At Monday night‘s (May 18) Democratic Convention, Sam Nestor was endorsed to be the party’s candidate for the 26th District State Senate race, winning 48 delegate votes to her opponent Lucy Dathan‘s 25 votes.
In a press release, Nestor’s campaign said that her “commanding” 66% of the convention vote and a “near two-to-one margin of victory” showed “deep grassroots support across the district and broad confidence among party leaders in her vision, values and ability to win in November.”
Nestor is the sitting first selectwoman of Weston. Dathan, a Democrat who currently serves as state representative in the State House’s 142nd District (New Canaan/Norwalk), announced Tuesday morning that she plans to stay in the race and challenge Nestor in the primary, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11.
“Tonight, Democrats across this district sent a clear message: they’re ready for locally focused leadership and real results. I’m honored by this endorsement and energized to take our campaign to every door, every neighborhood, and every community between now and Election Day,” Nestor said.
She thanked the current District 26 office holder Ceci Maher, who endorsed Nestor to succeed her after deciding not to run for reelection.
Nestor said she’s “fully prepared” to face off against Dathan with voters, and that she is “confident” about winning the primary.
“I have a lot of respect for Lucy and the work that she’s done. However, the delegates for the 26th district were loud and clear last night. I am thrilled to have the nomination and the support of so many Democrats throughout the district,” she said, adding that she looks forward to the many conversations and discussions the race will prompt.
Dathan pointed toward Washington DC as one reason she is staying in the race.
“In the face of Donald Trump’s ongoing victimization of our communities’ most vulnerable, we need a Democrat on the ballot in November who knows how to win,” she said in press release sent by her campaign.