Following the news that current State Senator Ted Kennedy Jr. (D) would not seek a third term as the senator for the state’s 12th District representing Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, Durham, and Killingworth, candidates from both parties have announced their interest in the seat. Guilford Democrat Christine Cohen is the first candidate for the seat who has raised the necessary funds to qualify for a public grant under Connecticut campaign laws.

Kennedy announced he would not seek the seat in February. A few weeks after Kennedy’s announcement, State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98) Scanlon said he would not seek the State Senate seat and would instead continue to seek re-election as a state representative serving Guilford and Branford.

Following Scanlon’s decision, a number of candidates stepped forward, including Republicans Adam Greenberg and Jerry Mastrangelo.

Cohen filed her candidacy on March 15 and has since qualified for funding under the state’s Citizens’ Election Program.

According to a press release, “As of April 16, Cohen had raised $17,175 from 339 donors across the district, which includes Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth, North Branford, and part of Durham. As a result, she is eligible for an $85,000 grant to her campaign from the State Elections Enforcement Commission.”

On April 25, Cohen, who currently serves on the Board of Education, announced she has received endorsements from nearly 40 political and community leaders in the district. In Guilford, that list includes Scanlon, State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, former state representative Patricia Widlitz, Democratic State Central Committeewoman Martha Carlson, as well as a majority of elected Democrats from the Board of Education, the Board of Selectmen, and Board of Finance.

“I am deeply humbled by the support I have received since announcing my candidacy,” said Cohen in a release. “Each and every town within the district is special to me for various reasons and I want to see them thrive and prosper. I am focusing my efforts on reaching out to voters in Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth, North Branford, and Durham to listen to their thoughts, concerns and ideas. I will be out in the communities knocking on doors, attending events and engaging in conversation about the challenges we face in Connecticut.”

The list of endorsements from Guilford did not include Democratic First Selectman Matt Hoey. Hoey said he is not prepared to make a formal endorsement at this time.

“A longstanding friend is considering running the race so at this point I am not committed to making any formal commitments,” he said. “That’s all.”

The friend in question is John Picard. Picard, a Madison resident and former mayor of the City of West Haven, has publicly expressed interest in the seat and met with some Democratic town committees in the district. While he has yet to formally announce his candidacy, Picard said he is still considering running at this time.

Another potential Democratic candidate from Guilford is Andy Gottlieb, who recently announced his candidacy via press release. In the release, Gottlieb is described as “a 24 year-old progressive Democrat from Guilford” who is a member of the Guilford Democratic Town Committee, Shoreline Indivisible’s Connecticut Politics Action Team.