Paul Bass Photo
Rosa DeLauro, center, endorsing the reelection of Justin Elicker, at left, as State Rep. Juan Candelaria, who introduced her, looks on at right.
With his Democratic nomination path cleared, Mayor Justin Elicker picked up a reelection endorsement from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
DeLauro made the endorsement Wednesday afternoon at a press conference held outside Elicker’s Whalley Avenue campaign headquarters.
She focused on the Elicker administration’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, calling the mayor “a steady hand in uncertain times.”
“He rolled up his sleeves. He got to work. He made sure no one got left behind,” DeLauro declared amid the intermittent roar of passing engines during rush-hour traffic.
She specifically cited the administration’s social distancing and business-closing orders early in the pandemic, efforts to provide take-home school lunches for families, and the placement of over 600 homeless individuals in hotel rooms and often longer-term housing.
DeLauro closed with a plea: “Get vaccinated. It saves lives. Please.”
April and Justin Elicker debrief with DeLauro following press conference.
The endorsement came a week after Karen DuBois-Walton dropped her challenge to first-term incumbent Elicker for the Democratic Party nomination. That means no Democratic mayoral primary will take place on Sept. 14 after all. Over her 30 years in office, DeLauro has generally waited for intra-party competition to play itself out before making endorsement in local mayoral races.
Republicans have tapped John Carlson to run against Elicker in the Nov. 2 general election.