Republicans want to be top of the ticket, arguing with Secretary of the State Denise Merrill that the GOP should be on first on the ballot, and may take the state to court to get it.
"We are considering our options, but most likely we will seek equitable relief," Jerry Labriola said. He defined "equitable relief" as "seeking an action and/or an order from the court."
Yesterday, State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield), State House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. (R-Norwalk) and Connecticut Republican Party Chaiman Jerry Labriola today issued a formal challenge to the ordering of candidates on state ballots for the November election, according to a release issued by the GOP.
They cited state law, but Merrill shot back with some state law of her own. See her letter to Labriola below.
The GOP's argument is based on the detail that ballot order for major parties is determined by which party got the most votes in the previous election. When Dannel Malloy won against Republican Tom Foley, in fact the Republican got more votes than the Democrat. It was only the Working Families Party votes that kicked Malloy over the threshold.
And therein lies the rub, Merrill said. The Democrat won. Yes, he was also a Working Families Party candidate, but the Democrat won.
Her rather more detailed explanation is below, but Labriola said the law is on the Grand Old Party's side. "Our party earned the top line on the ballot. We feel the statute is clear," he said. "Our intention is to pursue this as far as it is required."

7.27.12 Merrill Letter GOP