Maybe this is about Eva

In the Democratic primary this year, there has been a lot of talk about the absence of candidates of color for statewide office. Accompanying this was Ned Lamont’s endorsement of Susan Bysiewicz as a candidate for lieutenant governor, even though many residents hoped for this position to go to a minority candidate.

In response, Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman, a union organizer and activist from Newtown, earned 40 percent of the delegates for lieutenant governor at the Democratic state convention in spite of being a candidate for only a few days. Many in the media labeled this a protest vote and moved on.

But maybe this isn’t a protest against Lamont or Bysiewicz. That argument disregards the excitement for Mr. William Tong and Mr. Shawn Wooden. These excellent candidates and family men have spoken proudly about their experience and identity as minorities in their respective communities. This isn’t even about the radical right-wing candidates and their agenda built on trickledown economics and white supremacy. Some would even suggest it was wise of Mr. Lamont to highlight a familiar and experienced candidate in such a contentious year.

But maybe her 40 percent wasn’t about any of that. Maybe this really is about Eva.

She is a candidate who early on in her consideration for secretary of the state drew attention and admiration from many delegates. Maybe her record of fighting for working poor and working class people against systemic and institutional oppression sets her apart. Maybe advocates recognized that an experienced Union organizer would be a valuable voice as our state wrestles the challenge of keeping promises to Labor while building financial recovery. Maybe this is why several Unions have endorsed Eva in the last week alone.

Maybe primary voters recognize that someone with experience in navigating insurance enrollments during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act is exactly the kind of person who should succeed Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. Maybe we were paying attention when Ms. Wyman, an icon of Connecticut politics, led our state and nation in this very effort. Maybe we see that baton being passed to Eva.

Maybe a state so concerned with how many young people are leaving sees the benefit of choosing one of our brightest and most experienced to lead us. Maybe a state where monthly child care costs are often equal to mortgage payments sees the wisdom in elevating someone who has directly supported child care workers. Maybe those same child care workers, disproportionately women and women of color — struggling with increasing professional standards without seeing a rise in wages, know that Eva can help them because she has been for years.

Lately, it feels like everything in our discourse is seen through the lens of civility, purity politics, Bernie vs. Hillary, Trump. Frankly, I’m tired of it and so are the people of Connecticut.

Having a D next to your name is no longer going to be enough. Across the country, success has come to democratic candidates when they build a movement based on authenticity and energy.

That is what has driven excitement for activists and candidates all over Connecticut. Rather than consider who we are voting against, maybe the media should spend a little more time on who we are voting for.