In Wilton, Lamont, Blumenthal Lead Multi-town Democratic Rally

**News release submitted by Wilton Democratic Town Committee**

Aug. 29, 2022

Led by Governor Ned Lamont and Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrats from six Fairfield County towns, including legislative candidates Ceci Maher and Keith Denning, rallied to celebrate the accomplishments of the Lamont administration and urge supporters to create a “firewall” in November against legal reversals on reproductive rights, voting access and gun safety. The two-hour rally took place at Merwin Meadows in Wilton. Before a crowd of several hundred, Lamont called Democratic positions on these issues ‘Connecticut values.’ “And Connecticut values are what we fight for every day and we have to fight like hell in the next 80 days.”

Citing their administration’s record surpluses, $5 billion pay-down on pension debt, historic tax cuts and balanced budgets, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said, “We’ve done what Republicans say they want to do but it’s Democrats who got it done.” On pensions Lamont criticized Republican candidate Bob Stefanowski for suggesting that the state employee pension agreement be abandoned. “Nonsense. We are honoring our commitment to them and paying down our pension obligations.”

But it was on women’s rights, voting access and gun legislation that they, Blumenthal and a line-up other Democratic candidates sounded the alarm, arguing that Republicans could not be trusted to hold the line on these issues and Democrats must work harder than ever to protect them. “There is a big difference between us,” said Bysiewicz. “The difference is that we stand up for women and women’s reproductive freedom. You know that because with our legislative partners’ help, we were able to sign the Women’s Reproductive Freedom Act.”

“It’s the states that are now the front line, it is the states that are the firewall,” said Lamont. “And I don’t want to hear any Republican lectures about freedom. Their policies are taken away our freedom every day. And we’re not going to let that happen.” Blumenthal said the nomination of Trump-endorsed Leora Levy for U.S. Senate was ominous, given her opposition to Roe v. Wade and, of late, to the Inflation Reduction Act. He warned against complacency even in the face of polls suggesting a Democratic resurgence. “I’ve felt [the resurgence]. But it can change like that. Did we learn anything from the Hillary Clinton campaign? We must work to keep that momentum going.”

The Democratic Town committees of Wilton, Westport, Weston, Easton, Redding and Ridgefield sponsored the event. Candidates William Tong (attorney general), Sean Scanlon (Comptroller), Stephanie Thomas (Secretary of the State) Erick Russell (Treasurer), Maher (State Senate), Denning, Anne Hughes, Jonathan Steinberg and Dominque Johnson (State House) addressed supporters who lined up at picnic tables to volunteer for various campaigns. Gayle Weinstein, the chair of the Weston DTC, moderated the event.

Tong stressed the urgency of November’s vote. “It is a very serious and dangerous time in our country.” The fall of Roe v. Wade was “not an end but a beginning. When they are done with Indiana and South Carolina and Texas and Missouri they will come for us. We must fight back.” Said Russell: “We know that the LBGT community is under attack next, along with marriage equality.”

Maher, running to replace Democrat Will Haskell, said that knocking on “3400 doors” has proven that beyond economic issues, voters “care deeply about women’s reproductive freedom, they care about the climate, they care about gun violence prevention,” and she said, they are worried when they send their children to school this fall. “No child should have to worry about gun violence. No parent should have to worry about their child going to school.”

Denning, running for the House in the newly created 42nd district, said January 6 had shocked him. “We have to stand up against these people who think our country is being attacked from within when they are the ones attacking it!”

“Engage the rage, rage and engage,” chanted Hughes. “We thought we could breathe a sigh of relieve when Joe Biden was elected. In some ways there is now more at risk.”

Dominique Johnson of Norwalk, who is running to replace Thomas, said “Our children deserve a future of their own creation, not to live in someone else’s past, which is what’s happening in our country right now. It’s all hands on deck for the next 75 days.” “Some say we are lucky to have such a great slate,” said Thomas at the close of the rally. “We are not lucky. It is the result of a lot of hard work. And that can turn on a dime….There are many who are seeking to roll back, to peel back our rights. This democracy depends on you. You have to do what you what you have never been done before!”

**News release submitted by Wilton Democratic Town Committee**