Heather Somers, the Republican candidate for the 18th District state Senate seat, has secured the required $15,000 in small-allotment campaign contributions to qualify for $95,710 in funding through the Connecticut Citizens' Election Program.    

The Somers campaign said the candidate raised the $15,000 in 35 days, meeting the requirement of receiving donations of $5 to $100 from 300 or more residents of the district.

"We received contributions from Democrats, independents and Republicans, all eager to save Connecticut by standing up to the status quo in Hartford," Somers said in a press release.

Somers, who will likely face Preston Democrat Timothy Bowles, who announced this week he plans to file the necessary paperwork to run for the seat being vacated by Democrat Andrew Maynard, said she's been "overwhelmed by the incredible support my campaign has received from across the 18th District in such a short time."

"If we want different results from Hartford, we simply must send a different type of person to Hartford," she said. "As a businesswoman and a local leader in Groton for 10 years I know what it takes to repair our business climate and to fight for our local interests. "

Somers is a former Groton Town councilor and mayor, and was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014.

"I could not be more grateful to the hundreds of local residents who contributed to help us stand up to the Hartford machine," Somers said. "I look forward to the next phase of the campaign where I will get to talk about the substantive issues critical to our residents and our region door to door with citizens."

The Citizens' Election Program is voluntary and provides public financing to qualified candidates for statewide offices and the General Assembly.

The program is financed by the Citizens' Election Fund, which receives monies primarily from the proceeds of sale of abandoned state properties.