The Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America (CT DSA) has endorsed Justin Farmer in the three-way race for a west-side state House of Representatives seat. CT DSA posted its endorsement of Farmer on Instagram on June 11. The state branch of the socialist political organization then held a co nvention in Waterbury on Saturday to affirm its backing of Farmer, a former Hamden Legislative Council member who is running to represent the 92nd General Assembly District, which covers parts of Amity, Westville, Edgewood, Dwight, and the Hill. That seat is currently held by State Rep. Pat Dillon, a 21-term incumbent and deputy majority leader who has been endorsed by the local Democratic Party. Eli Sabin, a former downtown alder, is also running for the seat. Farmer, Dillon, and Sabin are all slated to compete in an Aug. 11 Democratic primary election. “We’re proud to endorse Justin, a founding member of CT DSA and fighter for the multiracial working class who has struggled alongside us to bring change both in the streets and through his extensive history in elected office,” CT DSA wrote on Instagram. The group pointed to Farmer’s track record of advocating for brownfield remediation — including through the Six Lake Parks Coalition. They also described his efforts to abolish prison gerrymandering and his support for the creation of the Right to Counsel program. “He has stood with immigrant communities, marched with Black Lives Matter New Haven, and built a block of socialist legislators and organizers who share his vision that a better world is possible.” Farmer told the Independent on Monday that he is “excited” and “invigorated” by the CT DSA endorsement. Nationwide, DSA saw a surge in membership following Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 runs for president. The group has returned to the political limelight with the rise of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and victories this month in primaries in New York. Farmer said that he first met Mamdani five years ago, when the current mayor was just a state assemblyman. Farmer said he wanted to meet other elected DSA members in the area, so he organized a trip to New York. “We just hung out as normal people,” he said. Years later, Farmer’s former colleague on the Hamden Legislative Council and fellow DSA member Abdul Osmanu worked on Mamdani’s campaign. Farmer spoke about how the DSA in New York City gets a lot of national attention, but Connecticut’s has been putting in the work and deserves acclaim as well — particularly for its advocacy for lawyers for low-income tenants in housing court and for reforms to statewide Fair Rent Commission laws. Farmer isn’t the only public-office seeker in Connecticut to be endorsed by CT DSA. State Rep. Maryam Khan has secured the group’s endorsement in her bid to represent the 2nd state Senate District. So too has Nick Gauthier in his bid to represent the 38th General Assembly District. “I’m proud and excited to have received the endorsement of the Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America!” Farmer wrote on Instagram. “An organization that I am a founding member of, and continues to be a vehicle for change in CT.” He continued, “This org has mentored and nurtured most of the state’s progressive legislation over the past decade, thanks to neighbors in this region, city, and state. Let’s plant the seeds of change so we can be rooted in a better tomorrow today!” The post DSA Endorses Farmer appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less