Legislative Council President Dominique Baez at the Town Committee Convention last Tuesday.
Source: Jim Michaud, Hearst Connecticut Media
Overview
Hamden is home to a large progressive base of politicians. They are ready for a fight for the voters. The competitive Democratic primary for the mayor of Hamden and State Rep. Josh Elliott’s primary campaign for governor has brought much attention to the liberal town.
In the Mayoral Race, Lauren Garrett informed the town’s electorate on Monday, July 8th that she would not run for a 3rd term. Her tenure has been praised for its updated fiscal polices, fiscal stability, and infrastructure projects.
However, she has faced scrutiny over the town’s budget from the town council which voted to override her veto of the town’s spending plan. In addition to a recent state-mandated tax assessment evaluation, which has led to residents with highly increased tax bills. Disagreements have led to a large field of primary candidates before she dropped out. Even if she stayed in the race, she would have easily won the DTC’s endorsement, but the number of competitors demonstrated her vulnerability to an upset.
Additionally, this is the first time a mayor will be elected to a 4-year term. This has intrigued and attracted many of the candidates as they will not face reelection in the shorter 2-year period. They will have longer to carry out their agenda before they face voters again.
As expected, Council President Dominique Baez easily won the Democratic Town Committee (DTC)’s endorsement last Tuesday, positioning herself as the frontrunner for the September 9th primary. However, many of her competitors say they will garner signatures for the primary.
The Frontrunner
Legislative Council President Dominique Baez won the nomination at the DTC easily by a vote of 39-11 over Democratic Registrar of Voters Lushonda Howard.
Baez, who if she wins, would be the first women of color elected to Hamden’s top position.
She in running on a platform of affordability and an administration built on “transparency, inclusion, and sustainable growth“. She works as a director at a construction workforce development nonprofit in New Haven.
Her large platform found on her campaign website, lists priorities including economic development (business development, smart planning), supporting local farms, food truck parks, university collaboration, affordable housing, infrastructure, public services, and more.
Baez was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2019. With the DTC’s endorsement, she will appear first on voters ballot, with a * next to her name noting her endorsement. This is advantageous, though not tantamount to winning a primary. However, she was outraised by every other candidate in the field during the second quarter, raising about 8.4k.
Previous Democratic Primaries in Hamden
This will be the 4th straight election where Hamden has had a Democratic primary for mayor. Former Mayor Curt Balazo Leng faced Garrett in a 2019 Democratic Primary where he won 61-39. He lost resoundingly to Garrett after she challenged him again in 2021 primary, losing 28-56.
Garrett faced her own challenger in Walter Morton IV whom she held off 56-44 in 2023. The field this year looks much larger, but it is hard to know who will make the ballot until everyone turns in their signature petitions. But I would it to be at least a 3-way race.
Former Mayoral Candidates Attempting a 2nd Chance
Garrett’s 2023 primary opponent Walter Mortion IV filed for an expected rematch against Garrett all the way in November. He now faces multiple challengers in his second attempt for mayor.
Morton IV is US Army Combat Veteran, a former member of the Hamden Board of Education, and was the town’s Director of Legislative Affairs. He is currently the Director of Government and Community Affairs at the CT Energy Marketers Association. His platform includes how to spur the town’s economic development, education, transportation, and sustainability.
Due to his previous run receiving more than 40% of the primary vote, and led the race in total campaign donations (23k) as of July 12th. I expect him to make the ballot and place him in second behind Baez due to his name id from his past run.
To make the ballot and force a primary, each candidate must gather signatures of 5% of registered Democrats in Hamden and file their petitions by August 7th.
Another previous mayoral challenger is also making his second attempt for the mayoral office. 2021 Mayoral Candidate Peter Cyr placed 3rd with 16% of the vote, behind incumbent mayor Leng and Garrett. Cyr said he planned to petition his way onto the ballot.
Cyr, a clean transportation advocate, who leads the Clean Transportation Communities of Southern CT was also a former political organizer. He serves locally on the board of Hamden Alumni Association and the Farmington Canal Commission
His platform includes 3 million in cuts, generating more revenue for the town, and selling town assets. From his background, he also has a plan to implement electric school buses to reduce carbon emissions. He has raised more than 10k for his campaign, solidly in the middle of the pack of his fellow competitors.
Other Notable Challengers
Round out the field includes Democratic Registar of Voters Lushonda Howard, real estate agent Jameka Jefferies, and former Board of Education chair Adam Sendroff. All three plan to petition their way on the ballot.
Jefferies led the field in fundraising in the second quarter, raising 21k. Howard raised 12k, with Sendroff back at 8k. Jefferies and Sendroff were not nominated at the convention, with Sendroff asking party members not to nominate him.
Howard entered the race late in April, hoping her experience as one of the town’s top officials could give her an edge. She has an extensive background ranging from the US Navy, a Department Corrections Officer, and her position as a professor at Naugatuck Valley Community College. Her platform also includes how to boost economic development, for example bring back New Haven’s Black Wall Street Festival to Hamden. She also has platforms on community support and restoring fiscal management.
Howard has also clashed with Garrett on a variety of issues, including accusing her of spreading misinformation about her own handling of the local primaries in 2024.
Jefferies, who entered the race in February, is the founder and owner of Diamond Realty Partners and Diamond Consulting Firm.
Her platform includes an 8-point revitalization plan for a Stronger Hamden. This includes sections on Housing Revitalization, Career Preparations, and Housing Growth.
Finally, Sendroff, a longtime board of education member, was the final candidate to enter the race in May. He cites his local ties as his family has resided in Hamden for six generations!
His platform similarly includes how to manage the city’s taxes and fiscal stability. He has a section on public safety by investing in emergency management infrastructure. He also has a section on housing and how to help others buy houses.
Recent Election Results
I believe all six democrats have a good chance of making the ballot. Though we won’t know for sure until the deadline. If all make the ballot, the race becomes more unpredictable as a low turnout frequently plagues these races. However, an open race and high Democratic enthusiasm for a new mayor could bring more people out. Who they will vote for, though, is up for grabs.
Though Democrats are heavily favored in a town that Kamala Harris carried in a landslide 73-25 margin. It should be noted that on the local level, Republicans have done much better in mayoral races. Fiscal concerns have led to a lot of split ticket voting from residents who vote Democrat across the ballot, except for mayor.
2023 Mayoral Results. Source CT Secretary of State Website.
in 2023, Incumbent Democrat Mayor Lauren Garrett won a 56-44 victory against Republican challenger Crystal Dailey. Though she won easily, the 12-point victory is much lower than Kamala Harris’ 48-point victory last year. She also only had a 54-43 victory in her first race in 2021 against Republican challenger Ron Gambardella.
Republican Opposition
Dailey introduced the Republican endorsed nominee at the Republican town committee meeting last week, U.S. Trademark Prosecution Paralegal Jonathan Katz.
Katz, a political newcomer, is only 24 years old and faces an uphill battle in the liberal town. Katz told the committee after he was nominated, “Hamden is ready for change and that change starts with leadership that’s accountable, forward-thinking, and focused on results.”
Town Republicans say that Katz represents the future of the party and many feel the new generation of leadership will help them in the race rooted in “fiscal responsibility, innovation and grassroots engagement.”
Katz doesn’t face any opposition so he will likely be the Republican nominee. Town Republicans feel more confident than usual as Democratic infighting between multiple challengers might give them an opening as they present a united front. However, they have the town’s partisan leaning to contend with.