HARTFORD, Conn.—Republicans have nominated candidates for Connecticut's five congressional districts, taking on two first-term Democrats, challenging two veteran incumbents and sending into the November election Connecticut's lone Republican in Congress.
In eastern Connecticut, the GOP on Saturday nominated Sean Sullivan, a former commander of the Naval Submarine Base, to challenge Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney.
Sullivan, a retired Navy captain, backs expanded domestic oil production, the use of nuclear power, tax benefits for health plans selected by consumers, expanded health savings accounts and legal reform to limit lawsuits.
Former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, who in 2006 lost narrowly to Courtney, the one-time Vernon town attorney, belittled his former opponent.
"If John McCain becomes the next president, who do you think he'll turn to for advice in Congress?" he asked Republicans gathered in Willimantic. "A town attorney from Vernon or a decorated Navy captain with more than 20 years of distinguished service?"
In the 5th Congressional District, Republicans nominated state Sen. David Cappiello to challenge Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy. Cappiello portrayed himself as an independent and promised to seek to eliminate earmarks and curb wasteful spending.
He criticized Murphy for supporting "socialized health care," bigger government and proposing to use taxpayer money to partially finance congressional campaigns.
"Washington has changed him," Cappiello told a GOP gathering in Southbury.
Courtney and Murphy benefited from a national Democratic tide in 2006 that ended the GOP's 12-year control of Congress.
Republicans also nominated Rep. Christopher Shays, who has served since 1987 and is the only remaining Republican from New England in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"The last election left me as a caucus of one," he told Republicans in Darien. "Democrats didn't really win the election of 2006. Republicans lost that election because we lost our way."
In Hamden, the GOP on Saturday nominated Boaz Itshaky, a Bethany acupuncturist, to challenge Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro. She is seeking a 10th term.
Itshaky, who emigrated from Israel in 1989, said there is a "need for change across the board."
And Republicans on Saturday nominated West Hartford Town Councilor Joseph Visconti to challenge five-term Democratic Rep. John Larson in the 1st Congressional District. Visconti criticized pork barrel projects and growth in the size of government and he called for an end to what he called corporate welfare.
