Connecticut Secretary of State election, 2010
From Ballotpedia
The Connecticut Secretary of State election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. State representative Denise Merrill announced her candidacy for the statewide office in December of 2009.[1] The Connecticut Democratic Party endorsed her campaign at its state convention on May 27, 2010,[2][3] and she officially captured the party nomination after defeating former 9th ward alderman Gerry Garcia in the primary election on August 10.
On the general election ballot, Merrill ran on both the Democratic and Working Families tickets. She was met in the general election by Jerry Farrell, the Commissioner of the State Department of Consumer Protection, who was unopposed in the primary election and officially received the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party at their state convention on May 22, 2010,[4] Green Party candidate S. Michael DeRose, and Libertarian Ken Mosher. Merrill won the seat with 52.9 percent of the vote.
Background
In January 2009, three-term Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz announced that she would be a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for state's gubernatorial race. Despite a Quinnipiac University poll taken a month later showing that, of the four potential Democratic candidates for the nomination, Bysiewicz led the pack with 44% favoring her candidacy,[5] she announced that she would pursue the position of Connecticut attorney general instead.[6]
However, in mid-May 2010, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that she was ineligible to run for the statewide office, a ruling that has since spurred the introduction of legislation that would change the requirements for that office.[7] Bysiewicz withdrew her name from consideration just prior to the state's Democratic convention. A few days after the decision was handed down, she declared that would not seek re-election as the secretary of state.[8]
General Election campaign
Results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party |  Denise Merrill
|
52.9% | |
| Republican Party | Jerry Farrell | 43.8% | |
| Independent | Michael J. Telesca | 1.3% | |
| Green Party | S. Michael DeRosa | 1.2% | |
| Libertarian Party | Ken Mosher | 0.8% | |
| Total Votes | 1,105,203 | ||
Endorsements
- Connecticut Watchdog[10]
- Hartford Courant, local newspaper[11][12]
- Administrative and Residual (A&R) Employees Union - Local 4200[13]
- Communications Workers of America (CWA)[14]
- Connecticut AFL-CIO[15]
- NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut PAC[16]
Finances
According to Follow the Money, the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates is as follows:
| Connecticut Secretary of State Campaign Finance | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Total Contributions | |||||||||||||
| Denise Merrill[17] | $1,218,956 | |||||||||||||
| Jerry Farrell[18] | $825,061 | |||||||||||||
| S. Michael DeRosa[19] | $0 | |||||||||||||
| Ken Mosher[20] | $0 | |||||||||||||
| Michael Telesca[21] | $0 | |||||||||||||
Polling
- See also: Polls, 2010 Secretary of State elections
Suffolk University Poll
| Suffolk University Poll - October 19 - 20, 2010[22] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
 Denise Merrill (D)
|
32% | |||
| Jerry Farrell (R) | 22% | |||
| S. Michael DeRosa (Green) | 3% | |||
| Michael J. Telesca (Independent) | 3% | |||
| Ken Mosher (Libertarian) | 1% | |||
| Undecided | 39% | |||
| Total voters | 500 | |||
August 10, 2010 primaries
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Former alderman Gerry Garcia[23]
- State Representative and Majority Leader Denise Merrill[24] (Received the endorsement of the Connecticut Democratic Party)[25][26]
Drop outs
- In spite of receiving the requisite 15% at the state convention to force a primary, State Senator Jonathan Harris chose instead to drop out of the race.[27][28]
Electoral results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary[29] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Denise Merrill (D)
|
62.9% | |||
| Gerry Garcia (D) | 37.1% | |||
| Total votes | 169,981 | |||
Endorsements
- Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Council[30]
- Rosa DeLauro, member of the United States House of Representatives[31][32]
- John DeStefano, Mayor of New Haven[32]
- Norwich Bulletin, local newspaper[33]
- American Association of University Professors, UConn
- Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG)[34]
- Connecticut Education Association
- Joe Courtney, member of the United States House of Representatives[35]
- Hartford Courant, local newspaper[36][37]
- Love Makes a Family PAC
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
- State Representative James Spallone, former candidate for Connecticut Secretary of State[38]
- Working Families Party[39][40]
Finances
According to the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission, as of August 9, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Gerry Garcia Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [41] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 16 - July 27, 2010[42] | August 3, 2010 | $61,257.27 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $20,390.84 | $40,866.47 | |
| July 1 - July 15, 2010[43] | July 21, 2010 | $13,104.71 | $52,785.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,632.44 | $61,257.27 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[44] | July 12, 2010 | $6,632.63 | $18,925.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $12,452.92 | $13,104.71 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[45] | April 12, 2010 | $4,204.22 | $6,522.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,093.59 | $6,632.63 | |
| October 19 - December 31, 2009[46] | January 11, 2010 | $0.00 | $5,372.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,167.78 | $4,204.22 | |
| Jonathan Harris Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [41] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[47] | July 12, 2010 | $0.00 | $49,708.27 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $43,039.52 | $6,668.75 | |
| Denise Merrill Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [41] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 28 - August 4, 2010[48] | August 5, 2010 | $32,147.64 | $3,540.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $35,687.64 | |
| July 1 - July 27, 2010[49] | August 5, 2010 | $24,059.55 | $15,080.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6,991.91 | $32,147.64 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[50] | July 12, 2010 | $28,286.88 | $21,055.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $22,770.10 | $24,059.55 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[51] | April 12, 2010 | $100.00 | $38,909.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $10,622.12 | $28,286.88 | |
| October 19 - December 31, 2009[52] | January 11, 2010 | $0.00 | $100.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
Additionally, both Garcia and Merrill have applied and qualified for public financing.[53][54] Connecticut's Public Campaign Finance Law allows candidates for statewide constitutional offices to "qualify for public money if they raise $75,000 in contributions of $100 or less from qualified donors. If that meet that requirement, they are eligible for a $375,000 state grant to fund their campaigns."[55]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell[56] (Received the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party)[57] ran unopposed in this contest.
Drop outs
- Hartford attorney Corey Brinson, who had announced his candidacy on June 29, 2009, withdrew his name from consideration a little under a year later and endorsed Farrell for the statewide position.[58][59]
Finances
According to the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission, as of August 9, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Corey Brinson Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [41] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[60] | July 12, 2010 | $1,111.03 | $300.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,787.00 | ($1,375.97) | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[61] | April 12, 2010 | $1,318.03 | $2,580.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,787.00 | $1,111.03 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009[62] | January 11, 2010 | $4,619.74 | $1,605.50 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,907.21 | $1,318.03 | |
| July 1 - September 30, 2009[63] | October 13, 2009 | $4,654.36 | $8,297.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $8,331.62 | $4,619.74 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[64] | July 10, 2009 | $0.00 | $8,425.24 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,770.88 | $4,654.36 | |
| Jerry Farrell Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [41] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 28 - August 4, 2010[65] | August 5, 2010 | $32,147.64 | $3,540.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $35,687.64 | |
| July 1 - July 27, 2010[66] | July 28, 2010 | $24,059.55 | $15,080.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6,991.91 | $32,147.64 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[67] | July 12, 2010 | $25,774.65 | $21,055.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $22,770.10 | $24,059.55 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[68] | April 12, 2010 | $0.00 | $40,575.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $14,800.35 | $25,774.65 | |
Additionally, Farrell has applied and qualified for public financing.[69][70] Connecticut's Public Campaign Finance Law allows candidates for statewide constitutional offices to "qualify for public money if they raise $75,000 in contributions of $100 or less from qualified donors. If that meet that requirement, they are eligible for a $375,000 state grant to fund their campaigns."[55]
See also
External links
General Election candidates
- Denise Merrill for Secretary of State Campaign website
- Farrell for Connecticut Campaign website
- Mike DeRosa for Secretary of State Campaign website
Former candidates
- Correy for Connecticut Campaign website
- Jonathan Harris for Secretary of State Campaign website
- Gerry Garcia for Connecticut Secretary of State Campaign website
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut News Junkie, "Majority Leader Will Run For Statewide Office" 18 Dec. 2009
- ↑ YouTube, "Denise Merrill accepts endorsement" 27 May, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Bob, "Denise Merrill's Acceptance Speech" 28 May, 2010
- ↑ The Connecticut Mirror, "Republicans back Farrell for SOTS. Brinson qualifies for primary" 22 May, 2010
- ↑ Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, "Connecticut's Rell Is Queen Of The Hill At Midterm, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dodd Has Worst Approval Ever" 10 Feb. 2009
- ↑ The Middletown Press, "Bysiewicz to seek AG spot" 13 Jan. 2010
- ↑ Qualifications for Connecticut AG may soon be loosened
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Susan Bysiewicz Says She Will Not Run For Any Office" 21 May, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Connecticut Watchdog, "CtWatchdog Endorses Jerry Farrell Jr. For Conn Secretary Of The State" 24 Oct. 2010
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Hartford Courant Endorses Republican Jerry Farrell Over Democrat Denise Merrill For Secretary Of The State" 19 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Daily Ructions, "Check Your Richter Scale: Courant Endorses Jerry Farrell, a Republican" 22 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Denise Merrill for Secretary of State, "A & R Endorsement" 28 Sept. 2010
- ↑ Communication Workers of America - Endorsements
- ↑ AFL-CIO - 2010 Endorsements
- ↑ Denise Merrill for Secretary of State, "NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut PAC Endorses “Lifelong Supporters of a Woman’s Right to Choose” for Constitutional Offices" 30 Sept. 2010
- ↑ Follow the Money.org, "Denise Merrill candidate summary," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money.org, "Jerry Farrell candidate summary," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money.org, "S. Michael DeRosa candidate summary," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money.org, "Ken Mosher candidate summary," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money.org, "Michael Telesca candidate summary," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Suffolk University, "Democrats Leading for Governor and U.S. Senate in Connecticut" 21 Oct. 2010
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Gerry Garcia Running For Secretary Of The State" 30 Oct. 2009
- ↑ Connecticut News Junkie, "Majority Leader Will Run For Statewide Office" 18 Dec. 2009
- ↑ YouTube, "Denise Merrill accepts endorsement" 27 May, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Bob, "Denise Merrill's Acceptance Speech" 28 May, 2010
- ↑ West Hartford News, "Sen. Harris announces candidacy for Secretary of State" 1 April, 2010
- ↑ West Hartford News, "Harris ends bid for secretary of state" 11 June, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Election Results
- ↑ The Hartford Guardian, "CT Hispanic Caucus To Endorse Ned Lamont" 14 July, 2010
- ↑ New Haven Independent, "DeLauro Endorses Garcia" 13 May, 2010
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Connecticut News, "Democratic Candidates For Secretary of State – Endorsements" 9 June, 2010
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Norwich Bulletin Endorses Gerry Garcia For Secretary Of The State; Courant Previously Endorsed Denise Merrill" 5 Aug. 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Citizen Action Group - CCAG Endorses Jepsen, Merrill, Lembo for Statewide Offices
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney Endorses Denise Merrill As Next Secretary Of The State; Larson For Sen. Jonathan Harris" 17 April, 2010
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "The Hartford Courant Endorses House Majority Leader Denise Merrill For Secretary Of The State In Primary" 30 July, 2010
- ↑ Scully Communications, "Denise Merrill Endorsed by Hartford Courant" 31 July, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut News Junkie, "Spallone Steps Aside, Endorses Merrill" 23 March, 2010
- ↑ New Britain Herald, "Working Families Party endorses Lembo, Merrill" 23 July, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut News, "Working Families Party Endorses Merrill for Secretary of State" 29 July, 2010
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "notcash" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Gerry Garcia 7th Day Preceding Primary Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Gerry Garcia Itemized Statement for Public Grant Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Gerry Garcia July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Gerry Garcia April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Gerry Garcia January 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Jonathan Harris July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Denise W. Merrill Additional Itemized Statement in further support of application for Public Grant
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Denise W. Merrill July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Denise W. Merrill July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Denise W. Merrill April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Denise W. Merrill January 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Ethics Commission - Gerry Garcia Application for Public Grant
- ↑ State Ethics Commission - Denise W. Merrill Application for Public Grant
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 The Hartford Courant, "Denise Merrill reaches public financing threshold" 1 July, 2010
- ↑ Hartford Courant, "Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. To Seek Secretary Of State Position" 16 Jan. 2010
- ↑ The Connecticut Mirror, "Republicans back Farrell for SOTS. Brinson qualifies for primary" 22 May, 2010
- ↑ Connecticut Public Broadcast Network, "Republican Announces Candidacy for Secretary of the State" 29 June, 2009
- ↑ My Record Journal, "Farrell will not face primary challenge" 24 May, 2010
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Corey Brinson July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Corey Brinson April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Corey Brinson January 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Corey Brinson October 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Corey Brinson July 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Jerry Farrell Itemized Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Jerry Farrell Itemized Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Jerry Farrell July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Elections Enforcement Commission - Jerry Farrell April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ State Ethics Commission - Jerry Farrell Application for Public Grant
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Conn. SOTS candidate says he will file for grant" 29 July, 2010
