Stacey Abrams Rallies CT Democrats Ahead of Election

by Jamil Ragland CTNewsjunkie

HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut Democrats sat rapt in their seats as Stacey Abrams rallied the party to prepare for an election where she said the state House, the governorship, and the future of American democracy is at stake.

“This is about power, and we are going to take our power back in this country, in this election, in this moment, and it’s starting here in Connecticut,” she said to attendees of the state Democratic Party’s annual John Bailey Dinner at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on Saturday evening. “That’s why we’re here. We are here because our power is real.”

The evening featured speeches from several of the state’s leading Democrat politicians before Abrams, a celebrated leader in the national party and voting rights organizer, delivered the keynote address.

Gov. Ned Lamont took aim at Washington, D.C., and President Donald Trump, characterizing his administration as being chaotic and corrupt. Lamont called out state Republicans, particularly Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, for refusing to break with the president for what he said are policies that end up hurting state residents. 

“[The Trump administration is] taking away food from kids. As [Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz] said, ‘Hell, let’s do free breakfast. Let’s give our kids the very best head start in life.’ What do you say, Ryan? No comment. No can do. He’s jacking up the price of health insurance for our families on the exchange, $800 a month. Let’s make sure they don’t have that $800 increase. What do you say, Ryan? Can we do something about that? No comment. No can do.”

Retiring state Sen. Martin Looney speaks after being honored for his decades of service at the annual John Bailey Dinner in Hartford on Sept. 19, 2026 Credit: Jamil Ragland / CT Newsjunkie

While opposition to Trump was a major theme of the evening, Democrats also used the occasion to honor their leaders. Retiring state Sen. Martin Looney was honored for his decades of public service by the party. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, praised his longtime colleague for his commitment to progressive causes such as paid family medical leave and an increase in the minimum wage.

“Think about things people in Connecticut count on today, things families benefit from every single day and don’t even think about,” he said. “Every one of them took years and years of Marty pushing long before they were popular because Marty is never wrong, he is just early.”

Looney himself used his speech to defend the idea of government being a force for good. He recalled his Irish immigrant parents joining the Democratic Party after being inspired by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s. 

“I think it’s important that all of us continue to believe that principled, effective government, which is viewed as being energized in the service of people, can make a great difference in our lives,” he said. 

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