I have been soul searching these past days, knowing that as the chair of the local Democratic Town Committee I have the honor to share my thoughts about the 2024 election.
The easiest place to start is with my profound gratitude for Stratford.
State Representative Joe Gresko won re-election again with a resounding 67% of the vote in the 121st District. 7th District Town Councilor Kaitlyn Shake continued to torment the Republicans, pulling off another monumental upset with a 54%—over one thousand votes—flip of the 120th District. And in the 122nd District, Dottie Lerner won Stratford with 53% of the vote, winning Trumbull as well, and reduced a traditional 20% Republican margin to 14% across the full district.
The icing on the cake? Democratic Registrar of Voters Jim Simon pulled in the most votes townwide, capturing 58% of the total ROV votes cast.
Congratulations to all of you and thank you for your service to our beloved town. Joe and Kaitlyn, best in Hartford – you have our support and know that we’ll be calling soon, advocating for Stratford! Dottie, you inspired all of us and reminded us of what Democracy looks like in action. And Jim, thanks for keeping us informed of the new voting process this year and your long days at the polls. That goes out to the poll workers and ROV support staff called upon for the last three weeks.
Early Voting was a tremendous success. Combined with absentee ballots, more than half of our voters used this choice, placing us in the top ten across the state with over 12,000 residents casting their votes at the Baldwin Center Community Room before November 5.
We knew we had great candidates and were confident and comfortable with the DTC backbone leadership. The volunteers, within and outside our membership, who kept showing up throughout the campaign cycle? Their commitment and passion have been overwhelming and humbling and we look forward to new voices adding energy and ideas as we soon switch focus to 2025.
Not yet though. Not so fast.
While Connecticut sent Senator Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro back to DC and delivered our presidential electoral college votes for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, the country rejected our choice. Both by electoral college and by the popular vote.
Wherever you seek, you will find multiple reasons for this loss, as varied as there are speaker/writer and listener/reader. The lessons of Election 2024 are crucial to learn, and this process is both individual and personal as well as collective and platform.
My first thought when I returned home Tuesday evening, aware Vice President Harris was not going to win, was of Black women. The most loyal voting bloc of the Democratic Party, who show up every time for what is right only to be denied once again… A supremely qualified Black woman candidate against one who defiles every value our party promotes.
I see you all and will continue to listen and learn. As long as I remain chair of this party, your voice will be elevated.
Our final meeting of 2024 is December 5, 7pm, at Unitarian Universalist Church. Please join us to be part of our collective healing and growth as we look toward the local elections next year.
“This is my last Thread for the night.
I won’t tell you how to feel; what you’re feeling is valid. Feel all the feelings.
But don’t regret hoping, trusting, believing and fighting for a brighter future. It wasn’t for nothing.
You and your families are worthy of that future, even if it takes longer to arrive. 🌱💚”
— Dr. Shanté Holley, via IG Threads, 11/6/24
Kathleen Callahan
Stratford Democrats Chair
