Open Seat, Close Race: Esty "On the List" in Connecticut's 5th

If Democrats are going to get our mojo back in 2012, we have to take advantage of those open-seat opportunities when we see them. That’s why we’re putting former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who’s running in Connecticut’s 5th district for the seat being vacated by Senate hopeful Cong. Chris Murphy, “On the List.”

The race is wide open, with a competitive primary field and a politically diverse general electorate. And we think Esty is the strongest candidate to hold this seat for Democrats. She’s equal parts policy wonk (Yale Law School fellow specializing in health care policy and ethics), community leader (public library board member, Connecticut League of Women Voters advisor), and committed public servant (she served on the town council of Cheshire before winning her state Assembly seat in 2008). She’s got street cred on key issues, having fought in the legislature for women’s rights and children’s health. She’s also the kind of fiscal moderate who can attract swing voters in 2012.

New Yorkers often jokingly refer to Connecticut as “the country’s biggest suburb.” But that generalization misses the mark in areas like the 5th district, a mix of farmland and industrial communities that is both ethnically diverse and politically volatile. As Republicans continue to alienate moderate voters with their attacks on Medicare and women’s rights, Dems have every reason to believe we can hold this seat ­­– with the right candidate. And Elizabeth Esty is that candidate.

“On the List,” our new program to give members the opportunity boost viable candidates with even earlier support, was tailor-made for races like this. Esty’s calls for civility and cooperation will find a receptive audience among swing voters. But she’ll need strong support to prevail against her primary opponents, including state assembly Speaker Christopher Donovan and Dan Roberti, the son of a former state representative, while conserving resources for a heated general election.

Esty is poised to follow in the footsteps of legendary Connecticut women leaders like Cong. Rosa DeLauro, retired Cong. Barbara Kennelly, and the late Gov. Ella Grasso. We’ve put her “On the List” — now let’s get her in the House!

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Announcing: "On the List"