Recalling state GOP glory days
It was another rough week for Connecticut Republicans. Once again, they watched Democrats retain all five congressional seats. Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump by 19 percentage points in the state. And on the strength of Biden’s coattails Democrats picked up two seats in the state Senate and seven in the House of Representatives, enlarging their majorities to 24- 12 and 98- 53.
Connecticut Republicans have taken plenty of Trump lumps in the past two elections. After the 2016 election, Republicans were sitting stronger than they had in years, splitting the Senate 18- 18 and coming up just four districts short of seizing the House majority.
But by 2018, Trump had become a drag on Connecticut Republicans. Anti- Trump fervor, driving a big Democratic turnout, eclipsed the success Republican legislators had had in pushing fiscal reforms. Democrat Ned Lamont won the governorship. Democrats also took the Senate 22- 14 and the House
91- 60.
So, in the spirit of hope springs eternal, I come to remind Republicans what a popular, affable presidential candidate can do for a party. Someone with real coattails.
I take you back to 1984 and the re- election campaign of President Ronald Reagan. He even campaigned in Connecticut, twice. Imagine that. Connecticut was no strategic prize, but Reagan was so comfortably ahead of Democrat Walter Mondale that he could afford to help state Republicans with his visits.
During a Sept. 19 speech to 40,000 in Waterbury, Reagan whipped up the adoring crowd with his pleasantly patriotic, tax- cutting, red- tape- reducing speech. He didn’t debase anyone, or complain about being treated unfairly, or demonize the press or the other party.
As Election Day approached, Democrats feared it could be bad. It turned out to be worse than their most dire expectations. Reagan crushed Mondale, winning Connecticut 61% to 39%.
Not before or since have I seen a presidential candidate pull along the rest of the ticket better than Reagan did that year. Before the election, Democrats held solid control of the General Assembly, with majorities of 87- 64 in the House and 23- 13 in the Senate. After the votes had been counted, Republicans had won an 81- 70 majority in the House and took the Senate 22- 14. Democrats were stunned.
Three Norwich area Irish American lawmakers who had seen voters punch their re- election tickets for years found themselves out of those jobs due largely to the Irishman at the top of the ticket. Thomas F. Sweeney — there is a bridge named after him in the city — was preparing for a 10th term in Norwich’s 46th District. He lost to a young, Republican upstart, Peter A. Nystrom, now the mayor of Norwich. Rep. Leo H. Flynn had served seven terms in the 47th District, which then consisted of Norwich and part of Sprague. He lost handily to Republican Peter V. Cuprak.
Most shocking was the defeat of James J. Murphy Jr. of Franklin in the 19th Senatorial District, who at the time held the most powerful position in the Senate, president pro tempore. He lost to Republican Eric Benson, who had no political experience.
Reagan’s dominance also helped a young bright light for the Republicans, John G. Rowland, 27, win the 5th Congressional District, leaving the state’s congressional delegation split 3- 3. Connecticut had more people, and six congressional seats, back then.
Meanwhile, down in the New London area’s 20th District, Democratic Sen.
Pat Hendel lost to GOP businessman Pierce F. Connair.
In 2005, Hendel was appointed to chair the advisory board overseeing the new Office of State Ethics, created in the aftermath of the scandal that drove Gov. Rowland from office and into federal prison.
Funny how history works.