Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy climbs through a hatch on board the Historic Ship Nautilus as he tours the Submarine Force Library and Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus in Groton, Conn., as part of a visit to tourist attractions in the region Thursday, July 3, 2014. Malloy’s tour continued to Ocean Beach Park and lunch at the park’s Sandbar Cafe before returning to Hartford for a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. The Nautilus was the first nuclear powered submarine. (AP Photo/The Day, Sean D. Elliot)
Four years ago, it was Ned Lamont.
Eight years ago, it was John DeStefano Jr.
But this time around, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is a mere spectator on primary day, with Democrats having cleared the path to the November general election of any obstacles for the first-term incumbent.
Malloy, who was involved in hard-fought primaries in 2010 and 2006 for governor, losing one and winning one, is scheduled to rally the troops at the Democratic Party headquarters in New Haven this evening with U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy and Elm City Mayor Toni Harp.
He will then retire to the Governor’s Residence in Hartford to watch the primary results and learn who his Republican challenger will be, sources close to Malloy told Hearst Connecticut Media.
With a number of key Democratic primaries for the Legislature on the ballot, Malloy is expected to call the winners to congratulate them.