Sen. Doug McCrory, a Hartford Democrat who is the subject of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, failed to secure his party’s endorsement for another term at a convention on Monday night. McCrory, who has served in the General Assembly for more than two decades, gained enough support fr om Democratic delegates to earn a spot in a three-way primary election in August, but he will not be the party’s chosen candidate in that race. That endorsement will instead go to Rep. Maryam Khan, D-Windsor, who is challenging McCrory for his seat in the state’s 2nd Senate District along with Ayana Taylor, the chairwoman of Windsor’s Board of Education. The three candidates battled for the party’s endorsement inside a sweltering auditorium at Bloomfield’s Carmen Arace Middle School on Monday night, where tempers flared as the delegates parried for support. It took three rounds of voting before Khan was able to net more than 50% the delegates, which is required to secure the endorsement. But her victory was no guarantee when the convention began shortly after 6 p.m. During the first round of balloting, Khan received the fewest votes, as the majority of the party officials from Hartford, Windsor and Bloomfield threw their support behind McCrory or Taylor. McCrory’s failure to capture enough delegates to secure the endorsement on the first ballot left Hartford Democratic chairman Marc DiBella and the senator’s other supporters scrambling. But as the voting continued and the haggling began, Khan’s support continued to grow — in large part due to votes from Hartford delegates who initially backed McCrory before switching on the second ballot. Sen. Doug McCrory huddles with Hartford’s Democratic Chairman Marc DiBella at the 2nd Senate District convention in Bloomfield on May 18, 2026. Credit: Andrew Brown / CT Mirror At one point, members of the Hartford delegation openly called for the second round of voting to halt, even as the moderator was calling out delegates’ names. And towards the end, one of the delegates made a motion to adjourn the convention without endorsing a candidate. That effort failed. In the final round of balloting, Khan secured 38 votes, Taylor netted 30 and McCrory, who has held the Senate seat since 2017, was left with just one delegate to his name. Candidates must get more than 15% of the vote on any ballot to qualify for the primary. McCrory did that on the first ballot. John Kennelly, a member of the Harford delegation, tried to rally support for McCrory during his nominating speech. Kennelly highlighted McCrory’s years of service in the General Assembly and the financial support he has brought to the three towns in his district. “He has been a voice at the legislature for the voiceless,” Kennelly said. “I implore you to once again cast your ballot for Doug McCrory, a public servant like few others,” he added. But the support that McCrory needed didn’t materialize. Ayana Taylor, the chairwoman of Windsor’s Board of Education, talks with her supporters before the Democratic convention for the state’s 2nd Senate District. Taylor is challenging state Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, for the second election cycle in a row. Credit: Andrew Brown / CT Mirror Nobody made any direct reference Monday to the ongoing FBI investigation, which is examining how McCrory directed public money to several nonprofits and businesses in the North End of Hartford. But the issue was bubbling just under the surface at the convention. “Our families, our workforce and our communities deserve a senator that shows up not to take, but to give,” Mayela Aguirre, one of Khan’s supporters, said during her nominating speech. McCrory left the convention without speaking to the media, and he did not respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment. Both Khan and Taylor told news reporters afterward that they were ready to wage an aggressive campaign to win a three-way primary in August. They both agreed that education funding is likely to be one of the biggest issues at play in that upcoming election. And they both suggested that McCrory may be incapable of capturing the state financial support that the district needs, given the federal investigation that continues to shadow him. Taylor said the next senator for the 2nd District needs to be “someone with integrity, who is honest and truthful.” “What is very important for the district is less distractions and somebody who can focus specifically on the district,” Khan said. Maryam Khan, left, and Ayana Taylor, center, talk after the first round of voting during the Democratic convention for the state’s 2nd Senate District. Both Khan and Taylor are challenging Sen. Doug McCrory for the senate seat covering Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor. Credit: Andrew Brown / CT Mirror ...read more read less