State Rep. Josh Elliott shares where his campaign stands heading into the Democratic Party convention.
I want to share with you exactly where we stand, because there are only two things we need to run a successful primary against Lamont, and we are well on our way on both.
The first is money. Once we raise $335,000 in private grassroots contributions, we unlock a $3.7 million state grant through Connecticut’s Citizens’ Election Program. The second is ballot access. We need 15 percent of the roughly 2,055 delegates voting tomorrow.
Here is where we are on both.
The money: a trajectory, not a number
In October of last year, we raised $6,696 from 90 supporters. November was barely better at $7,589 from 91 supporters. In March of this year alone, we raised $64,013 from over 1,000 supporters. That is nearly ten times the money, from more than ten times the people, and the pace keeps accelerating. In May, with only half the month behind us, we have already passed April’s full-month total.
As of this morning, you have helped us raise $281,960 in grassroots contributions from 2,682 donors across 226 Connecticut towns. The average gift is $63. The median is $25. This is small-dollar, voter-funded money, and it is the kind of money that no governor with $55 million a year in passive, generational, banking income knows how to compete with.
At our current pace, we cross the $335,000 threshold by May 31 and unlock the $3.7 million grant.
The delegates: well past the threshold, with room to grow
The numbers as of this morning: 2,055 delegates are eligible to vote tomorrow. We have identified 503 firm supporters, which is roughly 25 percent of the entire delegate count. We need only 15 percent (308 delegates) to be on the August primary ballot, and 20 percent (411) clears that threshold comfortably. We are past both.
The more striking number is this one: of those 2,055 delegates, we have only been able to make contact with 1,064. That is just over half. Among the delegates we have spoken to directly, 36.5 percent are supporters and another 14 percent are still undecided. The math is heavily in our favor, and we are still talking to delegates every single day.
What I am asking of every delegate
We are hearing story after story about delegates being strong-armed into supporting Lamont, and the pressure is never about policy but always about power. Delegates have one mandate, which is to vote their conscience. That vote should not depend on relationships, on the chance of getting or losing bonding, or on fear. It should depend on what each delegate wants to see for the future of 3.7 million Connecticut residents, and nothing else. Every delegate has to be able to feel good about their vote when this is all over, even while Lamont’s team practices dirty politics.
That is why we have raised more money than any other gubernatorial candidate in the history of Connecticut’s Citizens’ Election Program. What we have on our side is excitement, and Lamont’s team is acutely aware that none exists for him. Our people cannot wait to walk into that convention hall tomorrow.
There are no slates. Lieutenant governor and governor are fully separate positions, voted on separately. You can happily vote for Bysiewicz for lieutenant governor and then vote for me for governor, and that is a very normal thing to do.
These next 24 hours are going to be stressful for everyone. Keep in mind the kind of state you want to see, and how unaffordable life has become for working families in Connecticut. That is what should be guiding every decision we make as a party tomorrow, and nothing else.
