GOP Campaign Mailer Criticized As Anti-Semitic In CT Senate Race

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A campaign mailer sent out in the 9th Senatorial District featuring Democratic candidate Matthew Lesser with a fistful of money is being blasted by critics as anti-Semitic. The mailer, which was sent out by Republican Ed Charamut, is drawing criticism both locally and nationally just days after 11 people were killed in a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Lesser is a five-term state representative who is vying for an open state senate seat that covers Middletown, Cromwell, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew criticized the mailer in a post on Facebook Tuesday, calling it “nearly identical to some of the most vile propaganda that’s been produced throughout history.”

“Two nights ago me, Matthew Lesser, and hundreds of people from Middletown came together to denounce hate and anti-Semitism,” Drew wrote in the post. “Then this garbage hits mailboxes the next day. As the Mayor of a diverse city that forms a large portion of the 9th Senate district, as someone who cares about humanity, and as someone who has significant Jewish ancestry, I am fundamentally offended by Ed Charamut’s hateful mailer.

“I call on Ed Charamut to drop out of this race and apologize to the public for spreading hate.”

Charamut told the Hartford Courant that he stood by the content of the flier, accused Lesser of playing identity politics and said that he rejected hate speech in all forms. Just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the Charamut for state senate Facebook page updated its profile photo with a frame of #Together Against Antisemitism from the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Up until election day we will continue to focus on the issues and it is our sincere hope that people will understand that we in no way ever intended for the mailer to be about Mr. Lesser’s religious background. We agree with all those who have spoken out against hate speech and we stand united in that shared vision for our state.

The race for the 9th Senatorial District of Connecticut should be about the policy issues impacting Connecticut. It should not be an attack on anyone’s religious background or their character. It is heartbreaking that the unintended impact of this mailer has garnered national attention because our state is better than that. Ed is not the kind of person who is being depicted by the media and those in the local and national political scene as well as by those who have left threatening remarks and comments. Ed got into the race to be part of “The Change We Need” in Connecticut, and he will continue to fight to do so, as well as fight to eliminate the hatred and division that is being spewed by many.

We sincerely apologize to Matt Lesser, the Jewish Community and anyone who found the mailer to be anything other then a depiction of policy differences between the two candidates.

Charamut for State Senate.