Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Faces Expulsion From Local Democratic Party
Connecticut state representative Anabel Figueroa. Photo: Screenshot
A state representative in Stamford, Connecticut may soon be ousted from the local Democratic Party for proclaiming that her primary opponent, Jonathan Jacobson, must not win office because he is Jewish, a statement that heightened concerns about the mainstreaming of antisemitic rhetoric.
“The Hispanic vote is going to determine on Aug. 13 who will win to represent or who will continue to represent you,” Figueroa said in a Spanish-language interview filmed on July 28. “We cannot permit a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible.”
The comments were met with widespread backlash, and the Stamford Democratic City Committee (DCC) called on Figueroa to resign.
“The use of this blatant antisemitic and anti-democratic language is abhorrent, unacceptable, and contrary to our shared values as Democrats,” it wrote in a statement. “The sentiments expressed by Representative Figueroa in that video contradict the statement she issued yesterday in response to the antisemitic Facebook post shared by a DCC member, who is also one of her supporters.”
One of Figueroa’s supporters, who is also a member of the Stamford DCC, had also reportedly made antisemitic remarks about Jacobson.
Voters in the 148th District ultimately rejected Figueroa, electing Jacobson by a 25-point margin in the Democratic primary last month. However, the consequences of her campaign strategy, which offended many in the community — both Jewish and Latino — have outlasted the campaign season. On Aug. 28, the DCC voted unanimously to subject her to an “expulsion hearing,” a disciplinary process which may result in her banishment from the party. According to The Stamford Advocate, Figueroa will be afforded due process as well as an “advocate” who “will have 30 minutes” to contest the charges of misconduct in a hearing on Sept. 25.
“Anabel Figueroa has nobody to blame but herself for the situation that she created,” DCC chair Robin Druckman told the Advocate on Aug. 29. “Her words are her own and there is no missing context. Anyone can … hear and see for themselves that she not only used this abhorrent language but that she continues to do so.”
Figueroa’s apparent animosity toward Jewish politicians began earlier this year, when her political star fell after the DCC endorsed Jacobson for a state house seat for the 148th District which she had won in a special election in 2023, according to local media outlets. Outraged by being forced into a primary race, Figueroa lashed out at Jacobson and the party. In doing so, she fanned the flames of ethnic division and campaigned in part on the message that a Jewish representative would harm Latino citizens.
Later, a Figueroa surrogate and long time friend, Eva Padilla, launched more attacks in the same vein against Jacobson, casting suspicion on his ties to Israel and suggesting that he aimed to “steal” votes from Latinos.
“Her challenger is Israeli lawyer Jonathan Jacobson, a Stamford lawyer who doesn’t a damn about our wellbeing. This gentleman in my very personal opinion does not deserve to be involved in political positions where decisions are made that will benefit or harm our Latino community,” Padilla said in a message posted on Facebook. “On one occasion, he wanted to pass a law that was totally detrimental to our landscapers, obviously because the vast majority of them are Latinos … he wants our voice to end in this state.”
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
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