Campaigns & Elections
Democrat Rebecca Martinez Announces Win for State Representative in 22nd District
Democrat Rebecca Martinez has announced that she has won the 22nd State Assembly District over incumbent Republican Rep Francis Cooley (R-22). “We did it!!!” Martinez announced to supporters online today. “Thank you Plainville, Southington and Farmington for putting your trust in me. I cannot wait to get to work representing our communities in Hartford!” The […]
Election Day 2024 Arrives!
Election Day 2024 has arrived, with elections today that include choices for President and Vice President, US Senator, US Representative, State Senator, State Representative and Registrars of Voters. For voters who have not yet taken advantage of early voting opportunities or voted by absentee ballot, polls are open on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 6:00pm […]
New Britain Voter Registration Appears Down Compared to Close 5th CD Election in 2022; Democrats Lower And Republicans Higher
Recent New Britain voter registration figures may show troubling signs for Democrats and opportunity for Republicans in the closely contested Fifth Congressional District race between incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) and Republican challenger George Logan. It appears that there could be nearly 2,000 fewer registered voters in New Britain than in 2022. Voter registration […]
League of Women Voters Informs About Early Voting Opportunity, Advocates “Yes” Votes for No Excuse Absentee Voting
The League of Women Voters of the New Britain Area wants to make sure people in New Britain know about their opportunity to vote in the 2024 election in early voting days – and is advocating a “yes” vote on a ballot question to allow voting by mail for everyone. The general election occurs on […]
Lt Gov Bysiewicz Joins Local Democrats in Rally Ahead of November Elections
Editor’s Note: Journalism by Dr Frank Gerratana contributed to this article. Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz (D) joined New Britain Democrats Tuesday at Five Churches Brewing in an election rally, as the autumn election season gets underway. Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson welcomed the assembled activists and dignitaries to build excitement for the most active part […]
As Democratic National Convention Begins, McNamara Networks with Fellow Municipal Officials
New Britain’s Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) is one of the 74 Connecticut delegates at the Democratic National Convention, which opened today in Chicago, and he says he is using the opportunity to network with fellow Democratic municipal officials from across the nation. “I am looking forward to hearing ideas and ways that […]
DeFronzo Wins Democratic Nomination for State Representative
Democratic former City Council member, Ald David DeFronzo (D-AL) is the Democratic Party nominee for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District, after winning today’s Democratic primary with fellow former Council member, Ald Aram Ayalon (D-3), apparently by a nearly two to one margin. The results were unofficially 484 for DeFronzo to 248 for Ayalon, […]
In Primary Tuesday, Democrats to Choose Nominee for 26th District; Republicans to Nominate for U.S. Senate
Everyday Democrats in the 26th State Assembly District have their say on their nominee in the election to succeed longtime State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), who is retiring this year, while Republican voters, citywide will nominate in the upcoming election for U.S. Senate. Democratic former City Council member, Ald. David DeFronzo (D-AL) is the endorsed […]
Early Voting Underway in DeFronzo-Ayalon Primary
Voting is underway for the primary between David DeFronzo and Aram Ayalon for the State Representative district that is an open seat after the announced retirement of Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26). The official date of the Democratic primary in the 26th Assembly district is on August 13th, but under a new early voting law in […]
Dave DeFronzo Announces Citizen Election Qualification and AFL-CIO and CSU-AAUP Endorsements
Former City Council member Dave DeFronzo (D-AL) has announced he has successfully qualified for the state’s Citizen Election Program, known commonly as the “Clean Election Program,” in his run for the 26th District State Representative seat. At the same time he has announced endorsements for his candidacy from the Connecticut AFL-CIO and the Connecticut State […]
DeFronzo Proposes “Historic Investment in Municipal Infrastructure Improvements”
State Representative candidate Dave DeFronzo announced that he is calling, “for a $200 million state investment in aging, unsafe and inefficient municipal infrastructure systems across the state,” with his campaign noting, “long delayed sewer improvement projects have led to regularly recurring flood conditions in a residential neighborhood creating public health dangers and property damage.” “With […]
Ayalon Qualifies For Primary For State Representative
Former City Council and Board of Education member, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) has qualified for an August 13th Democratic primary, challenging for the nomination for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District. Former Mayor and Democratic Registrar of Voters Lucian Pawlak confirmed that Ayalon received enough petition signatures to qualify to run today. Ayalon is […]
Biden Delegates Chosen Include New Britain Council Leader
Delegates to represent Connecticut at this summer’s Democratic National Convention were chosen on Wednesday, including a New Britain City Council member. Council Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) was elected as one of the eight delegates representing the 5th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention. All of the delegates are pledged to President Joe […]
DeFronzo Touts Council Record in Race for State Representative
Former City Council member Dave DeFronzo says that his experience on the Council, working on emergency response, park protection, neighborhood concerns and opposition to corporate tax breaks as makes him well suited to succeed current State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26) in the legislature. Rep. Tercyak, who recently announced his retirement, after serving the district for 21 […]
Ayalon Announces Candidacy for State Representative
Former City Council member, Dr. Aram Ayalon (D-3), announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District in a campaign statement. An open seat election in the district will occur this year after current State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), announced his retirement after serving the district for 21 years. Another former Council member, […]
State Representative Tercyak Announces Retirement
New Britain State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) has announced that he will not seek re-election this year, retiring after serving the city in the state House of Representatives for almost twenty-one years. Rep. Tercyak, a Democrat, made the announcement at the New Britain Democratic Town Committee Thursday evening at City Hall. The announcement was widely […]
Why Are Two Slates of Good Democrats Asking Me to Choose Between Them?
By Tim O’Brien On many levels, I am glad that former Mayor, Senator and state Commissioner Don DeFronzo, with support and editing by John McNamara, penned the important history of the 1989 mayoral election. Watershed, serialized in the New Britain Progressive and NB Politicus, tells the story of how a conservative but politically deft political […]
Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign
The Municipal Campaign That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction to Part 3 In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain’s 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara’s six terms as the city’s top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year […]
Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 2)
The Municipal Election That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain’s 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara’s six terms as the city’s top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year term. “During the […]
Lowell Weicker’s Victories Dashed The Hopes of Liberal Democrats Throughout His Career
Reflecting on the Politics of Connecticut’s Three-Term Senator and One-Term Governor By John McNamara The first time I and many viewers (outside CT) saw and heard Lowell P. Weicker was watching the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. I was paying attention every day from my perch in the newsroom of the Lynn Sunday Post where […]