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Cope is seeking the Republican nomination to run for the seat in the 4th U.S. Congressional District, which encompasses much of northwestern Connecticut, including the Fairfield County towns of Sherman, New Fairfield, Brookfield, Danbury, Bethel and Newtown.
The event was hosted by Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who endorsed Cope. Joining Cope at the announcement were former Sherman First Selectman Art von Plachecki and Sherman Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman Rick Hudson.
Cope, in his third term as first selectman, defeated Democratic challenger Donald Lowe in November. Cope, 53, is a home shopping fashion executive.
Sherman, a rural small town in the northernmost corner of Fairfield County, has a population of 3,581. It is bordered by New Fairfield, New Milford, Kent and Pawling, N.Y., as well as Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond.
Democrat Elizabeth Esty currently holds the Congressional seat. She was first elected in 2012.
Cope's political career began with a seat on the Library Board, followed by the Planning and Zoning Commission before he became his town's leader in 2011, according to the Hartford Courant.
If elected, Cope could become the first openly gay Republican in the next Congress.
Two other Republicans are also seeking the nomination: Matt Maxwell from the Sandy Hook section of Newtown, and John Pistone of Brookfield, who is making his third bid for the Congressional seat.
The seat was claimed by Democrats in 2006, when Chris Murphy defeated Nancy Johnson. When Murphy was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Esty defeated Republican state Sen. Andrew Roraback for the seat.
The 4th Congressional District extends from Danbury north and up through Litchfield County to the Massachusetts border, and to the Farmington Valley and New Britain.
Click here to read the story at the Hartford Courant. Click here to read the story at the Stamford Advocate.
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