NEW BRITAIN—The 2024 State Republican party had just one mission this year’s convention: endorse a US Senate candidate.
But disorganization marred the event, as delegates and alternate delegates had to be verified before the Rules Committee could proceed; due to the 54-minute delay, party chairman Ben Proto declared, “Candidates are not speaking.”
Originally, there were 1054 delegates displayed on the vote total screen; that was then changed to 777, with 693 delegates and 84 alternates. However, later in the evening the total read 852, as more adjustments had to be made.
Four men vied for endorsement: Matt Corey, John Flynn, Bob Krawiecki, and Gerry Smith.
Gerry Smith of Beacon Falls won 68 percent of the vote, leaving a hefty 32 percent for Matt Corey, and more than double the percent needed to primary. Corey is planning to primary, which left some discouraged that candidates will waste valuable resources battling each other rather than Democratic incumbents.
Feature photo credit: Mark Pazniokas, CT Mirror
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