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07/03/2018 12:00 AMWhile numerous races across the state are headed to a primary on Tuesday, Aug. 14, the 12th District State Senate race will not be one of them. Challenging candidates were unable to collect enough signatures to petition so the two party-endorsed candidates, Democrat Christine Cohen and Republican Adam Greenberg, will face each other in November.
Town clerks across the 12th District, which encompasses Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, Durham, and Killingworth, received notices from the state on June 28 with a list of offices headed to a primary in August. Numerous races from governor to attorney general will see primaries this fall from both parties.
The Republican and Democratic conventions for the 12th District Senate Seat took place this past May. 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.”
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 wished to primary, he would have had to collect signatures from two percent of registered Republicans in the district over the following weeks to petition to be on the ballot, however in a post of Facebook on June 1, Mastrangelo announced he would not seek to force a primary.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to inform you, that after much reflection, I have decided to suspend my campaign for state senate,” he said. “This was a difficult decision to make, especially because of all the incredible support I received from hundreds of you in the 12th District. I am deeply humbled and grateful.”
Democrats confirmed Christine Cohen as their candidate on May 21. While Cohen overwhelmingly won the nomination and was endorsed by incumbent State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr., two other Guilford Democrats—Wesley Jackson and Andy Gottlieb—did take in one vote each and have expressed the intention to push for signatures to try to force a primary this August. However, according to the office of the Secretary of the State, neither candidate acquired the necessary number or signatures to be on the ballot.
Jackson confirmed on his candidate Facebook page that he had not collected enough signatures and thanked his supporters. Jackson did not endorse any other candidate immediately following his news. Gottlieb also confirmed he did not collected enough signatures, but released a statement thanking his supporters and formally endorsing Cohen for the seat.
“While my own campaign is ending, I’m confident that the ideas and concerns that motivated me to run will find a home in Christine’s campaign,” he said. “She and I share a strong commitment to moving Connecticut forward, and I’m excited to see her succeed in that noble mission. I urge all my supporters to rally behind Christine now and in November. This election will be critical for future progress, and her victory will be our victory.”
Cohen thanked Gottlieb for his endorsement and said she looks forward to working together as her campaign moves forward.
“I believe in the Democratic process and I supported Andy’s right to collect signatures in an effort to participate in the primary,” she said. “Andy is an important member of the Guilford Democratic Party, and I am honored to have his support. I look forward to working with him on the important issues facing our state, including fiscal stability, economic development, access to affordable healthcare, the environment, and public education.”