GOP eyes win in 5th

Hartford — Democratic U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty’s decision not to seek re-election, amid controversy over her handling of harassment in her office, has given hope to Republicans that they can finally retake her western Connecticut congressional district in November.

While national political odds-makers predict the 5th Congressional District will likely remain in Democratic hands, the state’s GOP is banking on the dissatisfaction in Connecticut over continued budgetary woes and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was among those who personally urged Esty not to seek a fourth term. Malloy also is not seeking re-election.

JR Romano, the state’s Republican Party chairman, contends Democrats and Washington, D.C., observers are wrongly assuming there will be a “blue wave” of support of Democratic candidates in Connecticut, partly propelled by unhappiness with President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

“There’s an entirely different narrative in our state,” he said. “Democrats are wholeheartedly responsible for the fiscal crisis that has hit our state.”

He is also heartened by the partisan makeup of the 41-town district, which borders both New York and Massachusetts. As of Tuesday, there were 132,782 Democrats; 100,368 Republicans; and 177,749 unaffiliated voters in the district, according to the Secretary of the State’s Office.

But Democratic Party Chairman Nick Balletto remains confident his party will continue to control the 5th District.