Democrats Choose Alexis Gevanter To Run For Vacant Senate Seat

GREENWICH, CT — On Tuesday night via Zoom, Democrats unanimously nominated Greenwich resident Alexis Gevanter as their candidate for the vacant 36th Senate District seat. The seat, which covers all of Greenwich and portions of New Canaan and Stamford, was previously held by Alex Kasser, who announced her resignation on June 22.

Gevanter, a political newcomer, is a business attorney and was recently the Connecticut chapter leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Gov. Ned Lamont has called for a special election on Aug. 17. Republicans have yet to hold their special nominating convention, although it has been tentatively scheduled for July 10. GOP candidates include State Rep. Harry Arora, Leora Levy and Ryan Fazio. Fazio ran against Kasser in 2020 and lost.

John Blankley, a Greenwich Democrat, announced last weekend that he intends to seek candidacy on the ballot as an independent, which could set up a three-way race for the seat. Blankley needs a certain number of signatures by July 12 to get on the ballot, according to the Greenwich Time.

Gevanter was officially nominated by State Rep. Stephen Meskers (D-150) during Tuesday night's convention.

"Alexis is drawn to the honor of public service to help others, to lift up the most vulnerable among us, to foster economic prosperity and social progress, and to make our community safer," Meskers said. "This is going to be a tough race, and we need a tough candidate. Alexis Gevanter is that candidate."

Gevanter spoke briefly, and called it the "honor of a lifetime" to be nominated by her party. She spoke of her experience as a mother, attorney, and activist and how that can translate to the State Senate.

"Please know I proudly accept this nomination with the greatest respect, sincerity and enthusiasm imaginable. I will spend every day between now and the election on Aug. 17 working to win this seat, because we must continue to focus on prosperity and progress. This approach is what will allow our state to recover from the pandemic even stronger than before," she said.

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