Leora Levy To Run For 36th Senate District Seat

GREENWICH, CT — Leora Levy, a National Republican Committeewoman for the State of Connecticut, has entered into the race for the 36th Senate District seat, which was recently vacated by Democrat Alex Kasser. Kasser resigned on June 22, citing an ongoing divorce battle.

Levy, a Greenwich resident of 33 years, released a statement on Thursday announcing her intentions to run for the seat, which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.

A public announcement is expected from Levy after the Fourth of July holiday.

"If I am elected, I will be a senator who will always fight for every resident of the district and for all of Connecticut's families," Levy said in her statement. "I understand how much of what happens in Hartford affects our daily lives. As the mother of three sons, all raised in Connecticut, I know how concerning some of the laws passed this past session must seem to parents who now have had their right to control the medical care and raising of their own children stripped away. I understand how worried parents are about the content and quality of their children’s education as well as the local control of their local schools."

Levy said she understands "the frustration of the police who have lost their qualified immunity and funding. I understand how expensive it is to live in CT and how we cannot afford more taxes. Connecticut does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem," she added.

In 2016, Levy became a Republican National Committeewoman for Connecticut. In January 2021, she was elected to represent the Northeast Region on the Executive Committee of the RNC. She has served as finance chair for two gubernatorial campaigns — Tom Foley 2014 and Bob Stefanowski in 2018 — and for the CT Republican Party from 2013 to 2015. In October of 2019, former President Trump nominated Levy to be the ambassador to Chile, but she was never confirmed.

Levy now joins fellow Republicans current State Rep. Harry Arora (R-151) and Ryan Fazio.

Fazio ran for the 36th District seat in 2020 against Kasser and lost.

On the Democratic side, Alexis Gevanter, who recently received endorsements from Kasser and State Rep. Stephen Meskers (D-150) is running for the seat. Gevanter is a political newcomer, and a volunteer with the Junior League of Greenwich and is the Connecticut chapter leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Also running for the Democrats will be John Blankley, a Greenwich resident who has been involved with town government for a number years. Blankley is a former Chief Financial Officer and board member for the British Petroleum Company in North America, according to his LinkedIn profile.

A special election will take place on Aug. 17, Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Friday.

Under Connecticut state law, the governor is required to issue a writ of special election within 10 days of a vacancy in the General Assembly and a special election must be held exactly 46 days after the writ has been issued.

According to the Greenwich Time, Greenwich Democrats have tentatively scheduled a nominating convention for July 6. The Time also reported that Republicans have scheduled a convention for July 10. Both are expected to be held via Zoom.

To read more from the Greenwich Time, click here.