Election season is off to a start in Connecticut on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The state will hold races in 12 Democratic towns and 14 Republican towns. The races will cover mayoral positions, board of education and other town council positions.
Primary elections help determine who from each party will be on the ballot for the general election, which will be held on Nov. 7. In Connecticut, parties can choose their candidates for a primary election, but unselected candidates can still qualify for the general election ballot by submitting a petition.
A petition entails getting a list of a set number or specific percentage of voter signatures in the district where you’re running. Another way to get on the general ballot if a candidate does not win the primary is by a write in, which is simply writing the name of the candidate on the ballot.
In West Haven, it has been 32 years since a Republican won the mayor’s seat, as Paige Weinstein and Barry Cohen are looking to be the change. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi will not be running for reelection. While Democratic state Rep. Dorinda Borer is the Democratic party’s lone candidate for the mayoral position.
After this Sept. 12 election, either Weinstein or Cohen could represent the West Haven Republicans in the general mayoral election. Although, that may not be the case since Cohen has been endorsed by the Independent Party and Weinstein has been endorsed by a new party called Westies for Change.
Weinstein, a political newcomer, owned Star Tires Plus Wheels in Allington, West Haven for three decades. As a businesswoman, she is looking to help make a change in West Haven. She said, “We may not be the best at recycling trash in West Haven, but this city is fabulous at recycling the same candidates and the same policies.”
In July, she earned 35 votes from the Republican Town Committee earning their endorsement.
Winning the RTC endorsement will not stop Weinstein from being on the general election ballot since she was endorsed by a new party called Westies for Change. Westies for Change does not have the ability to cross-endorse candidates. This means that if it was possible, Weinstein could represent the Republican party and Westies for Change in the Nov. 7 general election.
State law will allow minor parties the ability to cross-endorse candidates in municipal elections if they receive one percent or more of votes in the most recent election, but Westies for Change has not participated in a West Haven election yet. They did qualify for ballot access for the Nov. 7 general election.
Barry Lee Cohen, a former councilman, has experience over Weinstein after running in the 2021 mayoral election and losing to incumbent Mayor Nancy Rossi. If he wins the primary, he will be cross endorsed by both the Republican party and Independent Party.
Cohen will not run solely for the Independent Party if he loses the primary. He said in a text message comment, “I expect to win the primary. However, I will not run on a separate party line and siphon Republican votes away from the candidate that is the choice of West Haven Republicans.”
Cohen and Weinstein have both made it onto the Nov. 7 ballot without winning the primary. The primary will help predict who will end up winning the general election.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, you must be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote in Connecticut primaries. Remember to bring a form of identification to your polling place.