Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter highlight in a commentary that appeared first in The Courant an effort for Connecticut to become a first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary.
Every four years, presidential primaries kick off a surge in interest, attention and focus in select states. Despite their small number of electoral votes, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina draw the country’s attention. With campaigns fighting to win every vote, the states themselves benefit from the name value and positioning they gain in the process through increased spending and investment during the long primary season.
Compare that to Connecticut. Our April primaries come much later in the process, often after presidential candidates are already all but crowned. That late positioning leads to a lower turnout in voting, less interest and fewer benefits to the state. If we held our primary in January, among the fastest to the post, our role would likely change significantly.
With that hope, we’re happy to report Connecticut is in the running to do just that. Our state is one of 16 under consideration to become a first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary, and there are plenty of reasons why we should succeed in that effort.
For one, demographically, Connecticut is a reflection of the United States. Our state features significant racial diversity–much more so than Iowa or New Hampshire–and our Black, Hispanic and Asian American communities all play vital roles in our state’s culture and leadership. These demographics also align with national population statistics. New Haven and Hartford counties are two of the nation’s three most demographically similar regions to the overall United States population, with residents’ ages, education, race and ethnicity matching American demographics. Our workforce also spans across a number of industries, further backing Connecticut’s strengths as a microcosm perfect for voting representation.
Connecticut effectively reflects the nation; where else can you move from the strong urban centers of New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport and the wealthy corridors of Fairfield County to quiet suburbs and deep, beautiful rural communities within just a few miles? That regional diversity is made even stronger with our state’s economic diversity. In an early primary, Connecticut’s votes would correlate strongly to American diversity. With just eight counties but 169 towns and cities, Connecticut has an interested and active voter base. Five of those cities have populations over 100,000; 11 have populations under 2,000. Our state truly reflects America.
Full editorial here.
Finally a great idea that should receive bi-partisan attention. That early attention is a great opportunity to push statewide assets such as our labor force, inclusive cities, Northeast location, and underutilized deep water ports. We would also benefit from nationwide data analysists now interested in all kinds of statistics within the state.
Perspectively speaking, I am sure in CT Democrat political circles being the state to hold the first Democrat Primary would be significant for the state. However, Spin CT’s demographic diversity is all you want. Outside of Connecticut and even inside Connecticut and its urban cities, like the Port, New Haven, and Hartford. Connecticut’s perception and reality, is Hedge funds, Martha Steward, lily-white. 🙂
Speaking of white. Ayala do you view yourself, as your ancestor of Europen whites?. What role in your view do you have because of the role your ancestors play in the colonization of indigenous people of the New World and America? Where does it fall in CRT? Just looking for some outside perspective.
https://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html
My Ancestors are not European White. I am Afro Latino. I claim African and Taino Indian roots. That is my ancestry. I am Puerto Rican. Not sure the true nature of your question or it’s relevance to the topic, but my people have been ravaged of wealth, prosperity, and opportunity. The Jones Act has destroyed any possible semblance of building a sustainable economy in our commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Afro, Latino? That Latino comes from “European White”, which is Peurto Rican. The nature of the question is relevant to the perception of Connecticut’s racial demographic claimed by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter highlight, and the racist perception and reality behind it. The Jones Act ravaged the wealth and prosperity of indigenous people of the island that is Peurto Rico? Here I thought it was Columbus and “white: Italians 500 years earlier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9ocSex-heA
Quick question with regards to America’s Jones Ace that ravaged the wealth, prosperity, and opportunity of the people of the island of Peurto Rico. Cuban and island close to PR, holds similar ancestral roots and history, even Afro-Cubans. Who’s people would you say have been more prosperous?