Thomas MacMillan Photo
Goldson and Holder-Winfield.
Saying that his “DNA” as an agitator isn’t suited for the job, Darnell Goldson bowed out of a race to become New Haven’s next state senator and endorsed Gary Holder-Winfield.
Goldson made that announcement at 3:30 p.m. Friday outside City Hall.
Goldson had been state Rep. Holder-Winfield’s only competition for the Senate seat vacated by Toni Harp, who recently became New Haven’s 50th mayor. Goldson and Holder-Winfield had been set to square off in a Feb. 25 special election. Holder-Winfield won the Democratic endorsement Thursday night.
After the vote Thursday night, Goldson vowed to continue the fight. By Friday afternoon, he had changed his mind.
“I’ve thought it over,” Goldson said. “I want to back the best candidate in the race.”
Goldson said Holder-Winfield has “a fine record up in Hartford.”
“I want to hear every voice,” said Holder-Winfield. He said he conveyed that message to Goldson and to state Rep. Juan Candelaria, who also recently abandoned his pursuit of the Senate seat. “I’d like to bring them with me,” Holder-Winfield said of Goldson and Candelaria. Holder-Winfield said he will invite the two men to participate in upcoming forums he’s planning to hold with his future constituents.
“I really think Gary’s DNA is better designed than mine” to be effective at the state Capitol,” Goldson said, calling himself an “agitator.”
Goldson said he had the necessary signatures to get on the ballot, and he wasn’t afraid of going against the party nominee, or running without any money. He was afraid his “message would get lost” if he didn’t drop out. By leaving the race and forming a connection with Holder-Winfield and having an “avenue” to his senator, Goldson said, he can be a more effective advocate for change.
Candidates sometimes make the argument that running a campaign, even a losing one, is a way to advocate for change. Goldson rejected this argument. “Memories are short,” he said. A month after the campaign is over the losing candidate’s “message disappears.”
Goldson was accompanied by his 11-year-old daughter Akilah, whom he introduced as “probably the only person who wanted me to stay in the race.”’
“I thought it’d be cool if he was a senator,” Akilah said.
Congratulations to Gary Holder-Winfield on running the most dominating political campaign in a generation! In less than three weeks he vanquished three opponents and will cruise unopposed to the Senate seat that Mayor Harp vacated (for better or worse). I hope he represents our larger city's interests with the passion he has shown so far for the smaller group of constituents he has represented as a State Rep.