want to see us back, fighting the fight and being at the table so you are not on the menu, it’s on you,” she said.
Around 1,418 delegates from a possible 2,087 attended the event from the state’s 169 towns.