Gregory Bows Out of Congress Race

Will Gregory’s run has officially ended. The New Canaan resident dropped out of the race for the state’s 4th Congressional District seat. Gregory was hoping to win the Republican Party’s nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Jim Himes in November.

Gregory was the first Republican to enter the race back in August 2009. The then-24-year-old’s campaign gained notoriety early on because of his age. He would have been the youngest congressman in Connecticut’s history. He officially withdrew from the race Thursday, sending an e-mail to his supporters and posting an open letter to his campaign blog.

In the letter, Gregory said he was dropping out because “there are other candidates in this race who are better financially equipped to defeat Jim Himes in November.” According to OpenSecrets.org, a website that tracks campaign contributions, Easton First Selectman Thomas Hermann and Shelton State Sen. Dan Debicella are the leading fundraisers among the Republicans in the race, each with more than $500,000. Gregory’s total is about $19,000.

Gregory did not endorse any of the remaining candidates, saying he would support them equally as the primary approaches. “In any primary, it can be easy to give in to the idea that other candidates are opponents,” Gregory said in his letter.  “Ultimately, however, we are all united behind a common set of ideals.”

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