Hartford, Ct. – The Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) this evening elected party officers. Chairman Nick Balletto of Guilford and Treasurer Josh Hall of Hartford were unanimously re-elected to a second term, while Dita Bhargava of Greenwich was elected vice chairwoman and Eva Bermudez of Newtown was elected secretary.

Governor Dan Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, and members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation congratulated the newly elected officers and thanked outgoing Vice Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo and Secretary Barbara Gordon, both of whom decided not to seek re-election.

“I am proud of the work that Nick Balletto, Nancy DiNardo, and the team at the state party have done over the past two years,” said Governor Malloy. “They have made unprecedented investments in building a top-notch grassroots organization, and it has paid off. I want to congratulate Nick and his team on their elections and thank Nancy and Barbara for their extraordinary leadership over the years.”

“Nick has been an outstanding leader for the Democratic Party,” said Lt. Governor Wyman. “I know that serving as party chair is a tough, often thankless job, but the State Central Committee made the right decision to keep Nick on for the next two years. Although they will be missed in their current roles, I also know that Barbara Gordon and Nancy DiNardo will continue to serve the party and the state going forward.”

“Dita Bhargava is an excellent choice to serve as state party vice chairwoman,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes. “I have gotten to know her as a community leader in Greenwich, and I can tell you from experience that she has the leadership skills to be highly effective in her new role. With Donald Trump preparing to take the oath of office, we need Democrats who will hold him – and the Republicans supporting his agenda – accountable. Dita will do just that.”

“I want to congratulate my friend Eva Bermudez,” said U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty. “Eva is a stellar public servant who works tirelessly on behalf of Newtown. She has spent her career advocating for the rights of working people and knows how to win the tough fights. Eva is well-suited to serve as the secretary of the state party, which will benefit from her voice and her boundless energy.”

Chairman Balletto and Vice Chairwoman Bhargava offered their thanks to the State Central Committee and to Democrats throughout the state.

“Serving as party chair has been a tremendous honor, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to continue serving,” said Balletto. “Our new executive committee, party staff, and volunteers are ready to hit the ground running, contacting voters and holding Donald Trump and the Republicans supporting his agenda accountable. We are already engaged in unprecedented efforts to engage grassroots supporters and lay the groundwork for critical 2017 and 2018 elections.

“I want to give special thanks to Nancy DiNardo and Josh Hall,” he continued. “Nancy has given me incredible guidance and support over the past two years. I know that she will continue to be a great resource for the state party in her new role as a Democratic National Committee member. And Josh has been an incredible asset to the party in his role as treasurer. I am immensely grateful that he will continue his service.”

“I want to thank the DSCC for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity and responsibility,” said Bhargava.  Connecticut Democrats are already working tirelessly to build a grassroots organization and expand our ranks with new voices and faces that ensure we are ready to compete in 2017 and 2018. We will hold the Connecticut Republicans supporting the Trump administration’s extreme agenda accountable. I look forward to getting right to work.”