Four-way race takes shape to lead GOP party

HARTFORD — Republicans lost seats in both the Connecticut Senate and House in 2018 and they failed to win back the governor’s office, but how much of that had anything to do with the Republican Party’s leadership or structure?

In less than a week, the 74 members of the Republican Party’s state central committee will get a chance to decide whether they want to keep JR Romano as party chairman.

Romano, who was first elected in 2015, is seeking a third two-year term and is being challenged by three other candidates. Coventry Republican Town Committee Chairman Matthew O’Brien Jr., former Republican Chairman Dick Foley, and David Mathus, a lawyer from Darien, believe they can do a better job than Romano.

Romano defended his record earlier this week in a phone interview.

He said he raised $1.4 million but there were things that were out of his control such as the backlash against Republican President Donald Trump, who was not on the ballot.

Romano also pointed out that he didn’t have control over how many candidates got into the race for governor and the fact that it was a threeway race hurt Republicans. At the same time, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski received more than 650,000 votes, which is the most votes for a Republican gubernatorial candidate since the 710,000 votes former Gov. M. Jodi Rell received in 2006.

As far as the General Assembly is concerned, Romano said there were 22 races within 2 percentage points and 8 recounts.

“Democrats didn’t win by massive margins,” Romano said.

He said 2020 represents an opportunity for Republicans, and “I’ve navigated these waters before.”