Progressive Change Campaign Committee: Donovan Should Stay in the Race Until Esty Embraces Progressive Issues

The deep schism that’s opened among Democrats over the 5th Congressional District race shows no signs of healing.

Over the weekend, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee emailed its members in Connecticut urging them to thank Chris Donovan for his run and tell him to remain in the 5th District race on the Working Families line. Donovan, who received endorsements from labor groups and progressive activists, lost last week’s Democratic primary to Elizabeth Esty.

 ”On many of core issues of importance to working families, Elizabeth Esty’s position is unclear — hurting Democrat’s chances in November,” wrote Juan Figueroa, the former state legislator and longtime Democratic activist.

The email asks members to thank Donovan “for standing on principle and ask him to hold on to his Working Families party line until Elizabeth Esty publicly campaigns on the popular progressive issues needed to win.”

Some observers predict the rift among the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic party will boost the chances of Republican Andrew Roraback.

The Progressive Change Campaign Commitete disagrees.

“[T]he real issue is that whomever takes on Republican Andrew [Rorabach] this November will have no chance of winning unless they campaign on popular, progressive principles — like promising no cuts to Social Security and Medicare,” Figueroa wrote.