State Rep. Sean Scanlon
Within one week of announcing plans to seek re-election, Democratic incumbent State Rep. Sean Scanlon has qualified for public financing for his 2016 election campaign, he said.
Scanlon sought to raise the funds quickly, he said, so that he could focus on the legislative session, which begins next week in Hartford. So far the Republican party has not announced an opponent.
Scanlon, 29, who represents Guilford and two sections of Branford, raised $6,100 from 160 donors after announcing on Jan 11 that he would seek a second term as the 98th District state representative. Click here to read the story.
He now qualifies for Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program public financing system, which enables him to receive $25,000 for his re-election campaign. The 98th District covers the town of Guilford and Stony Creek and Pine Orchard in Branford. Scanlon, a Guilford native, is director of community affairs for U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.
State Rep. Lonnie Reed, (D‑102nd)who represents Branford, recently filed for re-election as well, and like Scanlon, is seeking public financing. Click here to read the story.
Scanlon raised $6,100 from 160 donors. As he did during his first campaign in 2014 he did not accept contributions from outside of Branford and Guilford residents, he said.
He said he received donations from across the political spectrum, from registered Democratic, Republican, and unaffiliated voters. Of his 160 donors, 70 (43%) were first time contributors who did not donate to him in 2014, he said.
“The broad and politically diverse support I received is reflective of the way I’ve approached this job and I’m grateful to both new and longtime supporters for helping me kick off my campaign with such a strong start,” he said.
Scanlon told the Eagle in a recent interview that since he knew he was going to run for re-election, he wanted to start raising funds under public financing laws early on. “I wanted to do it before the legislative session begins. Then I can focus my complete attention on the session. I will start to campaign in earnest in May.”
“I’m truly humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I’ve received since announcing my campaign.” After the legislative session ends in May, he said he plans to go door-to-door, he said.
In 2014, Scanlon, then a rookie, raised $5,500 from 165 people in just four days — securing him $25,000 in public financing for his first campaign for public office.
Scanlon won his first election to the state Assembly after Democrat Pat Widlitz retired after serving two decades in office. He defeated Attorney Cindy Cartier, the Republican candidate.
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