Esty wins Democratic nomination for Connecticut's 5th District

Elizabeth Esty won the Democratic nomination to run for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District seat on Tuesday night.

The former state representative defeated party-backed state House Speaker Chris Donovan for the nomination, and goes on to run against state Sen. Justin Roraback, who beat out three contenders to take the Republican nomination.

They’ll battle for Rep. Chris Murphy’s (D-Conn.) seat, who resigned to run for Senate and won the Democratic nomination for that seat on Tuesday night.

Though Donovan was favored to win the Democratic nomination and nabbed the state party’s endorsement, he was felled in part by growing scandals that swirled around his former campaign manager and top fundraiser, who had been arrested and charged with corruption.

Political observers considered a Donovan win one of the few potential opportunities for Republicans in a state that typically votes blue. With Esty’s nomination, the race remains in play.

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