Whether to publicly say Trump’s name becomes issue in Connecticut congressional debate
WATERBURY, Conn. — Former President Donald Trump’s name was mentioned several times during a debate held Wednesday night during Connecticut’s closely watched 5th Congressional District race.
But it was only the Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, who spoke out.
Her Republican opponent, former Sen. George Logan, who has tried to portray himself as a moderate, independent candidate in this 2022 runoff election, would only say he supported the top of the Republican ticket and was more focused on helping residents of what is considered the most politically diverse district in blue Connecticut.
“I’ve said time and time again: I’m going to work with whoever is going to win the White House after November 5, and I’m going to stick with that,” he told reporters after the televised game. ‘They’re playing games, I think. They want to do this whole political thing, and I’m just not giving it to them. I have made it clear who I am voting for.”
But Hayes accused Logan, whom she defeated by 2,000 votes two years ago, of trying to thread the needle in a purple district and not telling voters how he really thinks about certain issues.
“I think the non-answer says more than the answer,” Hayes said during the debate.
“If he’s in a room with MAGA supporters, he tells them to turn off your phones. This is what I’m going to vote for. I support Donald Trump. If he is in a more moderate part of the district or a Democratic part of the district, he refuses to say,” she told reporters afterward. “So I guess the Logan you get depends on the room he’s in.”
If Logan wins, he would be the first Republican member of Connecticut’s current all-Democratic congressional delegation since former Republican Rep. Chris Shays, a moderate Republican who lost the state’s Fourth Congressional District seat to Democratic Rep. Jim Himes in 2008. who are now running for a ninth term.
The 5th District race is considered the most competitive of the state’s five congressional contests.
Hayes, a former national teacher of the year, first took office in 2019.
During the debate, she touted her efforts to help everyone from farmers to people struggling to find affordable housing, and noted her vote to raise the minimum wage and lower prescription drug prices.
While she acknowledged that pocketbook issues are still important to voters in this year’s election, Hayes noted that the country has low unemployment and that the U.S. has recovered from the pandemic better than other countries.
Logan blamed Hayes for not doing enough to help people struggling to pay for groceries, gas and rent, and he repeatedly accused Hayes of being a rubber stamp for the White House.
He said she almost always votes with national Democrats — a claim she later denied — while pledging to support legislation that is best for the district, regardless of which party proposes it.
“My opponent cannot fathom an independent voice in Washington,” Logan said.
This year’s race for the 5th District, which includes much of northwestern Connecticut, is reminiscent of 2022, when Logan repeatedly linked Hayes to President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her accused of being tone-deaf about the consequences of inflation. on voters.
The race attracted millions of dollars in outside money, with national Republicans seeing an opportunity to crack the Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation.
This year, both national party campaign committees have refocused on the race, with ads on state television.
As in 2022, Hayes has accused Logan of being someone who cannot be trusted when it comes to abortion, despite Logan’s claims that he supports abortion rights.
However, the war in the Gaza Strip was not a problem two years ago. During Wednesday’s debate, which was broadcast live on state television, a pro-Palestinian protester suddenly jumped onto the stage halfway through and shouted “Free Palestine” before being whisked away by security.