Malloy: Republican Strategy 'Stupid' To Run Against Him

HARTFORD, CT —Gov. Dannel Malloy said during a post-election press conference that his strategy of staying quiet while Republicans reamed his legacy ended up paying off for Democratic candidates in the state.

Connecticut for the first time since 1877 voted for two different Democratic governors in a row. Democrats also retook control of the State Senate and maintained control of the State House.

“Whoever had the idea that you should run against someone who is leaving and that was your sole strategy for winning didn’t really think it out too well,” Malloy said. “Quite frankly if that person was paid money they should have to repay it.”

Democrats were also likely helped by a rebuke of President Donald Trump in Connecticut and elsewhere, Malloy said.

A Quinnipiac University poll showed that Malloy’s unpopularity in Connecticut was less of a factor in people’s voting decisions than Trump’s unpopularity. Malloy has ranked as the least popular or one of the least popular governors lately in the country.

Republican Bob Stefanowski’s governor campaign strategy involved heavy criticism of Malloy including calling his opponent and now Gov.-elect Ned Lamont “Malloy 2.0.”

“The strategy was just stupid,” Malloy said, once again reiterating that whoever was paid money for it shouldn't be hired for anything ever again.

Political mail flyers in Connecticut were filled with examples of casting legislative Democrats as close allies of Malloy, including one in East Haven where Malloy’s head was photoshopped onto the body of a state representative candidates father’s body from a wedding photo.

Malloy added that Connecticut is in the process of repairing itself after decades of failing to do so and that it will be more than a four-year process to get back on track. He also congratulated several election winners, including U.S. Rep.-elect Jahana Hayes who will be Connecticut’s first black congresswoman.

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