Hartford, Ct. – Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Nick Balletto released the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s victory in the Connecticut GOP primary.

“Donald Trump’s resounding victory in today’s primary is surprising to no one, but it is yet another reminder of just how extreme Connecticut’s Republican Party has become,” said Chairman Balletto. “From Trump’s win in the GOP’s straw poll, to House Minority Leader Themis Klarides’s full embrace of Trump, to tonight’sprimary results, it is clear that Donald Trump’s hateful, divisive message is now squarely in the mainstream of the state GOP.

“While Trump’s positions – punishing women for seeking abortions, banning entire religions from entering the country, and deporting 11 million immigrants – might sit well with the base of the Republican Party, they run counter to the views of the majority of Connecticut’s general electorate. And GOP candidates in our state will have to answer for their standard-bearer’s policy positions and rhetoric. Make no mistake, the Connecticut Republican Party is now officially the party of Trump.”