Labor organizer Eva Bermudez Zimmerman is shaking up Connecticut’s political landscape challenging Democratic-endorsed Susan Bysiewicz in an August primary for lieutenant governor. She has significant political support in urban areas and with progressives who know how to churn out a primary vote.
Zimmerman, 30 years old, was a late entry into the race buoyed by activists who felt spurned by Ned Lamont selecting Bysiewicz, the former Connecticut secretary of the state, as his gubernatorial running partner. In Connecticut, however, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on their own in a primary. Zimmerman supporters see the Latina as a revolutionary candidate who would bring diversity to a Democratic ticket in the general election.
Zimmerman is trying to qualify for Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races. On Wednesday Bridgeport supporters are hosting a fundraiser for her at Sazon Y Mambo, 1691 Main Street.
Who’s Zimmerman? See Hartford Courant story here.
Additional background from campaign website:
With her professional experience working on stimulus package legislation in Congress, performing labor negotiations as an SEIU Child Care Director, and as a former Newtown Legislative Council member, Eva is committed to improving and fighting for our communities.
Eva was awarded Latina Citizen of the year by the Connecticut General Assembly for her outstanding activism navigating 7000 Connecticut residents to health insurance through the Access Health Market place. She held enrollment fairs throughout the state during her weekends off to try to connect as many people possible with the opportunity to get covered on affordable health care plans.
She first got involved with direct grassroots organizing by canvassing in with CONNPIRG Connecticut Public Interest Research Group organizing for environmental awareness. Those opportunities now 13 years ago fueled her desire to help be part of changing her community rather than the sidelines. She’s volunteered for community groups like CSS/CON one of the regional zoning groups in Hartford serving as Treasurer, Connecticut Center for a New Economy and Connecticut Citizen’s Action Group, Danbury Rising to name a few.
Eva currently represents and organizes for SEIU, ensuring that people have access to retirement plans, decent salaries and health insurance benefits.
Let’s face it. she is going nowhere this year. However,she may be part of the future of CT.
Eva has already won by putting the Democrats on notice that people of color can run for any statewide position besides state treasurer especially if you want those voters unlike what the Republican Party that never has a person of color on their slate and occasionally will have a white female but they are mostly a white male political party.
Frank, what’s your interpretation of nowhere? She’ll give SuBy a battle.
lack of name recognition. She might pick up some votes due to this write-up here on OIB. She is also saddled with being on the same voting line as Ganim if my memory serves me correctly. However,she has gotten a great start in her political career. i actually like where she stands in the political spectrum.I think we will be hearing more from Eva Bermudez Zimmerman in the future.
*** Being know in urban city’s is not enough to win the state, no? ***
Eva Bermudez Zimmerman:
“Eva Fever Hits New Haven | New Haven Independent
Top New Haven Democrats bucked their party Wednesday night to line up behind an insurgent candidate for the state’s number-two elected job.”
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/zimmerman_rallies_new_haven/
*** Big UP’s to the Wash. Caps; #44 yrs. in the NHL & winning the “NHL-Stanley Cup” tonight. *** And nothing to be a-shame of for the “Vegas Golden Knights” whom only been in the NHL as a team for 1-year & made it to the champion-ship finals for the “CUP”! *** OVECHKIN was MVP ***
*** The Wash. Caps say they have to think & talk about weather they would go to the W/H if invited by Trump! ***