Primary Results Are In, and Must-Read on Free School Meals

Primary Results Are In

The results of Connecticut's primary election were finalized last night, setting the stage for the general election in November. Notably, two Republican primaries determined the challengers for U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D) and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D). Additionally, Democrats held contested primaries in four state Senate districts and 11 state House districts. Below are the key outcomes relevant to educational equity in Connecticut:

• U.S. Senate Race: As News 8 reports, Connecticut Republicans selected Navy veteran and Trump supporter Matt Corey over Gerry Smith in the Republican primary. Corey will challenge U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D) in the general election, where Murphy is heavily favored to secure a third term.

• 4th Congressional District: Republicans have also chosen to run Michael Goldstein over Bob MacGuffie in an uphill battle against eight-term U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D) in November. 

• 2nd State Senate District (Bloomfield, Hartford, and Windsor): Incumbent Senator Douglas McCrory successfully defended his seat against two challengers—President of the Hartford Federation of Paraeducators Shellye Davis and Vice President of the Windsor Board of Education Ayana Taylor. Senator McCrory is a key member of Connecticut's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, the Chair of the General Assembly's Education Committee, a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Energy and Technology, and a member of the Committees on Appropriations, Banking, and Government Administration & Elections. An administrator at the Capitol Region Education Council and an educator for over 20 years, McCrory is a staunch advocate on issues of educational equity—including minority teacher recruitment, public school choice, transparency in education funding, and support for students' mental health. The Stamford Advocate had a write-up on this race’s implications for education here. Congratulations to Senator McCrory on his victory!

• 22nd State Senate District (Trumbull, Bridgeport, and Monroe): With Senator Marilyn Moore—an advocate for racial equity and social justice—stepping down after a decade in office, Quinnipiac University Professor Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox has won this four-way primary race. The CT Post explains that she is likely to face Republican Chris Carrena in November.

• 15th State House District (Bloomfield, West Hartford): Incumbent Representative Bobby Gibson—who serves on the Education and Appropriations Committees, as well the General Law Committee—triumphed over party-endorsed Jennifer A. Marshall-Nealy, Bloomfield's Democratic Registrar of Voters. Rep. Gibson, who is a school administrator in Bloomfield, has been a strong advocate for students, especially on the issues of students’ mental health, and on the addition of African-American and Latino studies to the high school curriculum. CT Insider had a good write-up on this race here. 

• 110th House District (Danbury): According to the News-Times, Representative Bob Godfrey, who has not faced a primary since his first race in 1988, won over challenger Melissa Santana. Rep. Godfrey is part of a local delegation that has blocked state funding for a public charter school in Danbury. Santana ran as a parent representing Hispanic and Latino voices in the district. 

LINKS

• List of Nominees for the Democratic Primary Contests

• CT Insider: Connecticut primary election results 2024 

• AP: AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Connecticut’s state primaries

• Stamford Advocate: Democratic challengers seek to unseat long-term incumbent in CT's 2nd Senate District

• CT Post: Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox wins four-way Democratic Senate primary in Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe

• CT Insider: 15th House primary features two Bloomfield candidates

• NewsTimes: Bob Godfrey 'resounding victory' over challenger in Danbury’s 110th Democratic primary

Must-Read on Free School Meals

The New York Times had an important story yesterday on how free school lunches have become an issue in the 2024 presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, last year signed a law making Minnesota the 8th state to offer free meals to students regardless of family income level. According to NYT's coverage, approximately 11 million children eat free breakfast across the country on a given day, and 9 million eat free lunch. 

During the pandemic, the Trump administration began to provide free school meals to all students, a program that expired in the fall of 2022. Here in Connecticut, the program was extended repeatedly, including an announcement by Governor Ned Lamont and Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker that the state would make a $16M investment of American Rescue Plan dollars to expand free school meals for the 2023-24 school year. Then, during the 2024 legislative session, the Appropriations Committee considered a bill that would have appropriated funding in 2025 to continue the school meals effort once again. But that legislation never advanced.

Proponents of free school meals argue that the policy reduces stigma, helps families who are near the cut-off for eligibility, helps schools to afford better quality meals and meal services, and leads to better performance. Opponents express concerns over costs, inefficiencies, and wasted funding for the children of wealthy families. This is an issue to watch on the campaign trail. Read the full NYT story here. 

• NYT: Why Are Free School Lunches Becoming a Campaign Issue? 

• Gov. Ned Lamont Press Release (2023): Expansion of Connecticut's Free School Meals Program

• HB 5510, An Act Concerning Funding for Student Meals