MEMO: CONNECTICUT PRIMARY RESULTS
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: AUGUST 14, 2012
SUBJECT: CONNECTICUT PRIMARY RESULTS
Independent minded voters in the Nutmeg State have grown tired of Democrats relentless pursuit of tax-and-spend policies while Connecticut’s economy continues to suffer. Compelling candidates, a competitive U.S. Senate race, and an electorate desperately seeking improvement in the economy creates an environment ripe for Republican success this November.
CHALLENGERS
CT-04: Steve Obsitnik (R) vs. Rep. Jim Himes (D)
Republicans have a history of winning in this Fairfield County centered district, and Jim Himes faces a serious challenge in Republican candidate Steve Obsitnik. Obsitnik, a business leader, engineer, local educator and former Navy officer has deep roots in the community and is committed to spurring job creation and providing workers with the economic tools they need to thrive. Thanks to an uncontested primary, Obsitnik has been able to raise money and prepare for an aggressive general election contest with Himes.
Since coming to Congress, Jim Himes has proven to be a far cry from the centrist public servants who represented this district for over two decades before him. Himes has voted against balancing the federal budget and for severe cuts to Medicare in order to fund ObamaCare. The contrast in choice that Obsitnik will present voters makes this a race to watch.
District Facts: PVI: D+5. This district includes Bridgeport, Greenwich and Stamford all locked in the southwest corner of the state. Obsitnik ended the 2nd quarter with $654,240 cash on hand.
OPEN
CT-05: Andrew Roraback (R) vs. Elizabeth Esty (D)
National Democrats didn’t expect to have to worry about this seat but they have been deafeningly silent about their chances ever since the corruption scandal engulfed Democrat endorsed candidate Chris Donovan. Tonight Elizabeth Esty won a bruising and expensive Democrat primary. She emerges from the primary extremely vulnerable in the general election. An attorney and former one-term state representative, Esty is a second tier candidate and transparent partisan politician who was voted out after one term in the state assembly.
Esty faces an extremely formidable opponent in moderate state senator Andrew Roraback. Roraback is well respected in the district and widely recognized as someone who has proved he can work across party lines. His moderate, consensus building style stands in stark contrast to Esty’s partisanship and will provide voters with a clear choice of vision for the future of the district. Roraback is clearly the candidate that the Democrats feared the most, as evidenced by a Democrat interest group spending more than $200k trying to sink him in his primary. Following Roraback’s victory Nathan Gonzalez at the Rothenberg Political Report stated, “The DCCC will have a tough time finding Connecticut Democrats to say something bad about Roraback. Should be a great race.”
District Facts: PVI: D+2, This district includes Danbury, Waterbury, New Britain and covers the northwest part of Connecticut. The Rothenberg Political Report rates this race as Toss-up/Tilt Democrat.
STATEWIDE ROUNDUP
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Connecticut. These results are unofficial and incomplete.
*Indicates Winner determined by AP
CT-05 – GOP Primary | |
139 of 142 Precincts Reporting – 98% | |
Andrew Roraback * |
32% |
Mark Greenberg |
27% |
Lisa Foley |
21% |
Justin Bernier |
20% |
CT-05 – DEM Primary | |
139 of 142 Precincts Reporting- 98% | |
Esty Elizabeth * |
44% |
Chris Donovan |
32% |
Dan Roberti |
23% |