MASHANTUCET—Former State House minority leader Themis Clarides challenged U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Saturday by easily garnering Republican support, but likely facing a costly three-way August clash with conservatives Peter Lumaj of Fairfield and Leora Levy of Greenwich Will have.
Clarides, who described herself as a “loud Greek girl” in a 10-minute acceptance speech, received nearly 57 percent of the 1,202-rep vote at the Foxwoods Resort Casino Ballroom.
Levy, a prominent national GOP contributor and member of the Republican National Committee, scored 22.7 percent; And Lumaj, an Albanian-born immigration consultant who made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2018, came in at 19.95 percent. Both were well above the 15 percent that would force the challengers to work their way up to the primary.
Robert Hyde of Simsbury, who was a fixture at the Trump Hotel in Washington during the former president’s tenure as shown on Hyde’s website, received four votes for a third of one percent.
A Naugatuck Valley native who now lives in shoreline Madison, Clarides, 56, immediately blasted Democrats and Blumenthal for a “failed leftist agenda” while inflation is rising, the southern border is porous, fentanyl is killing people. Crime is on the rise and law and order is being disrupted.
He praised his parents for achieving the American Dream for their family.
“But today the American dream is in jeopardy,” she said. “Instead we are seeing our freedoms being eroded. Today in the US Senate, statesmanship has overtaken gamesmanship. The core values and guiding principles have been replaced by cheap political rhetoric. Freedom and individual responsibility are being revoked by the government’s over-access, oppressive mandates, culture and economic policies, which make it difficult for families to achieve the American dream. And perhaps no one in the Senate is more responsible for it than our own Joe Biden of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal. ,
“Help is on the way,” she said from the convention podium. “This is our year.”
In theory, Lumaj and Levy could split the conservative vote in the primary, giving Clarides victory. But Levi’s supporters insisted during nomination speeches that the wealthy businessman has already amassed $1.9 million in his campaign war chest.
An expensive primary can make the campaign against Blumenthal even more difficult.
In the latest Federal Election Commission filing, Blumenthal has raised $8.2 million. Lumaj and Levi’s have about $450,000, while Clarides has about $392,000.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, Lumaj said his conservative message was more important than money. “Claiming to be conservative and being conservative are two different things,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the US Constitution. “The goal is to sustain Blumenthal and failed liberal policies in our state. And that’s what I’m going to go for. I think many people I’m talking to identify with me, that I have the backbone, character, and perseverance to go after Blumenthal and failed liberal policies. ,
Enrollment began after 9 a.m. with brief nomination speeches for Levy in a predetermined order; Robert Hyde of Simsbury; John Flynn of Norwalk; Lumaj; and Clarides. While the characteristics of the candidates were touted by friends and fellow politicians, Blumenthal was the ultimate target of most comments for the 1,202 credentialed delegates.
Clarides’ acceptance speech touched on two credible Republican allegations against Blumenthal: that he lied about serving in Vietnam, which he mistakenly said a dozen years earlier; And he recently attended a communist-related award ceremony, which he said was unaware of the relationship.
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