New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Brennan, Abdussabr say they qualify for Democracy Fund
Democratic challengers in mayor’s race say they have enough signatures
NEW HAVEN — Democratic mayoral challenger Liam Brennan has qualified for Democracy Fund public campaign financing, bringing in donations from the required 200-plus New Haven voters to become the first mayoral challenger with enough signatures to qualify, he said.
But Democratic challenger Shafiq Abdussabur said he also has collected donations from the required 200-plus New Haven voters. He said he expects to submit them to the Democracy Fund next week.
“We have our numbers and we’re going to release them next week,” Abdussabur said, “and congratulations to all the other candidates ... Democracy is alive in New Haven!”
Democracy Fund Administrator Alyson Heimer said that at this point, the only person who has submitted their paperwork to qualify is Mayor Justin Elicker, who received his first $20,000 round of matching funds from the fund on Friday.
Elicker, who announced his intention to seek a third term on Dec. 5, got the necessary 200 donations from New Haven voters on Dec. 31, 2022 and now has surpassed 450 donations from New Haven voters, his campaign said this week.
“This will be my fourth time participating in the New Haven Democracy Fund. I’m a big fan,” Elicker said. “I’m glad to see Liam’s enthusiasm, as well,” he said.
“Our campaign is proud to be the first challenger to have reached this milestone, and, by doing it in less than three weeks since our launch, we’re especially proud to have reached it faster than even the mayor’s campaign,” Brennan said in a written release.
He was referring to the length of time from forming a campaign committee to submitting documentation the required 200-plus donations and the $5,000 total donation threshold, he said.
“This represents an unprecedented swell of grassroots support,” Brennan said in the release. “It is the product of having a campaign rooted in years of communitybased work and of an appetite in the city for change and bold vision. Residents from every part of our great city are joining our campaign, because they believe that we can build a better New Haven together,” he said.
“I know there is a lot of work to be done in the days and months ahead, and I look forward to it,” Brennan said. “Our campaign will work tirelessly to spread our positive, unifying message. I want to hear from every person in our city, from every street, in every neighborhood. We plan to carry this momentum forward, and work on building a vision that will deliver for our entire city.”
Brennan’s campaign surpassed the $5,000 total donation threshold within three days of announcing that he was running, he said.
Brennan is one of three Democrats challenging Elicker, along with retired police lieutenant and former Alder Abdussabur and former McKinsey & Co. consultant Tom Goldenberg, who has not committed to participating in the Democracy Fund. There also are two announced independent candidates, Wendy Hamilton and Mayce Torres.
According to Elicker campaign staff member Mike Farina, Elicker surpassed the required 200 donations Dec. 31. 2022. The Democracy Fund certified those donations on Feb. 28 and confirmed approval of the $20,000 in matching funds and a $23,000 grant, he said. Elicker’s campaign received its first $20,000 Friday, he said.