WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's name was mentioned multiple times during a debate held Wednesday night in Connecticut's closely watched 5th Congressional District race.
But it was only the Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, who uttered it.
Her Republican opponent, former state Sen. George Logan, who has tried to portray himself as a moderate, independent candidate in this rematch election from 2022, would only say he supported the top of the GOP ticket and was focused more on helping the residents of what is considered the most politically diverse district in blue Connecticut.
“I've said over and over again, I'm going to work with whomever is going to win the White House after Nov. 5th, and I stand by that,” he told reporters after the televised matchup. “They're playing games, I think. They want to do this whole gotcha political thing, and I'm just not giving it to them. I made it clear who I'm voting for.”
But Hayes accused Logan, who she defeated by 2,000 votes two years ago, of trying to thread the needle in a purple district and not tell voters how he really feels on issues.
“I think the non-answer says more than the answer,” Hayes said during the debate.
“When he's in a room with MAGA supporters, he tells them to turn off your phones. This is who I'm going to vote for. I support Donald Trump. When he's in a more moderate part of the district or a Democratic part of the district, he refuses to say it,” she told reporters afterward. “So, I guess the Logan that you get is dependent on the room that he's in.”
If Logan wins, he would be the first Republican member of Connecticut's current all-Democratic congressional delegation since former GOP Rep. Chris Shays, a moderate Republican who lost the state's 4th Congressional District seat in 2008 to Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, who is now running for a ninth term.
The 5th District race is considered the most competitive of the state's five congressional contests.
Hayes, a former national teacher of the year, first assumed office in 2019.
During the debate, she touted her efforts to help everyone from farmers to people struggling to find affordable housing and noted her votes to increase the minimum wage and lower prescription drug prices.
While she acknowledged that pocketbook issues are still important to voters in this year's election, Hayes noted the nation's low unemployment rate and how the U.S. has rebounded from the pandemic better than other countries.
Logan blamed Hayes for not doing enough to help people struggling to pay for groceries, gas and rent, and he repeatedly accused Hayes of being a rubber stamp for the White House.
He said she votes with the national Democrats nearly all the time — a claim she later denied — while he promised to support legislation that is best for the district, no matter which party proposed it.
“My opponent cannot fathom an independent voice in Washington,” Logan said.
This year's race for the 5th District, which includes a large swath of northwestern Connecticut, is reminiscent of 2022, when Logan repeatedly linked Hayes with President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and accused her for being tone deaf about the impact of inflation on voters.
The race attracted millions of dollars in outside money, with national Republicans seeing an opportunity to crack Democrats’ lock on the state’s congressional delegation.
This year, both campaign committees for the national parties have focused on the race once again, running ads on statewide television.
Like in 2022, Hayes has accused Logan as someone who can't be trusted when it comes to abortion, despite Logan's claims that he supports abortion rights.
The war in the Gaza Strip, however, was not an issue two years ago. During Wednesday's debate, which was televised live on statewide TV, a pro-Palestinian protester suddenly bound on stage midway through and shouted “Free Palestine” before being taken away by security.