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05/25/2018 12:00 AMThe Republican and Democratic conventions for the 12th District Senate Seat encompassing Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, Durham, and Killingworth are complete and the match is likely set. Guilford Democrat Christine Cohen will face Branford Republican Adam Greenberg at the ballot box this November, unless another candidate successfully petitions for a primary.
A number of candidates stepped forward after current State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D) announced in February that he would not seek a third term. Kennedy has since endorsed Cohen.
Republicans in the district confirmed Greenberg as their candidate on May 14. After receiving the nomination, Greenberg released a statement on social media thanking his supporters.
“It’s an honor to share with everyone that this evening I received the Republican nomination for the 12th Senate District,” the post read. “Thank you to each and every delegate who supported me in this effort. To the RTC chairs who all six for the district formally endorsed my candidacy, I cannot thank you all enough. I am eager to get to work, take back the 12th and make you all proud. The team work that we all demonstrated to get to this point is just the tip of the iceberg—we will have an organized, energized team and we will take back the 12th! Thank you my wife, family, and friends—your love and encouragement is my inspiration.”
Greenberg beat fellow Branford Republican Jerry Mastrangelo to secure the nomination. The delegate count was 28-4, putting Mastrangelo just short of the 15 percent support needed to automatically force a primary. If Mastrangelo wishes to primary, he will have to collect signatures from two percent of registered Republicans in the district over the next few weeks to petition to be on the ballot.
Democrats confirmed Cohen as their candidate on May 21. In her speech accepting the nomination, Cohen thanked those who have supported her thus far and said she looks forward to winning the seat and working hard in Hartford to protect what matters to residents in the district.
“We are all gathered here with recognition of the urgency we face at the state. Our economy is of the utmost concern and impacts each and every one of us,” she said. “We must act now to ensure our commitments are properly funded with a robust and hearty revenue stream…First and foremost we are going to fight like heck to get Democrats elected. Democrats have the values and economically sound plans to move Connecticut in the right direction. We are going to collaborate because together we can ensure each one of our six towns thrive knowing that ultimately it means our state thrives.”
While Cohen overwhelmingly won the nomination, two other Guilford Democrats—Wesley Jackson and Andy Gottlieb—did take in one vote each and have expressed the intention to push for signatures and try to force a primary this August.