Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti had taken out petitions to run for governor, but decided Thursday to drop down to the lieutenant governor’s race.
Lauretti didn’t receive enough delegate support last weekend to automatically qualify for the Republican primary. He intended to petition his way onto the ballot by collecting more than 8,190 signatures.
Av Harris, spokesman for the Secretary of the State, said Lauretti informed them he was dropping down to the lieutenant governor’s race on Thursday. He will still need to collect the same amount of signatures.
If he succeeds, he will face state Rep. Penny Bacciochi, Heather Somers of Groton, and David Walker of Bridgeport on Aug. 12.