Normally, a mayor or a First Selectman announcing an endorsement in a governor’s race isn’t that big of a deal. Most city and town chief executives simply won’t move the needle in the grand scheme of an open contest.
Mayor Toni Harp of New Haven is different.
Harp’s endorsement of Lamont is a significant moment in Lamont’s quest to become the Democratic nominee for governor, and eventually governor of Connecticut.
Harp is a very popular figure not only in New Haven, but in urban Democratic circles. New Haven is a critical Democratic stronghold on both primary and Election Day, as it is a reliable turnout point. Harp can deliver votes to Lamont in both a contested primary, and perhaps even drive turnout toward a victory in November based on robust city turnout.
In the short term, the math of sealing the nomination for Lamont at the Democratic State Convention in two weeks may have gotten easier. New Haven has nearly 100 delegates to the convention, one of the largest delegations in Connecticut. Harp may not have just delivered all of those votes, but she delivered a lot of them.
There are about 2,000 delegates up for grabs at the convention, and Lamont may have just secured close to 100, not to mention other allies of Harp’s who may now side with Lamont.
Now, attention may turn to other big city mayors not running for governor like Waterbury’s Neil O’Leary and Hartford’s Luke Bronin (he dropped out of the race for governor two weeks ago). Their support could help to swing delegates one way or another.
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There is also renewed pressure on both Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. Both have been battling the perception that Lamont had become the favorite for the Democratic nomination. With Harp’s endorsement today, former party leader and Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris’ endorsement last week, and Attorney General George Jepsen’s endorsement last month, it’s difficult to argue Lamont is not the favorite at this point in time.
There were rumors as recently as last month that Ganim and Harp considered a “city ticket,” with Harp as Lieutenant Governor. Harp could end up at Lieutenant Governor, but alongside Lamont after today’s endorsement.
Bysiewicz is known as a tireless campaigner and fundraiser and she will now have to hit another gear if she’s to win the nomination.
Neither Ganim nor Bysiewicz it appears will fade away between today and the convention on May 18-19, but they now each have significant work to do to both make it on to a primary ballot, and gain support among registered Democrats.
Ganim, for his part, has opened grassroots offices in Connecticut’s biggest cities to collect signatures for a primary ballot position.
Harp’s support for Lamont gave him a boost at a time when candidates in a crowded field are trying to separate themselves. Thurs., May 3 could end up being the day Lamont became the Democrats’ choice for governor.
