Trump-Backed Candidate Upends Themis Klarides In GOP Primary

Leora Levy (photo by Anthony Quinn of WTNH)

Was it the heat?

Maybe it was low turnout?

How about a lack of interest?

Or perhaps it’s only a surprise to the media and other establishment thinkers who can’t read tea leaves?

Whatever the reason, Leora Levy, a candidate publicly backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, defeated former state House Minority Leader and Seymour native Themis Klarides in a Republican primary Tuesday to see who will face off against incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, in November.

The defeat sent shockwaves through the lower Valley’s Republican leaders Tuesday, all of whom had backed Klarides. It also had local Republicans questioning the wisdom of putting a Trumpist’ candidate against an incumbent U.S. Senator in a state that votes blue.

The thought going into Tuesday’s primary was that Klarides, a more moderate Republican, would appeal more to Connecticut voters statewide.

But that didn’t happen.

CT News Junkie noted Trump twice backed Levy, a major GOP fundraiser, in messages that received widespread media coverage in the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary:

Trump, who for years has railed against Blumenthal on social media, unexpectedly intervened in the race last week with an endorsement of Levy, which he followed up Monday with a tele-rally” for her benefit shortly after news broke of an FBI raid on his home in Florida.”

The CT Mirror also noted Levy positioned herself as aligned with Trump, and painted Klarides as a political insider. Klarides represented parts of the lower Valley for 11 terms in Hartford:

I would like to thank President Trump for your strong, clear, unequivocal endorsement, your belief in me. I’m so honored that you have chosen to support me and to have your confidence, and I will not let you down,” she said to a jubilant crowd of about 100 supporters at a hotel in Greenwich.

Levy won about 51 percent of the vote, according to unofficial votes Tuesday. Klarides received about 40 percent. About nine percent of register Republicans voted for Peter Lumaj.

Locally, Klarides won Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, and Seymour. She lost Shelton to Levy, 43 percent to 49 percent.

In other primaries Tuesday, Erick Russell won the Democratic primary for state treasurer. He’ll face Republican candidate Harry Arora in November.

Stephanie Thomas won the Democratic primary for secretary of state. She’ll face Dominic Rapini, who won the GOP primary for secretary of state on Tuesday.

Themis Klarides (photo by Anthony Quinn of WTNH).

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org