Paul Bass Photo
Hilda Santiago after announcing her candidacy at WNHH FM.
Vowing to fight for voting rights and help her party attract the state’s growing Latino population, Hilda Santiago stopped “exploring” Thursday — and officially announced her candidacy for secretary of the state.
Santiago, a five-term state representative from Meriden, made the announcement on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. She has spent the previous six months running an “exploratory” campaign for state office; now her quest for the position is official.
“People are still facing obstacles and barriers when they go to vote,” Santiago said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”
If she emerges from a crowded field of Democrats seeking the open secretary of the state nomination, Santiago would become the first-ever Hispanic on the statewide Democratic ticket, at a time when Hispanics are Connecticut’s fastest-growing group.
She noted that Democrats have lost some support among Latino voters nationwide. (Read more about that here.)
It’s time the state party put a qualified Hispanic candidate on the statewide ticket — especially in the position most directly responsible for helping people vote, Santiago argued. She spoke of fighting as a Meriden City Council member to bring more Spanish-speaking moderators and registrars to polling places, and pushing for voting reforms as a member of the state legislature’s Government Administrations & Elections Committee.
If elected, she would travel the state promoting referenda to allow for early voting and no-fault absentee ballot voting, she vowed.
“A lot of people work on Election Day,” in some cases multiple jobs, she noted.
The secretary of the state is Connecticut’s top elections official. Besides overseeing elections, the secretary of the state is in charge of business filings and maintaining the commercial registry. The secretary of the state also proposes and lobbies for new election laws.
The crowd of candidates interested in the Democratic nomination has emerged because three-term incumbent Denise Merrill is not running for reelection.
State Rep Stephanie Thomas of Wilton was the first to create an official candidacy, on Nov. 30. Other Democrats considering runs for the job, who remain in the “exploratory” phase, told the Independent via text message that they’re looking to make the decision in coming months. Candidates are hustling to raise money the Dec. 31 fourth-quarter deadline to demonstrate support.
“We are still on track towards the run, but won’t be making any decisions until we believe we have raised enough to qualify for the clean elections grant next year,” stated New Haven Alder Darryl Brackeen.
“I am making strides,” said New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond, who had been hosting in-person events throughout the state, then postponed future ones after a recent cigar bar event in North Haven because of the Covid resurgence.
“Still actively exploring. Speaking to Democratic Town Committees around the state this week,” said Middletown State Sen. Matt Lesser.
“At least February,” said Hamden State Rep. Joshua Elliott.
On the Republican side, Dominic Rapini and Brock Weber have formed candidate committees to seek the office.
Santiago said on the “Dateline” interview that she plans to participate in the Citizens Election Program, the public-financing system in which candidates receive grants in return for limiting individual donations to $250 and swearing off money from lobbyists and contractors.
She was asked about ranked-choice voting, a system that one potential opponent, Elliott, has championed in his campaign. (Read more about that here.) “I’m still reading up on that,” Santiago said. She said she sees arguments in favor of it, but also sympathizes with Black and Hispanic political figures who have opposed the system out of fear that it favors wealthier white candidates.
In addition to championing voting rights, Santiago promised to focus on cybersecurity as well as support for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises.
Her background prepared her to fight for the underdog, she said: After breaking free of a troubled marriage in which she endured 10 years of domestic abuse, she raised her two children while being homeless for a while. She went on work as an advocate connecting people to mental health and housing services. She ran a Head Start and a homeless shelter. Most recently Santiago, who is 66, has worked as deputy director of case work for U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy’s office, a position from which she plans to retire next month.
“I am a Latina. I am a woman,” Santiago said. “I’ve been fighting in the trenches. I have the experience.”
Click on the video to watch the full interview with Hilda Santiago on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.”