Somers goes it alone as lieutenant gov candidate

HARTFORD, Conn. – Republican lieutenant governor candidate Heather Somers severed her ties with gubernatorial candidate Mark Boughton on Thursday and announced she would run for the office on her own.

Boughton, mayor of Danbury and one of three candidates in a primary for the Republican nomination, named Somers his running mate in January in hopes she would help him raise money and garner support with Republican delegates.

But speculation that Somers may run on her own began after last week’s Republican nominating convention. Neither Boughton nor Somers won the party nomination, which went to Tom Foley in the gubernatorial race and state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi in the lieutenant governor’s race. However, both finished second in their respective race and received enough support to participate in a primary.

In a press release, Somers said she received nearly one-third of delegate votes at the convention and the votes came from supporters of several possible gubernatorial candidates. Senate Minority Leader John McKinney is also participating in the Republican gubernatorial primary and candidates Joe Visconti and Mark Lauretti are both working to petition their way onto the ballot.

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.