Farmer Gets Sunrise Backing, CEP Grant

Weeks before a Democratic primary, State Senate candidate Justin Farmer cleared a hurdle with the approval of a state public-financing grant for his campaign, and got a boost from another endorsement.

Farmer (above, at left), a member of Hamden’s Legislative Council and a mainstay in Hamden and New Haven social-justice-related movements, is running for Connecticut’s 17th Senate District against party-endorsed candidate Jorge Cabrera (at right). He and Cabrera, a union representative for United Food and Commercial Workers’ (UFCW) Local 919, will face off in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. The winner will face Republican incumbent Sen George Logan in the Nov. 3 general election.

Late last week, Farmer announced that he had been approved for a $42,500 grant from the citizens’ election program (CEP), a state program that provides campaign funding for local political candidates. In order to qualify, he raised about $20,100 from more than 750 different donors. Though the grant was not approved until last week, his campaign said he qualified for it on June 10.

Earlier in the week, Farmer added another name to his list of endorsements: Sunrise New Haven and Sunrise Connecticut. Both Sunrise organizations are local hubs of the Sunrise Movement, a national youth-led movement that aims to build momentum behind climate change activism. Racial and economic justice are also key features of the movement, which supports a Green New Deal.

Farmer and Cabrera are vying to represent a district that encompasses parts of Hamden, Woodbridge, and Naugatuck, and all of Bethany, Beacon Falls, Derby, and Ansonia. Both candidates live in Hamden.

Cabrera won a three-way primary in 2018 in the district, then lost in the general election to incumbent Logan by just 77 votes. Whoever wins the primary in the district, the general election may again be one of the most heavily watched senate races in the state.

Sunrise Endorsement

In a press release sent out last week, Sunrise New Haven announced that it had voted 93.5 percent in favor of endorsing Farmer, with 30 of about 50 members voting. On Monday, Sunrise Connecticut also endorsed Farmer, said Campaign Manager Brad Macdowall.

“Like us, Justin Farmer is deeply committed to ensuring environmental, racial, economic, and social justice for all,” the release said. Since the beginning of his campaign, Farmer has made the environment a pillar of his campaign, often discussing how environmental degradation will disproportionately harm the victims of racial and economic inequity. He has been a vocal supporter of a Green New Deal.

Farmer understands that ​“the fight to end climate change goes hand-in-hand with the fights for racial, economic, gender, and disability equity,” Sunrise’s release said.

The release also highlighted Farmer’s experience as an activist and organizer, as well as his ​“bold political agenda.” Specifically, it cited his homes guarantee, his calls for investment in community care and education rather than in police, and his calls for better public transit. Read his full platform here.

The sunrise endorsement adds another name to a growing list of endorsements from mostly youth-led (or youth-oriented), progressive organizations. Farmer recently got the endorsement of Run for Something, a national organization that supports young progressive candidates. He also has endorsements from the Central Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Yale DSA, Yale Endowment Justice Coalition, and the Southern Connecticut State University DSA.

Unions Back Cabrera

Cabrera has received a number of high-profile local endorsements, many of them from unions or other labor-related organizations. In June, the AFL-CIO endorsed him. He also has endorsements from the Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus, Communication Workers of America Local 1298, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478, New Haven County Building Trades, and Carpenters Local 236.

Throughout the pandemic, Cabrera has been a vocal advocate for the Stop & Shop workers he represents. He helped lead campaigns to try to get Gov. Ned Lamont to designate grocery workers as frontline workers and to pressure the company to keep its Covid-19 ​“appreciation pay.”

“Many of the things that have happened have accentuated the things he’s been talking about for years now,” said Dhrupad Nag, his campaign manager. In particular, he said, it has shown the necessity of affordable healthcare and of better job opportunities. Cabrera has backed a public option in Connecticut, and has also made job growth and creating more job pipelines into well-paying jobs pillars of his campaign. 

CEP Funding Put To Use

Both Farmer and Cabrera have now secured $42,500 grants from the CEP to help fund their campaigns in the last month before Democrats in the district go to the polls (or the mailboxes).

While Farmer has not yet received an actual check, Nag said that Cabrera’s check arrived last week.

Both candidates said they would use the funding for mailers and other typical campaign materials. Both campaigns have also mobilized volunteers to make phone calls to voters throughout the district.

Nag said that so far, the Cabrera campaign has been conducted almost entirely online or over the phone. He said the campaign does not yet feel comfortable sending canvassers out knocking doors. In addition to mailers, phone calls, texts, and digital ads, he said Cabrera has been participating in a number of webinars with other elected officials and labor leaders, and community groups.

Farmer’s campaign, on the other hand, has been donning masks and gloves, and has started door-to-door canvassing. Farmer said that most of his spending so far has been on mailers, door hangers, and digital campaigning.

Farmer and Cabrera will meet virtually Thursday evening for their first debate, hosted by Hamden Action Now. On July 28, the Valley Independent Sentine, New Haven Independent and WNHH FM will host another debate.