DeLauro Claims Victory, Eyes Chairmanship

(Updated with Streicker comment) U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro claimed victory in her quest for a 16th two-year term representing New Haven — and declared herself a frontrunner to become a powerful committee chair in D.C.

She made the claim at 11 p.m. Tuesday at a briefing for reporters at the foot of the stairway in the socially-distanced lobby of the Shubert Theater.

She made the claim based on a declaration by two TV stations that she had defeated Republican Margaret Streicker and Green Justin Paglino.

Early Associated Press projections showed DeLauro with 59 percent of the vote. She noted that more than 28,000 absentee votes remain to be counted in New Haven, Hamden, and West Haven, which are her strongholds.

DeLauro captured 64.6 percent of the vote in 2018, 69 percent in 2016.

Streicker had not conceded by night’s end. Tens of thousands of votes remain to be counted. Even if she indeed lost Tuesday, the Milford Republican positioned herself, through a hard-fought and high-profile campaign, for a repeat run in 2022.

Streicker’s campaign released this statement on Wednesday: ​“With a deep awareness of the responsibility conferred by your trust and the over 131,500 votes already recorded for my candidacy, the largest number of votes ever received by a Republican or Independent candidate in this US Congressional District, I remain committed to ensuring that each vote is counted in this unprecedented year of absentee ballots. 

“While I recognize that the Incumbent holds the lead in the race by a currently reported 32,000 votes, and should she win I congratulate her for doing so, out of respect for the over 110,000 absentee ballots cast and the herculean efforts engaged by the Secretary of State’s Office and all those who have worked tirelessly to ensure voter access, it is appropriate to wait until the process concludes.”

Based on early returns, DeLauro appeared to clobber Streicker in New Haven, despite high-profile endorsements of the Republican from New Haven’s police union and a group of Italian-Americans opposed to the removal of the Wooster Square statue of Christopher Columbus.

Unofficial machine-voting returns and Election Day Registration returns from 39 of New Haven’s 40 polling districts tabulated by the Independent showed DeLauro with 21,875 votes compared to 4,209 for Streicker and 552 for Paglino. An estimated 14,000 absentee ballots remained to be counted in New Haven.

DeLauro also clobbered Streicker in increasingly blue Hamden, at least on the voting machines. Unofficial Independent tallies showed her with 11,942 in-person Hamden votes compared to 5,818 for Streicker and 165 for Paglino.

“Tonight we take this country back and move in a dramatically different direction,” DeLauro declared. She added that she expects a fellow Democrat to win the presidency — which appeared to be far from a safe bet based on early returns.

“I am confident that America is about to fire Donald Trump. Joe Biden will win the electoral college and have a very big popular majority,” DeLauro stated.

The event in one way resembled her victory speech four years ago, also held at the Shubert. That night she projected a Hillary Clinton victory. Then returns came in far better for Donald Trump than expected — a trend that at least in early hours seemed to be repeating itself Tuesday night.

But the event in another way proved a stark contrast to the 2016 event: No one was there but a dozen people. The public wasn’t invited. Because of the spread of Covid-19.

“It seems so quiet,” DeLauro noted.

And she cited the pandemic as a major challenge she hopes to tackle upon her expected return to Washington.

She declared herself the leading contender to become the next chair of the House Appropriations Committee. She promised to bring home jet engine contracts for Pratt & Whitney and helicopter contracts for Sikorsky Aircraft. And she vowed to fight with her colleagues for increases in food stamps, another “$500 billion for child care,” and passage of laws providing paid family leave, paid sick-day, and equal pay for women.

DeLauro got a scare this year: For the first time since 1992, she had an opponent with the means to air attack ads on TV and the ability to gain surprise endorsements and exposure. DeLauro campaigned harder than she has in 28 years.

She noted that Streicker had largely self-funded her campaign with more than $1.5 million. She vowed to push for ​“full reform of campaign finance” to level the playing field.

Attacks Were Noticed

At the Morris Cove Ward 18 polling place, Nathan Hale School, voters Tuesday on different sides were aware of DeLauro’s and Streicker’s attacks on each other.

Gloria, a retired law enforcement officer and the daughter of a law enforcement officer, said she supported Streicker because DeLauro supports defunding the police. (DeLauro has not called for defunding police; Streicker made the allegation, and her support for ​“Blue Lives Matter” over ​“Black Lives Matter,” a cornerstone of her campaign, earning her a first-ever Congressional endorsement from New Haven’s police union.)

“They’re not playing. I’m not playing,” said Gloria (who declined to give her last name). ​“This is a serious issue. You can’t take away money from the police departments. If you have no law, there’s no country. Margaret Streicker is promising law in order, no increase in taxes, and no tolls.”

Democrat Nicole DeGioia, who is diabetic, said she works two jobs just to pay her bills and keep her health insurance to afford insulin. She said DeLauro got her vote without question.

She cited allegations that Streicker was a New York City slumlord, an allegation DeLauro pressed and Streicker denied. (Streicker paid a $1.2 million settlement to New York’s attorney general without admitting guilt to allegations of illegally pushing out tenants and running substandard buildings.)

“I think that she does a great job for the citizens,” DeGioia said of DeLauro. ​“What stuck out to me is Streicker being a bad landlord. I have an awesome landlord who didn’t go up on my rent when work was insecure for me. It’s important to have a landlord that is conscientious and keeps you in a healthy environment.”