Connecticut Tour by Josh Elliott to Hit Eastern Connecticut As Governor Primary Campaign Expands

MANSFIELD, CT — State Rep. Josh Elliott, a Democratic leader in the House who is running for governor, announced Thursday a week-long statewide campaign tour with rallies in 13 Connecticut cities and towns from June 11 through June 17 that includes a stop in Mansfield and Willimantic.

The "Build the Future Tour" is scheduled to begin in New Haven on June 11. From there, the campaign said Elliott will stop in Waterbury on June 12; Danbury, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport on June 13; New Britain, Hartford and Middletown on June 14; New London on June 15; Willimantic and Storrs on June 16; and Torrington on June 17.

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According to the campaign announcement, the tour will focus on issues affecting working families in Connecticut. Those issues include tax reform, school funding deficits, energy costs, threats from the federal administration and what the campaign described as a need for new leadership.

The announcement states that local leaders, stakeholders and community members are expected to join Elliott at each stop.

Elliott is the House Democratic Co-Chair and a fifth-term legislator. He also serves as Deputy Speaker and Co-Chair of the Democratic House Caucus, according to the campaign announcement, which describes him as a leader on tax equity and affordability in Hartford.

He is mounting a rare challenge within his own party. According to the announcement, Elliott is waging the first primary challenge to a sitting governor in 48 years.

The campaign also pointed to recent ballot and fundraising milestones. On May 16, Elliott surpassed the 15 percent threshold among state party convention delegates to secure a spot on the ballot, according to the announcement.

Since then, the campaign said Elliott raised the $335,500 needed to unlock a $3.7 million primary grant from the Citizens Election Program. The announcement says that funding would allow him to compete with incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont.

The campaign said Elliott is running on issues tied to affordability and the cost of living in Connecticut.