Politics & Government

Big Money Stirs Controversy in 5th District Primary

A large contribution made to Brandon McGee's campaign has thickened the plot in an already-historic primary race in Windsor and Hartford.

Hartford's Brandon McGee, candidate for the fifth Assembly district seat, recently became the beneficiary of a $32,000 campaign donation, according to Courant.com's Capitol Watch blog.

According to the post, the large contribution will fund "a get-out-the-vote initiative during the final few days before" the second primary election held in the historic race that ended with McGee and Windsor's Leo Canty tied with 774 votes a piece.

The contribution looks to ruffle some feathers, the Capitol Watch post continues, asserting that the contribution, made by The Great New England Public Schools Alliance, appears to capitalize on "the perfect opportunity" to go after Canty, who may not support the organization's initiatives at the Capitol.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The contribution also has Canty's campaign and some supporters up in arms.

The Canty campaign released a statement late Friday, denouncing the contribution to McGee's campaign via quotes from a number big-name Windsor Democrats.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Describing The Great New England Public Schools Alliance as a group tied to Republican financial backing, including Mitt Romney's Bain and Company and Michelle Rhee's Students First, the Canty campaign said Democrats in Windsor and Hartford have "condemned a massive independent expenditure aimed at defeating Leo Canty" in the fifth district race.

The contribution comes with only days remaining before polls open on the morning of October 2.

Eligible Democratic voters are charged with electing a candidate to run against Republican Paul Panos for the fifth Assembly district seat, which will be vacated in January when incumbent Marie Kirkley-Bey retires.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here