Hyde ends run for congressional seat

Republican Robert F. Hyde — who catapulted into the national spotlight when evidence involving Hyde surfaced in connection with President Donald Trump’s impeachment — is no longer planning a congressional run.

“I can confirm that,” J.R. Romano, chairman of the state Republican party, told Hearst Connecticut Media late Saturday night.

Hyde’s end to his controversial run for Congress was first reported by the Hartford Courant.

Although Romano was able to confirm Hyde stepping away from the run against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes and Republican challenger David X. Sullivan, he said Hyde “hasn’t said” why he made the decision.

The Courant reporting indicated Hyde decided to withdraw from the race because Sullivan “outraised” him.

Sullivan has raised $136,055.42 as of March 31, according to data from the Federal Election Commission. In comparison, Hyde has raised $24,463.08 as of that same date, the data showed.

Hayes has raised $1,123,740.92, according to the data.

Hyde captured national attention when impeachment evidence was released in January that included text messages between Hyde and Soviet-born businessman Lev Parnas from back in 2019.

His messages with Parnas — a close associate of Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani — appeared to indicate surveillance on Marie Yovanovitch, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

Hyde is known to be a generous Republican donor and avid Trump supporter.