Nov. 6 — Connecticut’s Democratic leaders said Wednesday they are disappointed in the election of Donald Trump but will work across the aisle and protect the values ​​of Connecticut residents.

D-2, elected to a 10th term on Tuesday. “As a nation, we must respect the will of the voters and facilitate the peaceful transfer of power that is essential to a healthy government,” U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of the District said in a statement. democracy.”

Courtney said he was disappointed that Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz did not win. He said his campaigns focused on real-life issues and laid out detailed plans, including promoting new housing and expanding Medicare coverage for home health care.

“Regardless of who holds the Oval Office, I will always use my vote in Congress to protect our constitution and represent the people of the Second Congressional District to the best of my ability,” added Courtney.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said by phone that he was disappointed in the results but planned to “continue to fight for the people of Connecticut and stand up to hold accountable anyone who abuses their power and harms the people of Connecticut.” “

“I will continue to work across the aisle whenever possible, especially to promote a better economy and lower prices, more jobs, better skills training and job opportunities, as well as protecting children online from the dangers of social media and preventing gun violence,” he said. “But I will stand strong for the core values ​​and freedoms that Connecticut holds dear: women’s right to reproductive choices and freedoms, preventing gun violence, civil rights, freedoms, and holding accountable corporate giants who may abuse their power. We have a lot of work and fight ahead of us.”

During a post-election media briefing at the State Capitol broadcast on CT-N, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said Connecticut will stand up for reproductive rights and access to healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights, gun safety and civil rights. Giving importance to freedom of thought and expression, “We will continue to accept new people to our state who come from other countries and make our state stronger and more vibrant.”

He added that Connecticut “will continue to be a bulwark for the nation.”

Treasurer Sean Scanlon said Connecticut’s elected leaders “will continue to fight for Connecticut values” and work across the aisle whenever they have the opportunity.

Governor Ned Lamont stated that the children he met on Halloween were ready for elections, and some of them were black or transgender children.

“We love you here in Connecticut. We are all God’s children. Your friends want to see you in school tomorrow, and that’s what it means to be in Connecticut.” shared his message.

At the Capitol Lunch in New Britain, re-elected Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said he would work with Trump on overlapping areas that would help Connecticut but thought those areas would be quite small.

“People in this state don’t support abortion restrictions; people in this state don’t want another round of tax cuts for millionaires; people in this state don’t want to see our nation’s gun laws rolled back,” he said. staff. “So, just as I did this first round, I will most likely help lead the fight against policies that she supports that will hurt Connecticut. That’s the mandate I’ll get from the people of Connecticut. But as always, if there are opportunities to reach across the aisle, I’ll do that.” .”

He said he was proud of the accomplishments of both parties during his last term.

Attorney General William Tong vowed to never back down from protecting residents. Responding to the election results, he explained that many people are now suffering because the cost of food is “rising at an unsustainable rate”. He said his office would step up its investigation into food and grocery prices and prescription drug prices.

He also said the state would focus on ensuring access to vaccines, combating climate change and “big oil” and opposing increases in energy costs.

Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto said on the phone that “opportunities exist to really change the economic future of our country and the economic situation of Americans both here and across the country” with the Trump Administration, the Republican Senate and possibly the Republican House. “

In Connecticut, he said, 40 percent of families can’t pay their bills each month, job growth lags the national growth average, and the cost of living outpaces other states. He said Connecticut under Trump would keep the economy and inflation in check, making home ownership a viable alternative and the state more affordable. He said President Joe Biden and Harris failed to achieve this and that Harris “never made a plan to do this.”

“It’s a new day in America, and I think it’s going to be a great day for America moving forward,” Proto said.

reproductive rights

During the media briefing, some officials expressed concerns about a possible national abortion ban. Blumenthal said a potential national ban would override state laws in Connecticut and that “there’s no question that people around this president want to ban abortion nationwide.”

But he noted the “strong, growing, powerful weight of public opinion” that supports reproductive freedom, as evidenced by referendums in Missouri and Arizona that protect reproductive rights.

If there is a threat of a national abortion ban, he said, “we are ready, willing and able to fight this fight on a national level.”

Tong said Connecticut will fight “tooth and nail” an attempt to enact a national abortion ban not only through Blumenthal, but also through the courts. He said the U.S. Supreme Court said in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that this was a matter for the states to decide.

He said Connecticut has incorporated reproductive rights into its law, so he argued that if an attempt were made to ban abortions nationally, it “couldn’t hold Connecticut back.”

Checks and balances

Officials also noted that there are checks and balances within the government.

Tong said he will now work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle as vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General. He said he and his Democratic colleagues are united.

“This firewall we’ve built is as strong as it’s ever been, and if anyone tries to get into our states, tries to take advantage of, rob or attack the people and families in our states, we will stop them,” he said.

Blumenthal said in a phone interview that he thinks there are risks to democracy and threats expressed by some at the national level, such as the potential to impose a national abortion ban, roll back protections against gun violence, or restrict and suppress civil rights. voting rights.

He said he was “ready, ready and willing to fight hard against any effort to undermine democracy.”

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