There’s no dearth of Republicans running for the 5th district. There are five GOP candidates — Justin Bernier, Mike Clark, Mark Greenberg, Andrew Roraback and Lisa Wilson-Foley — not to mention three Democratic candidates and an independent.
Each of the Republican candidates boast several, if not many endorsements. But two important endorsements are noticeably absent.
Quick quiz: Which city in the 5th district carries the most amount of Republican delegates?
If you answered “Danbury,” you are correct. That city’s Mayor Mark Boughton has yet to tag a favorite, and he may not.
“There are a lot of good candidates in the race,” he said. “I haven’t really made a determination yet if I’m going to endorse anyone.”
It’s not that he’s been silent or inactive. He was vocally opposed to a now failed GOP plan to move his city out of the 5th district, and he’s been meeting with and talking to the candidates. So far, he said he’s met with all but “one or two.”
Here’s another quick quiz: Who was the GOP nominee for 5th district last cycle?
If you answered “Sam Caligiuri,” you are correct again (aren’t you smart), and the former state senator, like Boughton, has yet to make an endorsement. But he may yet.
“Up to this point, I have not endorsed anyone,” he said. “That may change.”
Caligiuri has bowed out of politics since losing to Chris Murphy, now running for Senate, by eight percentage points. He has met with all the current GOP candidates, and has offered himself as “a resource.”
“I felt I would add the greatest value, to try to help us win this seat back,” he said.
And, after all, it’s still early.
“The race got off to an early start,” Caligiuri said. “Races have a way of unfolding over time.”
Caligiuri also refused to pick a horse in the Senate race, saying that both GOP front-runners, McMahon and Shays, were “very strong candidates.”
“I’m keeping my powder dry on that,” he said.