Bethel Republican Considers Challenging Blumenthal for U.S. Senate Seat

BETHEL, CT-- State Representative Dan Carter (R-Bethel) told Patch on Tuesday that he is seriously considering challenging Democrat Richard Blumenthal for the U.S. Senate seat.

"I've been talking to a lot of folks about the possibility," Carter said, stating that he thinks the state needs "someone with more backbone to fight for what's really important."

Carter, a Desert Storm veteran, is the Ranking Member (Republican Leader) on the legislature’s General Law Committee, and member of the Education and Finance, Revenue & Bonding committees.

"I think it's time for Connecticut to have some serious representation in Washington. Blumenthal has been much more worried about bigger airline seats and he'd rather give a nuclear weapon to Iran and will protect us from maple syrup when he should be more concerned with the economy, national security and health care," Carter said.

Carter told Patch Tuesday that he has not yet made an official announcement about running and that information was leaked earlier this week on another news site.

"Once I make a formal announcement I have 15 days to get all paperwork in place, but I'm seriously considering it," Carter said. He won't make a formal announcement until April.

He said that Blumenthal is "a household name and has been around a very long time but he is part of the political elite and it's time for him to go."

He also said that Blumenthal's decision to align with those who have cut funding to hospitals "as Malloy did," was "clearly a bad idea."

Last month CNBC television host Larry Kudlow bowed out of the race after signing a new extension with the network, a move that likely led to his decision not to run against incumbent United States Sen. Blumenthal.

Carter, who serves Newtown in the 2nd General Assembly District, said a hot topic of discussion right now is gun control. "I understand how people feel, but at the end of the day, the way Dick Blumenthal is going after guns is not going to fix the problem. You don't go after the grocery stores to ban guns to fix the issue."

He also said another very important issue to people he has spoken with is the economy.

"In Connecticut, we've had people taxed out of the state, or sued out of the state. The same policies and mindset that Dick Blumenthal and Dan Malloy have hurt businesses in the state. The bottom line is that I think it takes somebody with more backbone to do the right thing."

Rep. Carter has worked with legislators in the House and Senate to support bi-partisan legislation aimed at giving small businesses the assistance they need to grow and create jobs. He has also been very vocal regarding overspending, tax increases and initiatives that inhibit job growth.

Carter served in Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Storm, two tours in Bosnia and is a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Carter is serving his third two-year term as State Representative for the 2nd General Assembly District covering Bethel, Danbury, Newtown and Redding.

Related:

• Redding Resident Larry Kudlow Signs New CNBC Contract
• Redding's Larry Kudlow Bows Out of US Senate Bid

Photo: State Rep. Dan Carter, Credit: Lisa Weir, Autumn Studios Photography