Shays's wife contributes to primary candidate

The Shays family appears to be taking sides in the Republican primary to face freshman Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.).

The wife of former Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Betsi, gave $500 to former state Sen. Rob Russo on Sept. 30, according to Russo’s third quarter fundraising report. Russo is a former aide to Chris Shays.

Shays fell to Himes in 2008, leaving an open seat Republicans will attempt to reclaim.

Their chances took a hit when state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R) shocked the political community by saying this summer that he wouldn’t run for the seat.

Russo is facing another state senator, Dan Debicella, in the GOP primary. Debicella, who got an earlier start, outraised Russo $110,000 to $50,000 in the third quarter.