It might seem insignificant on May 30, 2018, but the image of all five party-endorsed candidates for statewide office standing on a street corner in Hartford could be what leads to a clear message and strategy for Democrats between now and November.
The image of Ned Lamont, the party’s pick for governor, being flanked by a diverse group of four other statewide candidates could set the stage to provide a clear contrast Democrats are hoping sticks with voters over the summer and into the fall.
For all of the talk of the Connecticut Democratic Party having an issue with diversity, it certainly did not look like it on Wednesday. Treasurer Candidate Shawn Wooden, an African American, stood behind Lamont, with Attorney General Candidate William Tong of Chinese descent standing to his right. On the other side of the press conference were Denise Merrill and Susan Bysiewicz.
The message being sent to voters and to Republicans is a blunt one: The Democrats want to be viewed as the party that more closely resembles the makeup of the state of Connecticut.
By holding a press conference together, they’re handling the primary for governor more like a slate in a small Connecticut town looking to wrestle control from those in power. It comes off as a Three Musketeers strategy, “All for one and one for all.”
The strategy serves to benefit three of the candidates facing what could be stiff primary challenges. Bysiewicz, Tong, and Wooden are all facing strong candidates that emerged with positions on the August primary ballot.
Bysiewicz and Tong likely have the most to gain from what amounts to an alliance with Lamont and the rest of the endorsed candidates.
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Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a union organizer and former staffer to Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, became the grassroots and union-backed darling of the convention. She surged to earning 40 percent of delegates after days of handwringing among some party leaders over the choice by Lamont of Bysiewicz to be his running mate.
African American and Latino party leaders wanted to see a person of color alongside Lamont. Bermudez Zimmerman, as a result, could have strong support in Connecticut’s largest cities, posing a strong challenge to Bysiewicz.
Bysewicz, however, will be traveling around the state with Lamont, and, presumably at certain points, with the rest of the endorsed slate. That provides power in numbers.
Rep. William Tong, the most recent Judiciary Committee Chairman from Stamford, faces Chris Mattei. Mattei prosecuted John Rowland for the second time and has an interesting story to tell. He, too, was a union organizer.
Tong will have the same benefit as Susan Bysiewicz. The more he is seen with the endorsed slate, the louder the message it sends to primary voters that he is a part of the ticket that is supposed to be in charge.
For now, this appears to be a united front, until and unless some of the others in the race decide that’s not what is best for them.
