In a speech before a swarm of supporters, campaign staff and members of the media, Fifth District candidate Chris Donovan announced he will not be the party's nominee in November.
With roughly 73 percent of the precincts reporting, Donovan, the party's endorsed candidate, lost Democratic the primary against challenger Elizabeth Esty, of Cheshire.
According to The Hartford Courant, Esty garnered 8,717 votes against Donovan's 7,062 votes. A third candidate, Dan Roberti, got 4,626 votes.
This means that Esty, of Cheshire, will go on to face Republican Andrew Roraback in November, who also won the nomination on the Republican front. The Fifth District is made up of 41 towns stretching from Meriden to the Farmington Valley, Danbury and to the Northwest Corner of the state.
In a concession speech at a hall in Meriden, Murphy didn't mention Esty at all, but went on to thank all of his supporters and campaign staff. He said he'd continue to fight for all the rights of working class people.
Donovan refused comment from supporters who crowded him as he walked around the Augusta Curtis Center thanking his supporters.
Donovan was initially the Democratic Party's frontrunner candidate after gaining the endorsement in May, only to fall from grace due to a federal investigation that erupted against his campaign.
Members of his staff were arrested on charges of campaign finance violations from an alleged scheme to hide donations in exchange for influence on tobacco-related legislation.
In the weeks following the arrests, Donovan, a union-backed candidate with grassroots support, had to fend off attacks from not only Republican opponents but Esty and Roberti.
Check back with Patch for a full story later.
