The Connecticut branch of the Working Families Party (WFP) has endorsed New Haven state representative candidates Roland Lemar, Pat Dillon, and Gary Holder-Winfield.
That announcement went out in a Thursday afternoon release from the WFP. Connecticut WFP Director Jon Green said the choices were made based on the candidates’ records on issues that are important to middle- and working-class voters, like universal health care and paid sick days.
All three candidates are running in Aug. 10 Democratic Party primary. The WFP is a left-leaning group that operates in several states. It often cross-endorses candidates in general elections, usually Democrats. They occasionally endorse Republicans or independents or run their own candidates in races they think they have a chance of winning.
Lemar, an East Rock alderman, is running to become state representative of the 96th General Assembly District, which covers parts of Hamden and New Haven. State Rep. Cam Staples is retiring from the seat at the end of this year.
Green said the WFP interviewed both Lemar and his opponent, East Rock psychologist Debra Hauser, before deciding on its endorsement. Lemar’s political “instincts” really stood out, Green said. He mentioned Lemar’s working to revive and improve New Haven’s living wage law. Lemar brings “a lot of energy,” Green said.
Dillon and Holder-Winfield, incumbents in the 92nd and 94th Districts respectively, have clear records of supporting health care reform, paid sick days, and fairer taxes, Green said.
Green said the WFP will be lending some ground troops to the campaigns of candidates it endorses. “We definitely are going to have some phone banking and some door to door work being done in at least some of those districts.”
The WFP has previously endorsed Denise Merrill for Secretary of the State and Kevin Lembo for Comptroller.