Simsbury Democratic House Primary Race Heats Up This Summer

SIMSBURY, CT — The ongoing heat wave isn't producing the only warm temperatures in Simsbury these days.

For Democrats, there's a heated primary to represent the party in November for the town's 16th House seat. Simsbury is the lone town in the district.

Two Democratic hopefuls are fighting it out this summer for the party nod in the Aug. 9 Democratic primary for 16th House.

Whoever wins — either endorsed Democrat Eric Wellman, a local selectman, or petitioning challenger Melissa Osborne, an attorney who has sought state Senate seats three times and lost — will look to replace incumbent state Rep. John Hampton, D-Simsbury.

Hampton announced over the spring he will not seek another term in office.

Osborne is slated to host Democratic state treasurer hopeful Dita Bhargava for a campaign event on Friday, time and place to be determined, according to her FaceBook page.

In addition, she said she is looking forward to a planned debate on Tuesday, July 26, in the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow Street, with Wellman.

"Looking forward to a head-to-head debate with my primary opponent to talk about the issues that will be facing us at the state level in 2023," Osborne wrote on Facebook.

"Thank you to the League of Women Voters Hamden/North Haven and Simsbury Community Media - formerly SCTV for making this possible."

Meanwhile, Wellman received an endorsement this week from U.S. Rep. Jahanna Hayes, D-5th District.

“Jahana Hayes is about doing the work,” said Wellman. “As her constituent, I’m so grateful she is representing me in Washington, supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act, working for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun safety bill, for long-overdue infrastructure investment, to protect our farmers’ livelihoods, to feed our babies that need formula.”

Wellman received the party’s endorsement in May and is a two-term first selectman who is now a member of the board of selectmen.

When the Democrats choose a candidate, he or she will be running against Republican 16th House hopeful Mike Paine from Simsbury, who was nominated by the party earlier this year.

Paine, who has served on various civic groups in town, as well as on the planning commission, is president of Paine's Inc., a rubbish and waste recycler in the Simsbury-Granby area.

For information on Republican Mike Paine, click on this link.

For information on Democrat Melissa Osborne, click on this link.

For information on Democrat Eric Wellman, click on this link.