Connecticut Republicans have given Greenwich businessman Tom Foley a second chance to run against Governor Dannel Malloy. The former U.S. ambassador to Ireland defeated state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney by over ten percentage points Tuesday night.
"Change is on the way," Foley said to cheers at a victory celebration in Waterbury. "Change is coming to Connecticut. Dan Malloy has had his chance, and change is coming." During his speech, Foley was quick to challenge the incumbent governor, who won his first term by narrowly defeating Foley in 2010.
"We will either have four more years of Dan Malloy's damaging policies," Foley said, to booing, "[with] ever-higher taxes -- boo is right! -- and costs that drive up everyone's cost of living, or we will head in a different direction. We will have pro-growth policies that reduce taxes, get control over spending, and support job creators."
Foley was endorsed by the GOP, and had been favored to win the match-up against the lesser-known McKinney, a 16-year veteran of the General Assembly from Fairfield.
After conceding the race, McKinney said he'd throw his support behind Foley. "We fought hard," McKinney said. "We came close, but at the end of the day, Tom Foley ran a better race. Tom Foley is our candidate for governor. What I told Tom Foley is that 100 percent of my efforts from tomorrow morning to November 4 will be getting Tom Foley and other Republicans elected in November. That is our goal."
Foley touts himself as a successful businessman and outsider with the skills to balance the budget and grow jobs. He has called for a 0.5 percent cut in the state's 6.35 percent sales tax and a review of its tax structure.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
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