Vote Today! Republican, Democratic Primaries Set For August 14th [Updated]

Registered Republicans and Democrats in Connecticut can vote in primaries in their respective parties on Tuesday, Aug. 14, for candidates running in state and federal elections.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Democrats will choose between the endorsed candidate for U.S. Senator, Christopher S. Murphy of Cheshire and challenger Susan Bysiewicz of Bridgeport.

Republicans will choose between the endorsed candidate for U.S. Senator Linda E. McMahon of Greenwich and challenger Christopher Shays of Bridgeport.

This is the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman who in January 2011 announced his intention to retire from his post.

Republicans also will choose a candidate for Connecticut's Second Congressional District seat, currently held by Democrat Joe Courtney. The candidate endorsed by the state's Republican convention, Paul M. Formica, of Niantic, will run against challenger Daria Novak of Madison.

Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m.  to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14th. The locations are as follows:

District 1

Madison Senior Center
29 Bradley Road

All registered voters who live at properties on the EVEN numbered side of Green Hill Road and South.

District 2

Dr. Robert H. Brown Middle School
980 Durham Road

All registered voters who live at properties on the ODD numbered side of Green Hill Road and North.

The candidates will all rendevouz with their campaign staffs during Tuesday evening at hotels, restaurants and other venues, to watch as the vote returns from the primary are called in.

These campaign gatherings happen around the time the polls close, at 8 p.m., and supporters and local reporters will likely show up too.

Here’s a breakdown on where each candidate is expected to be after the votes are called in:

U.S. Senate

• Murphy Campaign: Omni Hotel, 155 Temple St., New Haven
• Bysiewicz Campaign: Mattabesett Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Drive, Middletown (Bysiewicz expected to address supporters at 8:30 p.m.)
• McMahon Campaign: Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 Stamford Place, Stamford
• Shays Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 2013 Main St., Stratford

Second Congressional District

• Courtney Campaign: Courtney will be out of the state during the day of the primary. 
• Novak Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 141 Durham Road, Madison 
• Formica Campaign: The campaign did not return messages seeking information.

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To find out

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Here is some information about Christopher Murphy from his website:

Chris Murphy is a Democrat representing Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The 5th District stretches from just west of Hartford to the New York border, containing the towns of Waterbury, Danbury, New Britain, and Meriden, as well as the vast majority of Litchfield County. Chris was first elected to Congress in 2006, defeating 24-year-incumbent Nancy Johnson by running a positive, grassroots campaign. Since his election to Congress, Chris has maintained a constant presence throughout the district when he’s not representing Connecticut in Washington. Chris’ attentiveness to his constituents is well known – an article in a Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, said that Chris is “considered ‘omnipresent’ back home” due to his commitment to knocking on doors year round and holding dozens of supermarket office hours.

Here is some information about Susan Bysiewicz from her website: 

Born and raised on a farm in Middletown, Connecticut, Susan learned from her parents the values that guide her today: hard work, honesty, idealism and service to others.  Her mother, Shirley Raissi Bysiewicz, taught at the University of Connecticut Law School for 33 years and fought for equal employment opportunities for women. Her father, Stanley, served in World War II, ran the family farm and operated a small business. ... Susan was inspired to go into public service in high school after meeting Governor Ella Grasso.... She first ran for state representative in 1992 ... As a state representative, she won passage of laws banning gifts from lobbyists to legislators, making daycare safer and ending “drive through” mastectomies. In 1998, she was elected to serve as Connecticut’s Secretary of the State. Susan has won four statewide elections, including a tough primary election win in 1998, and received nearly 70% of the vote in her 2006 race.

Here is some information about Linda McMahon from her website:

Linda McMahon is widely recognized as one of the country’s top business executives, helping WWE grow from a modest, 13-person company to a global enterprise with over 600 employees headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. ... She spearheaded the creation of Get R.E.A.L education and literacy programs, including WWE’s nationwide Reading Challenge in partnership with the youth division of the American Library Association. ... in 2005 Linda was appointed to the organization’s National Advisory Council. ... Linda serves on the boards of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut; and the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy. In 2009, Linda was appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell to serve on the Connecticut Board of Education. Since stepping down as chief executive officer of WWE in 2009, Linda has been active with her family foundation to support various Connecticut organizations and programs that promote entrepreneurship and education.

Here is some information about Christopher Shays from his website:

Christopher Shays represented the southwest region of Connecticut from 1987 to 2009 in the United States Congress. Christopher began his career in public service as a member of the Peace Corps in Fiji from 1968 to 1970 with his wife, Betsi. He was elected to the Connecticut State House of Representatives in 1974, serving for thirteen years before his election to Congress in 1987. He was appointed co-chair of the federal Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009. While a member of Congress, Christopher was a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform, Budget, Financial Services, and Homeland Security Committees. He chaired the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, which played a major role in reforms following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The only Republican congressman from New England elected in 2006, Shays was consistently recognized for his knowledge, hard work, and ability to work with both sides of the political aisle to help resolve major issues confronting our nation.

Here is some information about Paul Formica from his website:

Paul Formica, a small business owner, seeks to restore common sense and a pragmatic approach to governing that Washington needs. As a three term First Selectman, Formica has invested in infrastructure, stabilized taxes and created real economic opportunities while revitalizing East Lyme’s downtown district. He is committed to bringing his 21 years of elected municipal experience and 30
years of business expertise to Washington.

BIOGRAPHY OF PAUL FORMICA

• Past President of East Lyme Kiwanis Club
• NFIB Connecticut Leadership Council, 2006-Present
• Celebrate East Lyme Committee
• East Lyme Zoning Commission – 8 years 1991-1998, including 2 years as Chair.
• East Lyme Board of Finance –  1999-2007
• East Lyme Charter Revision Committee 2004
• East Lyme Republican Town Committee, including 3 terms as Chair
• 37th District Candidate – 2006
• East Lyme First Selectman 2007 – Present
• Vice Chair Southeastern CT Council of Governments
• Opsail CT 12 – PR Committee
• Regional Water Committee – SCCOG – 2008-present
• Connecticut Council of Municipalities Environmental Committee Co-Chair
• Founder and Owner of Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant

Here is some information about Daria Novak from her website:

Ms. Novak is Founder and former President of ERUdyne, LLC an international cross-cultural, business management training and consulting firm, located in the United States in Connecticut. She specializes in helping organizations to leverage culture and turn it into a competitive advantage. Ms. Novak travels extensively across the United States and throughout the world teaching, consulting, and lecturing on global business management and cross-cultural awareness to organizations across the public, private, and university sectors. Since 2003 she has taught seminars in National Security Studies, Chinese Politics, International Relations and American Politics at Eastern CT State University, the University of Connecticut and at University of New Haven ... Prior to founding ERUdyne, Ms. Novak was a manager in the Technology Practice at META Group. She specialized in knowledge management, risk/vulnerability assessments, IT-business performance standards and contracting. From 1979 to 1989, Ms. Novak served in career and political positions at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC and overseas.

Here is some information on Primary Candidate Endorsements, current as of Friday, August 10:

Second District

Paul Formica (R): Formica has been endorsed by the Norwich Bulletin and The Day, of New London, have endorsed the East Lyme first selectman. Formica also was endorsed by the Hartford Courant.

Daria Novak (R): Novak has been endorsed by the conservative group A Small Corner of Sanity.

Senate 

Susan Bysiewicz (D): Bysiewicz has been endorsed by Representative Mary Mushinsky, NOW/PAC, the National Women's Political Caucus, EMILY'sList. 

Chris Murphy (D): Murphy has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America, The New York Times, , , , , , , , , the Hartford Courant, Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic Party, the , the , the , 4,000 CT Communications Workers, and the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee.      

Linda McMahon (R): McMahon has been endorsed by , the , and .  She has also been endorsed by the Republican Town Committees in Beacon Falls, Bethel, Bozrah, Burlington, Chester, Colebrook, Columbia, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, East Hampton, East Windsor, Hebron, Kent, Lebanon, Middlebury, Monroe, Montville, New Britain, New Fairfield, Norfolk, Norwich, New Canaan, Plainville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Roxbury, Salem, Scotland, Seymour, Southington, Stafford, Voluntown, Waterbury, and Woodbury.

In addition, McMahon has also been endorsed by National Committeewoman Pat Longo, National Committeeman John Frey, Former Ambassador Tom Foley, Former Secretary of the State Pauline Kezer, Mayors Mark Boughton, Tony Staffieri, Scott Kaupin, Tim Stewart, Patricia Murphy, Richard Moccia, Bob Chatfield, Mike Pavia, Ryan Bingham, Mike Jarjura, and Donna Hemmann, First Selectmen Robert Burbank, Leonard D'Amico, Bob Morra, Bill Rose, Mertie Terry, Jayme Stevenson, Allan Platt, Thomas Breakell, John E. Adams, Peter Tesei, Joe Mazza Paul DeStefano, Michael Criss, Leo Paul, Jon Brayshaw, John Hodge, Dan Jerram, Douglas Humes, Mike Freda, Jim Zeoli, George Temple, Barbara Henry, Daniel Syme, Kurt Miller, Richard Shuck, Tim Herbst, Jerry Stomski, and Allan walker, Senators Len Fasano, Tony Guglielmo, Rob Kane, John Kissel, Joe Markley, Michael McLachlan, Len Suzio, Jason Welch, Kevin Witkos. 

Christopher Shays (R): Shays has been endorsed by , , former Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, , The Day, the Redding Republican Town Committee, Karl Rove, State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, Peter Schiff

For information about primary candidate endorsements in other races, see our related story.