Connecticut: Dem Convention Endorses

Businessman Ned Lamont, the founder of Campus Televideo, a company that provides video and data services to colleges and universities, easily won the official Democratic primary endorsement at the state party convention this weekend.   Mr. Lamont’s victory was so complete that his top challenger, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim did not even secure enough support to qualify for the primary ballot.  He pledges to force an August 14th primary through petition, however.  Mr. Ganim was originally elected Mayor in 1991 and served until 2003 when he resigned after being convicted of 16 federal crimes including bribery and extortion.  He would serve seven years in federal prison, but returned to Bridgeport only to be re-elected Mayor in 2015.  It appears that Mr. Ganim will stand little chance against Mr. Lamont in a Democratic primary, if the race gets that far.
 
This is Mr. Lamont’s second run for Governor.  He lost the Democratic nomination to current Gov. Dan Malloy in 2010.  Four years earlier, he denied re-nomination to Sen. Joe Lieberman, but lost the general election when the Senator obtained a ballot position as an Independent.  The 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial general election looks to be competitive.

--Jim Ellis