“Tonight was President Obama’s final State of the Union address, and it is clear that the Country as a whole is far stronger than it was when he first took office. On everything, from human rights to record numbers of jobs to dropping uninsured rates, the state of our union is strong.

“The President’s honoring of Governor Malloy with an invitation proved once again that whether it is our commitment to raising the minimum wage, having the most successful Affordable Care Act exchange, implementation of paid sick leave, or enacting gun laws that have made our citizens safer, Connecticut continues to lead the way.

“We should be proud of the progress under President Obama’s leadership and hopeful for a better tomorrow. But if we want the progress to continue, we need to elect a Democratic president to follow in his footsteps. We need to make sure Connecticut continues to have a strong voice in Congress by re-electing Dick Blumenthal and the entire congressional delegation. And Democrats here at home need to stand together to fight for the Democratic values that make Connecticut strong.”