Melissa Bailey Photo
In a gesture of party unity, New Haven Democrats unanimously backed Gary Holder-Winfield for the city’s open State Senate seat at Thursday’s endorsement convention.
Holder-Winfield, a state representative, won the endorsement at the convention at the Hall of Records of 200 Orange St.
Invoking party unity, Juan Candelaria, dropped out of the race an hour and a half before the convention. Candelaria said he got in the race too late and found out that too many of the 60 convention delegates had already committed to Holder-Winfield. He decided to bow out rather than battle his opponent on the floor.
Candelaria (pictured), a state representative, was one of three Democrats who had announced campaigns for the 10th State Senate District seat, from which Toni Harp resigned this month to take up her new duties as New Haven’s 50th mayor.
Holder-Winfield now faces former West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson in a Feb. 25 special election. Holder-Winfield is the Democratic nominee; Goldson is gathering signatures to run as a petitioning candidate.
Candelaria announced his decision to leave the race at a 5:30 p.m. press conference outside 200 Orange St. Candelaria’s candidacy had the support of some party leaders. But he entered the race later than the other two candidates. Candelaria said he met with Mayor Toni Harp and her chief of staff, Tomas Reyes, Thursday morning to discuss the race. He said he received “no pressure” to drop out. He said 2014 — when Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has a tough reelection challenge — is “an important election year for all Democrats.”
“A fractured Democratic party in New Haven is not what I want to see,” he said. “We need to unify the party now more than ever.”
Candelaria threw his support behind Holder-Winfield.
In brief remarks upon accepting the party endorsement, Holder-Winfield thanked Candelaria for his support.
He said his next step will be to start raising money to qualify for the state public campaign finance program.
Goldson (pictured), meanwhile, announced he has surpassed the 272 voters’ signatures he needs to get on the ballot. The signatures are due Friday at 4 p.m. He said he plans to turn them in around midday.
He characterized the race as “Darnell vs. Goliath,” because Holder-Winfield now has the support of the party “machine.”
“I’ve had some of these battles before,” Goldson said. “They don’t scare me.”