46 Connecticut Seats Uncontested as Austin Spends $250,000 on Campaign

George Austin spent $250,000 of his own money to run for Congress in Connecticut.

The home builder and former football coach is a Republican running in a district that Democrats have held for decades. He faces incumbent Rep. Joe Courtney, who has won reelection easily for 20 years. Connecticut Democrats have won 45 straight U.S. House elections since 2008.

Austin notes that 46 of the state legislature’s 187 seats are uncontested this cycle. He serves as his own scheduler and volunteer coordinator. "I’m successful, but I’m a far cry from wealthy," Austin said. "It’s just what the people deserved, it’s what the race deserved."

Two thousand miles away, Lisa Kinney is running as a Democrat for Wyoming’s lone House seat. The state has sent only Republicans to Congress since the late 1970s. Kinney, a former state senator, campaigns without a central office. She relies on a small group of helpers and spends many hours on the road.

During a day of campaigning in Casper, Kinney visited Johnny J’s diner. She spoke to diners about preserving public lands and lowering health care costs. Some patrons declined to discuss politics. Others raised concerns about her party’s stances on immigration and trans issues.

Joe Beck, a diner who does not identify with a major party, told Kinney he had already voted for her. He warned her about the political tide in the state. "You have an uphill battle. This is the reddest state in the nation," Beck said. "I applaud you, but there’s a tsunami coming at you on the first Tuesday in November."

Kinney and Austin both cite deep partisan entrenchment as a major obstacle. Eric Ostermeier, founder of the nonpartisan political news site Smart Politics, noted that 19 state delegations are currently comprised of representatives and senators from the same party. He said this is the highest number seen since 1953.

Ostermeier said gerrymandering and geographic sorting contribute to these monolithic districts. He also noted that state candidates often struggle to separate themselves from the national party identity. Austin said voters in Connecticut often disengage when they learn he is a Republican. "They ask me if I voted for him. I say, ‘of course I did.’ And we never get to discuss why," Austin said. Kinney’s husband, Rodney Lang, said a win would strengthen the party even if the election day results go against them.