It's a red-hot race to replace Alex Kasser in a critical
state Senate seat. In Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan, three people are
battling in next month's 36th District special election.
Kasser abruptly resigned last month, citing her
ongoing divorce from financier Seth Bergstein.
Republicans are counting on Ryan Fazio to recapture a seat that
sat in GOP hands for a century, before Kasser flipped it blue in 2018. Two
years later, she defeated Fazio.
“I don't kind of worry about the horse race stuff,” he told
News 12. “I think it's a must-win for the community."
In Connecticut's wealthiest address, Democrats now outnumber
Republicans. Over the last decade, the GOP has lost registered voters across
this district, although many now opt for no party affiliation at all.
Gun control activist Alexis Gevanter hopes to keep the seat
blue by breaking with fellow Democrats on tax hikes.
"I think we have to lower taxes for everybody. I think
it's all about equal opportunity," she says.
However, a second Democrat in the race is running as an
independent – businessman John Blankley.
"I am pitching to the broad middle of this district –
disaffected Republicans, disaffected Democrats,” he says.
Gov. Lamont, who lives the district, has personally asked Blankley
to drop out. He plans to campaign for Gevanter next week.
"I think it's complicating to have a third party there.
It's a very close vote,” he said.
When asked if he was playing spoiler, Blankley responded
that he was “giving people the choice.”
Republicans see an opportunity with divided Democrats in a
community caught between changing political tides.
News 12’s John Craven will dig deeper into this race on this
weekend’s edition of Connecticut Power & Politics.
