Third Candidate, Raghib Allie-Brennan, Throws Hat in the Ring for 2nd District Seat

DANBURY, CT-- A third candidate for the seat being vacated by State. Rep. Dan Carter has announced he will run for the 2nd District.

Raghib Allie-Brennan, Democrat, announced through a press release on Monday he is running for the 2nd District seat. He is the second Democrat entering the race.

On Sunday, Marine veteran Thomas Burke made his official announcement at Bethel High School. Burke is 26 and Allie-Brennan is 24. Both Burke and Allie-Brennan are Bethel High School graduates.

Allie-Brennan has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Marymount Manhattan College.

Allie-Brennan is an active member of St. Mary's Church and said his priorities for the campaign are "robust economic development, increasing educational opportunities, tackling the opioid epidemic, helping our most vulnerable populations."

“I am truly excited for this opportunity to put my policy experience to work for the residents of the 2nd District. I have proven I can reach across the aisle to get things done and I look forward to doing that right here in Hartford. Today’s fast-moving economy sees Connecticut in competition with states that are willing to race to the bottom by gutting worker protections, union rights, minimum wages, and safety regulations. We need to make sure that all Connecticut businesses, from small businesses like the one my father has run for 20 years, to the largest multi-national corporations, have the tools they need to not only survive but to thrive. We must also ensure our residents have the skills they need to acquire the good-paying jobs that are available.”

Allie-Brennan’s experience at the local, state, and federal level includes working on constituent service issues for Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty and on policy in the office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams.

“I expect that I will be able to hit the ground running, and will have a seat at the table, given my established relationships at both the local, state and federal level.”

The Democratic Party convention is scheduled for May 17, 2016. Allie-Brennan intends to spend the time until then listening to the residents of the 2nd District and to help guide the issues he will stress in the campaign.

Bethel Republican Will Duff declared his candidacy last week. State Rep. Dan Carter said he seek the seat in the next election and that he will officially announce a possible challenge against U.S. Sen.Richard Blumenthal in April.

The 2nd General Assembly District covers Bethel, Newtown, Redding and Danbury.