8th District Candidate Qualifies For Public Financing: Campaign

SIMSBURY, CT — Paul Honig, who's running to represent the 8th district in the Connecticut state senate, has raised enough money to qualify for public financing, his campaign announced on Thursday.

Honig will get money from Connecticut's Citizens Election Program, which is designed to help candidates receive "clean elections financing," letting them run without relying on special interest money.

Citizens Election Program money comes mainly from proceeds of the sale of abandoned property in state custody — as well as voluntary donations, according to the program's fact sheet.

Candidates for state senate can apply to participate once they've raised $17,300 from at least 300 residents of their district. As of Thursday, Honig has raised $17,500 from more than 330 8th District residents, his campaign said.

District 8 is made up of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, and Torrington.

Honig, a Democrat who currently serves on Harwinton's board of selectmen, initially announced his candidacy in January.

He's running on a platform of economic growth, health care affordability and environmental sustainability — and the 8th district seat is open, as incumbent Kevin Witkos announced he won't seek re-election.

"I'm excited that Paul has qualified for CEP so quickly," said state Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington). "I think it shows he has real support here in the district and I look forward to campaigning together in Torrington."

In 2020, Honig ran to represent District 76 in the Connecticut House of Representatives. But he lost to Republican Rep. John Piscopo, who according to Ballotpedia earned 61.8 percent of the vote to Honig's 38.2 percent.