Tong Endorses Crawford in 33rd State Senate Race

State Representative William Tong (D, Stamford), a recent candidate for United State Senator from Connecticut, endorsed the candidacy of Jim Crawford pn Thursday to be the next State Senator from the 33rd Senatorial District.

“I’ve worked closely with Jim, in both the Energy Committee and on the floor of the House of Representatives. Like a lot of people who know him, I am struck by two things: Jim’s strength of character, and his clear sense of how we can get the economy on the shoreline and the Connecticut River Valley moving again," Tong said. "We have so much work to do in Hartford – there’s no doubt Jim Crawford’s the only candidate to get it done.”

Crawford will face Mary Ellen Klinck (D, East Haddam) in a primary on Tuesday.

“William Tong is an intelligent and caring colleague who has an enormous amount of talent that he puts to use in the service of the community," Crawford said in a press release. "I know we can expect much more from him in the future. I am honored to have him endorse me.

“It was my privilege to introduce William to the full-bellied clams our region is famous for. He thinks they’re fantastic, though we disagree if you can find better in Stamford.”

Rep. Tong is well-known across Connecticut as the first Asian American to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly. His recent campaign for United States Senator earned him broad support across both Connecticut and the nation, before he bowed out to endorse Chris Murphy.

Crawford, currently serving his first term as a State Representative, is a native of the 33rd Senatorial District. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army after college, then began a 37-year teaching career in the Westbrook Public Schools. During that time, Jim also owned and operated a small business, the Maples Motel, with his wife Elaine. They have two grown children.

The 33rd Senatorial District is comprised of 12 towns: Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, a portion of Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.