by Sarah Willson

Mayor Erin Stewart, along with a crowd of supporters, rallied outside New Britain High School on Wednesday, where nine of her Republican opponents took the stage inside for Connecticut’s gubernatorial debate, an event which she was excluded from.

Stewart, who jumped in the governor’s race a bit late, was prohibited from joining the all-male line-up due to the fact that she did not raise the required party amount of $175,000 to participate. As a result, she and her supporters protested outside of her former high school while those inside discussed issues ranging from the death penalty to taxes.

Chants of “Let her in!” and “We want Erin!” could be heard all the way from inside the auditorium where a crowd of over 400 gathered. Despite the fact that she was not allowed to debate, Stewart said that “by all the cameras that are in front of [her],” she does not believe her chances of winning the race will be hurt.

“We’re running for something different than what we see on that stage every single debate so far,” Stewart yelled into her crowd of supporters. “Why aren’t we there?”

Those advocating for Stewart wondered the same thing, believing that the amount of money one raises should not determine whether or not he or she should be allowed to debate.

“That blocks good ideas from being on that stage,” supporter Tod Cheney said in regards to the amount of money a candidate must raise to participate. “A lot of the people on the stage tonight we’ve seen time and time again and it’s the same old [thing]. If Republicans want the governor’s seat, they need new ideas, they need a fresh face, someone who can bridge the gap between the parties and really bring something together. I believe Erin is the right person for that, but, unfortunately, for the rules being what they are, she’s out here and not in there.”

One of Stewart’s “biggest fans,” 18-year-old Andrianna Baez, also took to the outside of the school to fight for Stewart, who happens to be her mentor.

“She [has] mentored me since I was a freshman, since she became mayor and she’s my biggest role model, so I was out there to support her since she supports me in everything I do,” Baez said. “She’s just as passionate for New Britain as she is for Connecticut.”

New Britain native Chloe Santana agreed, saying that “right now, Connecticut is not in the best shape,” but she believes that Stewart will “make Connecticut feel like the home [she] feels here in New Britain.”

The reason for this, Santana said, is because of the “massive” amount of work to improve the city that she has already taken part in.

“I grew up here. I’ve lived here my whole life and I went through all the schools. I graduated from New Britain High School just last year and the vibe that [the city had] when I was younger compared to now feels like an actual home,” Santana said.

More than anything, Baes agreed that the financial requirement to participate in the debate is unnecessary.

“Honestly, I do not believe that money overpowers ideas and peoples’ opinions,” Baez said. “The worth of money isn’t the worth of what Mayor Stewart would have brought to the table.”

Some of the men in the debate, too, were outraged over the fact that Stewart could not participate. Some even advocated for an exception that would allow for her to participate.

Despite all of the supporters, Kristi Talmadge, who said that while she originally supported Stewart, said that no one here is to blame for the situation but the mayor herself.

“Mayor Stewart knew what the rules were before speaking, but I’m very disappointed that she would make a political move to drag down the GOP party for this particular race and debate,” Talmadge said. “I don’t think that this negativity belonged in this particular form and atmosphere. I want to hear what these guys [inside] have to say [because] there’s a lot of work to be done here. So for her to politicize it, I didn’t appreciate it.”

Talmadge believes Stewart stole the spotlight away from other candidates debating inside by protesting outside.

In a little over a month, Republicans will host their statewide nominating convention at Foxwoods Resort Casino, which will feature 1,300 delegates “voting on part endorsements,” according to the Connecticut Post. Those who receive 15 percent of the vote will qualify for the August primary.