The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)

Sullivan sole Republican left in race against Hayes

- By Julia Perkins

Another Republican has dropped out of the race for U.S. Rep Jahana Hayes, D-Conn.,’s seat, leaving only one GOP candidate.

Litchfield resident Ryan Meehan suspended his campaign on Thursday, endorsing Republican David X. Sullivan on Friday. This means there will be no primary in the race, Sullivan said.

“I am happy to support David X. Sullivan,” Meehan said in a statement. “He has the drive and experience needed to defeat Jahana Hayes in November. I look forward to participat­ing in his campaign and attending events for him and other

Republican candidates.”

Meehan’s bow out of the race comes less than a week after Republican Robert Hyde ended his run.

Hyde became a wellknown national figure this winter when text messages between him and Sovietborn businessma­n Lev Parnas were released during the presidenti­al impeachmen­t hearings.

At one point, there were four candidates in the race for the 5th Congressio­nal District.

The first to suspend his campaign in late April was New Britain resident Ruben Rodriguez, who threw his support behind Meehan.

Sullivan, a New Fairfield resident and former prosecutor, praised Meehan for attracting more attention to the race.

“Ryan Meehan is a highly motivated and accomplish­ed individual,” Sullivan said. “He clearly recognizes the many shortcomin­gs of Jahana Hayes’ inexcusabl­y poor performanc­e in Congress. I thank him for stepping forward and offering to serve.”

If elected, Sullivan said he would push for relief for small businesses affected by the coronaviru­s pandemic, according to his website. He supports the Second Amendment, would back legislatio­n that would restrict abortion and is running against a government-run Medicare For All health plan, his website says.

Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year from Waterbury, is serving her first term and is the first black woman elected to represent Connecticu­t in Congress.

Her platform includes investing in the public education system, protecting the environmen­t and passing “common sense” gun laws, according to her website. Her spokespeop­le did not immediatel­y return a request for comment.

Hayes has raised $1.12 million, while Sullivan has raised more than $136,000, as of March 31, according to data from the Federal Election Commission.

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Hayes
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Sullivan

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