John McKinney, the minority leader of the state Senate, announced Tuesday he is running for governor in 2014.
The Fairfield Republican, who ultimately seeks to unseat Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, announced his candidacy for the Republican primary in a press release.
McKinney said he has filed paperwork to start a candidate committee and begin collecting contributions to qualify for the state’s public campaign financing program.
McKinney blamed Malloy for the state’s falling GDP and said the first-term governor has attempted to pick winners and losers in awarding economic development money.
Malloy hasn’t announced whether he will seek a second term.
McKinney’s district includes Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport.
His support of gun control legislation following the Dec. 14 Newtown school shootings has earned him criticism from the gun industry.
