Connecticut
We encourage everyone to contact their Senators and Representative in Congress.
Click on the images below for additional information:
SENIOR SENATOR: Richard Blumenthal
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JUNIOR SENATOR: Christopher Murphy
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DISTRICT 1: John Larson
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DISTRICT 2: Joe Courtney
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DISTRICT 3: Rosa Delauro
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DISTRICT 4: James Himes
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DISTRICT 5: Jahana Hayes
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STARTING A POLITICAL PARTY IN CONNECTICUT:
METHOD: CANDIDATE BY PETITION
VOTES NEEDED: 1% of votes cast
VOTES NEEDED: 1% of votes cast
Qualifying as a minor party
Qualifying a major party
Major party recognition can be achieved if one of the following criteria is met:
Convention requirements
In Connecticut, a convention is a meeting of political party delegates held for the purpose of transacting party business, such as nominating candidates to run in a primary election.
Minor party convention requirements
A minor party cannot appoint delegates to a convention unless the party's rules have been submitted to the secretary of state at least 60 days prior.
At least five days before a convention is held to nominate candidates, written notice of the date, time, location, and purpose of the convention must be submitted to the secretary of state. This information must also be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the district of the office or offices for which candidates will be nominated at the convention.
Major party convention requirements
Major party delegates to a state or district convention may be selected by a caucus of enrolled members of the major party or by town committees of the major party. Delegates must be selected no earlier than the 140th day and no later than the 132nd day prior to the date of the primary election.
A major party's state or district convention must be held no earlier than the 98th day and no later than the 77th day preceding the primary election.
- The political organization wishing to become a minor party must run a candidate by petition with a party designation. If the candidate receives 1 percent of the votes cast for the office he or she sought, the minor party will be officially recognized for that office and be able to nominate candidates for that office without collecting signatures on a petition for the next election.
- The minor party must file a copy of the party rules with the Connecticut Secretary of State. The rules must detail how the minor party will nominate its candidates in the next election and must be filed 60 days before the next election in which the party wishes to nominate a candidate.
- The minor party must continue to run candidates for the offices for which it has already qualified for as the offices come up for re-election. Failure to do so will result in the loss of minor party status for that office.
Qualifying a major party
Major party recognition can be achieved if one of the following criteria is met:
- The party's candidate for governor at the most recent general election received at least 20 percent of the total votes cast for that office.
- At the time of the most recent general election for governor, at least 20 percent of the total number of registered voters had enrolled with the party.
Convention requirements
In Connecticut, a convention is a meeting of political party delegates held for the purpose of transacting party business, such as nominating candidates to run in a primary election.
Minor party convention requirements
A minor party cannot appoint delegates to a convention unless the party's rules have been submitted to the secretary of state at least 60 days prior.
At least five days before a convention is held to nominate candidates, written notice of the date, time, location, and purpose of the convention must be submitted to the secretary of state. This information must also be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the district of the office or offices for which candidates will be nominated at the convention.
Major party convention requirements
Major party delegates to a state or district convention may be selected by a caucus of enrolled members of the major party or by town committees of the major party. Delegates must be selected no earlier than the 140th day and no later than the 132nd day prior to the date of the primary election.
A major party's state or district convention must be held no earlier than the 98th day and no later than the 77th day preceding the primary election.
As of May 2017, Connecticut officially recognized six political parties: the Democratic, Green, Independent, Libertarian, Republican and Working Families parties.
These are listed in the table below. In order to be recognized by the state, a political party must fulfill certain requirements, which are detailed here.
Democratic Party of Connecticut Link Party rules
Green Party of Connecticut Link Party platform
Independent Party of Connecticut Link Party bylaws
Libertarian Party of Connecticut Link Party platform
Republican Party of Connecticut Link Party mission
Working Families Party of Connecticut Link Party values
These are listed in the table below. In order to be recognized by the state, a political party must fulfill certain requirements, which are detailed here.
Democratic Party of Connecticut Link Party rules
Green Party of Connecticut Link Party platform
Independent Party of Connecticut Link Party bylaws
Libertarian Party of Connecticut Link Party platform
Republican Party of Connecticut Link Party mission
Working Families Party of Connecticut Link Party values
