Tom Foley Wins Republican Nomination for Governor

Connecticut Republicans are once again backing Tom Foley as their party's candidate for governor.

The party's 2010 candidate secured more than 57 percent of the delegates at Saturday's convention at the Mohegan Sun casino. But a rematch of between Foley, a Greenwich businessman, and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is not a sure bet.

"We must seize this opportunity to save our state from the status quo that’s gotten us where we are," Foley told his fellow Republicans.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney both secured more than 15 percent support from GOP delegates, allowing them to wage a primary election challenge in August.

"We’re excited," Boughton said. "Never been so happy to lose a convention before but we’ve worked so hard, so this is awesome."

While Boughton won enough delegates early on in the balloting, it came down to the wire for McKinney, who ultimately gained enough support from delegates who switched their votes.

“I feel great. Ever since I entered the governor’s race, I said I want to take my case to the people of Connecticut, take my case to the Republicans of Connecticut," McKinney said. "I’ve got my shot."

Penny Bacchiocchi of Stafford Springs received the endorsement for lieutenant governor. She'll face Heather Bond Somers and David Walker in the primary.

Yesterday, Gov. Dannel Malloy was nominated as the Democratic candidate for governor.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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