CT-Gov

GOPer Foley Concedes Close CT-GOV Race -- And Says Dem Malloy Was True Winner

Eric Kleefeld | November 8, 2010, 2:26PM

Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Tom Foley (R) and Dan Malloy (D)

Republican nominee Tom Foley has just conceded the Connecticut gubernatorial race to Democrat Dan Malloy. And he went the extra mile at his press conference, too, telling all of his supporters that despite some irregularities and errors in the vote-counting process, Malloy positively did win the race by a narrow margin. And as such, he will not legally contest the election.

Foley said that his campaign team examined various irregularities that did occur, particularly in the city of Bridgeport -- where an under-printing of ballots resulted in non-regulation photocopied ballots, polls being kept open longer, and various problems in the count that even included a bag of ballots being found -- to determine whether changes to the totals in that city or elsewhere could potentially reverse Malloy's lead of several thousand votes. In the end, he said, they determined that the vote totals could not change by more than several hundred votes.

"Once all this information was available to me this morning, deciding what to do was easy," Foley said. "I have told my team that I am not willing to pursue a legal challenge to exclude photocopied ballots. Despite their irregularity, I believe that they do represent the will of well-intentioned voters, and should be included in the results."

Foley further explained that the election was a genuine victory for Malloy, "And this result should not be questioned. I hope my supporters will accept my word on this. As soon as I am done with this press conference, I will call Dan Malloy to congratulate him on winning the election, and wish him good luck."

CT-Gov

GOPer Foley To Announce Whether He Will Challenge CT-GOV Results

Eric Kleefeld | November 8, 2010, 10:05AM

Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Tom Foley (R) and Dan Malloy (D)

The Connecticut gubernatorial race isn't done yet. Though Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (D) announced official results on Friday, which put Dem nominee Dan Malloy ahead of Republican Tom Foley by 566,498 to 560,861, Foley has said that he's "not going to take her word for it," and has an announcement set for 1 p.m. ET today on whether he will challenge the results.

The Associated Press had in initially called the race last week, only to take back its call soon after -- and then reinstated its call for Malloy on Friday night.

The Hartford Courant reported Sunday:

Foley said in a telephone interview that he doesn't know yet what decision he'll be announcing at a press conference in the lobby of Goodwin Square, 225 Asylum St. But he said that lawyers have been examining statewide election results from Tuesday's balloting, and that "our analysis" should be completed Monday.

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CT-Gov

Dem Up In CT-GOV, But It's Not Over Yet

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2010, 11:39AM

Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Tom Foley (R) and Dan Malloy (D)

The vote count in the tight Connecticut gubernatorial race seems to be winding down, with Democrat Dan Malloy the apparent winner over Republican Tom Foley -- though who knows, the litigation could be just beginning.

The key here is that the city of Bridgeport, which had a controversial poll extension as a result of ballot shortages on Election Day, took a long time to sort out its votes and get them counted. (The total does not include less than 100 votes that were cast after 8 p.m.) Those results came this morning, with Malloy winning a 17,973-4,099 margin in the heavily Democratic city. And with the city's votes now included, Malloy went from trailing his Republican opponent to leading by a statewide margin of 5,465.

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2010 elections

Here We Go...: 2010's Recounts, Write-Ins And Disputed Elections

Eric Kleefeld | November 3, 2010, 2:42PM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Joe Miller and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Here's a quick update on the statewide races that may or may not be seeing recounts, election contests, graphology examinations, Brooks Brothers riots, etc.:

• In the Alaska Senate race, it's not a recount so much as a protracted and unusual vote count -- it could take weeks to sort through the 41% of ballots that were write-in votes, to determine how many them constitute valid, legal votes for incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowsi against Republican nominee Joe Miller.

• In the Connecticut gubernatorial race, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (D) has declared that Democrat Dan Malloy will win the race, without a recount. Republican Tom Foley is not conceding, maintaining that his campaign's internal numbers have them on track for a 2,000-vote win.

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2010 elections

On A Knife-Edge: Several Statehouses Still Up For Grabs

Eric Kleefeld | November 3, 2010, 11:09AM

IL Gov. Pat Quinn (D)

Here is the latest on some key gubernatorial races, which were not resolved as of last night:

• In Connecticut, where Republican Gov. Jodi Rell was not seeking re-election, Republican Tom Foley and Democrat Dan Malloy have been locked in a tight race. As of this moment, with 92% of precincts reporting, Malloy now leads by about 1,600 votes out of over a million cast.

As the Hartford Courant reports, there could be some litigation over a two-hour voting extension that a judge ordered yesterday in some precincts in Bridgeport, due to an early ballot shortage:

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CT-Gov

Rasmussen Poll: Dem Malloy Leads CT-GOV Race By 15

Marc Kilstein | August 16, 2010, 4:58PM

Connecticut Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Dan Malloy

A new Rasmussen poll of the Connecticut gubernatorial race shows Democratic nominee Dan Malloy leading Republican Tom Foley 48%-33% in the race to fill retiring GOP Gov. Jodi Rell's seat.

The new Rasmussen poll is the first survey conducted following Connecticut's August 10 gubernatorial primaries. The last Rasmussen poll, from early June, showed Malloy up 44%-35%. The new Rasmussen survey's findings are similiar to an August 2 Quinnipiac poll, which put Malloy up 46%-31%.

The TPM Poll Average puts Malloy on top 47.3%-31.2%. The latest Rasmussen poll's margin of error is ±4.5 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

CT-Gov

Foley Wins CT-GOV Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | August 10, 2010, 10:58PM

Connecticut Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Tom Foley

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley has won the Republican nomination for governor of Connecticut, in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Jodi Rell.

With 81% of precincts reporting, Foley has 43%, Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele has 38%, and businessman Oz Griebel has 19%. Foley has been projected as the winner by the Associated Press.

Foley will now face former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who won the Democratic primary over businessman and 2006 Dem Senate nominee Ned Lamont.

CT-Gov

Malloy Beats Lamont In CT-GOV Dem Primary

Eric Kleefeld | August 10, 2010, 9:43PM

Connecticut Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Dan Malloy

Former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy has won the Democratic nomination for governor of Connecticut, defeating 2006 Senate nominee and one-time Netroots hero Ned Lamont.

With 38% of precincts reporting, Malloy leads by 59%-41%, and Lamont has conceded the race. Lamont had led in all the polls during this primary race, but the final surveys did show a late surge in support for Malloy.

Lamont, of course, is the businessman and former Greenwich selectman who narrowly defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary, running on an anti-war platform. Lieberman then went on to win the general election as an independent, and continues to caucus with Democrats at the same time as he supports the right's positions on foreign policy and endorsed John McCain for president in 2008.

Fun fact: Malloy previously ran for governor in that same 2006 primary, narrowly losing to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, who then lost the general election to incumbent Republican Gov. Jodi Rell. This year, Rell is retiring, and the GOP nominee is yet to be determined tonight.

CT-Gov

Quinnipiac Poll: Connecticut's Dem Gov Primary A Toss-Up

Thomas Rhiel | August 9, 2010, 10:21AM

CT Democratic Gov. candidates Ned Lamont and Dan Malloy.

It looks like Connecticut's Democratic gubernatorial primary will go right down to the wire. A new Quinnipiac survey of the race shows Ned Lamont edging Dan Malloy 45%-42% -- a statistical tie, given the poll's ±4.6-point margin of error. The primary is tomorrow.

While Lamont's support has hovered around 45% in the past month, Malloy's has jumped five points since July 13, when a Quinnipiac poll pegged his support at 37%. The TPM Poll Average shows Lamont leading 43.2%-33.0%.

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CT-Gov

Ned Lamont Entering CT-Gov Race Tuesday, Officals Say

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 12, 2010, 12:37PM

Fmr. Greenwich Selectman Ned Lamont

Connecticut liberals rejoice: Ned Lamont is back. The man who turned Joe Lieberman into an independent in 2006 will officially throw his hat into the 2010 gubernatorial race next week, according to the AP.

A Lamont run to replace retiring Gov. Jodi Rell (R) has been rumored for months, but the official announcement will likely kick Lamont fans into high gear. Polling has shown Lamont leading potential Republican opponents, but tied in the field of potential Democratic nominees.

CT-Gov

Leveraging Lieberman, Lamont Fundraises

Christina Bellantoni | December 15, 2009, 3:07PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Ned Lamont.

One time Joe Lieberman rival Ned Lamont, running for governor in Connecticut, takes advantage of the senator's recent rise in the health care headlines to solicit money for his race.

Lamont (D-CT) starts by saying the health care crisis in the Nutmeg state is real, adding: "Yet, as we've all seen, Senator Lieberman is now threatening to weaken or derail health care reform in the Senate. If he succeeds in his efforts, we will see health care costs continue to surge faster than inflation and wages, making coverage even more unaffordable and bankrupting our small businesses and working families alike."

He attempts to connect Lieberman to the governor's race, saying: "The next governor's job will be a lot easier if Congress can manage to overcome Senator Lieberman's obstruction and pass a health care reform bill that begins to reform the system and contain costs."

"Please stand with me on health care -- contribute to our exploratory committee today," he wrote.

MoveOn also staged a rally targeting Lieberman outside the White House gates.

CT-Gov

New Poll In CT Suggests Reason For Rell Decision

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 10, 2009, 9:05AM

Gov. Jodi Rell (R-CT)

Why did Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell decide not to run for reelection? The morning after her surprise announcement, political observers across the state are still trying to figure out what happened.

A new poll out this morning from Quinnipiac University gives some insight. It shows Rell leading the top Democratic opponent in a hypothetical 2010 gubernatorial matchup by just six points, 46-40.

The poll also shows that former U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont is making some headway in his gubernatorial bid just a week after he announced it.

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CT-Gov

Connecticut Gov. Rell Not Running Again

Eric Kleefeld | November 9, 2009, 6:00PM

Gov. Jodi Rell (R-CT)

In a surprising piece of news, Gov. Jodi Rell (R-CT) announced today that she will not run for re-election in 2010.

Rell's Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, said that he will run for governor, and that Rell has committed to supporting him in the election.

Rell was previously Lt. Governor herself, and succeeded to the governorship in 2004 upon the resignation of Republican Gov. John Rowland, in a corruption scandal for which he later served prison time. Rell was easily elected to a full term in 2006, beating her Democratic opponent by 63%-35%.

Connecticut is a heavily Democratic state, but has not elected a Dem governor since 1986. The current field of active of potential Democratic candidates is a big one: Former state House Speaker Jim Amann, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, businessman and 2006 Senate nominee Ned Lamont, state Sen. Gary LeBeau, and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.

Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont: Why I'm Exploring A Run For Governor

Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2009, 5:34PM

Fmr. Greenwich Selectman Ned Lamont

I just spoke to Ned Lamont, the Connecticut businessman and former Greenwich selectman who won the 2006 Democratic primary against Sen. Joe Lieberman, only to lose to the newly-independent Lieberman in the general election, and who has now formed an statewide exploratory committee for a potential run for governor.

My first question to Mr. Lamont: Does he expect to win the endorsement of the state's Junior Senator?

"I, um, I wouldn't expect that," Lamont said, after a brief pause. "But I certainly reached out to Sen. Lieberman today, if he wants to hear why I'm doing this, and why I think it's important."

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Ned Lamont

Lamont Officially Exploring Run For Governor Of Connecticut

Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2009, 2:39PM

Fmr. Greenwich Selectman Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont has made it official -- he is exploring a run for Governor of Connecticut.

Lamont, a businessman and former Greenwich Selectman, came out of nowhere to beat Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary, running on an anti-Iraq War platform. Lieberman then won the general election as an independent, thanks to the support of Republican voters, and has been bedeviling the Democratic leadership in Washington ever since.

Earlier today, Lamont announced the formation of a statewide exploratory committee, but did not specify exactly which office he might be seeking -- though it was rather obvious, by his criticisms of the current Republican Gov. Jodi Rell. But now it's official, that he's got his eyes on the statehouse.

Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont Announces Statewide Exploratory Committee

Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2009, 12:43PM

Fmr. Greenwich Selectman Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont, the Connecticut businessman who defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary only to lose the general election, has now announced the formation of a statewide exploratory committee.

Lamont's press release doesn't say exactly which statewide office he'll be seeking, but the language points towards a gubernatorial campaign, with its criticism of the current Republican Gov. Jodi Rell: "Like businesses, states thrive with strong executive leadership, and they fall behind with weak leadership. As measured by the loss of jobs, young people leaving our state, and the never-ending budget crisis, Connecticut's Chief Executive is simply not getting the job done."

The full press release is available after the jump.

Late Update: Lamont has now made it official, that he is exploring a run for the governorship.

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CT-Gov

State Investigates Rell Polling

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 9, 2009, 6:45PM

Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R-CT)

Two official investigations have begun into Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell's (R) secret taxpayer-funded polling operation, revealed yesterday by the New London Day.

Rell's office used taxpayer funds earmarked for a University of Connecticut study into increasing "government efficiency" to run a secret focus groups and polls testing Rell's policies, her rhetoric and even the viability of a political rival. Rell and her administration has called Democratic outrage at the program "politics at its worst" and claimed it did nothing wrong by funding the polling.

Despite that take, twin investigations were launched into polling by the state government and the university where the polling took place. The Hartford Courant reports:

The two probes, confirmed today in interviews with officials, include:

• A joint investigation by the bipartisan Auditors of Public Accounts and Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal into whether, as Auditor Kevin Johnston put it, "state tax dollars have been used for other than strictly state purposes." Johnston, a Democrat, said that he and his Republican fellow auditor Robert Jaekle, have spoken Thursday and Friday with Blumenthal about their investigation.

• An inquiry by UConn's Office of Audit Compliance and Ethics, which university spokesman Michael Kirk said is now "examining the research associated with this project to determine if it may have violated any aspect of UConn's code of ethics. " That code includes at least one prohibition against political activity on the job.

Rell's response after the jump.

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Jodi Rell

Rell Used Public Funds To Poll About Political Rival

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 8, 2009, 5:40PM

Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R-CT)

Democrats in Connecticut are up in arms today after it was revealed that Gov. Jodi Rell (R) has been using taxpayer money to fund a secret series of polls and focus groups aimed at testing the political viability of her programs a year before she's up for reelection.

The political operation was kept secret and was hidden inside a grant given to a University of Connecticut professor that was supposed to fund a study into ways to "streamline state government," according to the New London Day, which broke the story today after a month-long investigation.

Records from the project obtained by the paper show that Dr. Kenneth Dautrich, the professor awarded the $220,000 grant and a "confidant of Rell's chief of staff," used the state money to "pepper" Rell's office with advice "on everything from income taxes to leadership qualities to the public's opinion of a potential political rival."

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