State Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, announced Tuesday in a press release that she will run for re-election to her state Senate seat instead of continuing her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Boucher was the only female in the race and, according to last week’s Quinnipiac University poll, she would have received about 2 percent of the vote in a hypothetical Republican primary against five other male opponents.
“Exploring a run for governor has been an extraordinary journey,” Boucher said. “I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from across my district and the state. I am struck by how many people feel that this administration’s policies have made Connecticut a place too expensive to live, run a business, or retire. They are clearly angry that high costs are forcing them and Connecticut jobs to move to other states.”
Boucher was able to raise about $66,400 during her exploratory bid, which she announced last August.
“While we have made considerable progress toward our fundraising goals, it is unlikely that we will be able to reach them in the time that remains,” Boucher said. “These past several months have also made it clear that there is substantial work that must be accomplished in the state Senate to address the serious economic problems plaguing Connecticut. Therefore, I have decided not to pursue the race for governor, and instead to continue my work in the state Senate to make Connecticut once again a place where people and businesses have every opportunity to succeed.”
Boucher did not say if she was throwing her support behind any of the remaining Republican candidates.
“Our party’s candidates for governor are excellent, and I look forward to lending my active support to our Republican nominee,” she said. “Because there are twice as many Democrats as Republicans in Connecticut, our gubernatorial candidate must be able to win more than just Republican votes. As a party, we must unite behind our gubernatorial candidate, as well as the Republican candidates for the General Assembly.”
Republicans remaining in the race include former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Joe Visconti of West Hartford, and Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney. According to the recent Quinnipiac University poll, Foley, the 2010 gubernatorial nominee, is leading the pack with 36 percent of the vote. Boughton received 11 percent and the rest are trailing in the single digits.
