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Public opinion polls forecast it, and it proved true: Democrat Ned Lamont of Greenwich won the governor's race in a narrow victory over Republican Bob Stefanowski of Madison.
As the attached map shows, Lamont's greatest support came from Fairfield County, the northeastern corner of Connecticut and the cities of Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, Hartford and Stamford.
An anti-President Trump vote was seen as helping Lamont from Danbury to Westport. Close gubernatorial elections are nothing new to the Nutmeg State: Outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy never received more than 51 percent of the vote and did not seek a third term.
In other key Connecticut races:
- All four of the state's U.S. representatives seeking re-election won their races, positioning them for key posts in the House that flipped to Democratic control. Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson are in line to lead subcommittees that steer federal funding to submarine manufacturing, biomedical research and the state’s web of interstate highways. Rep. Jim Himes hopes to chair a subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee.
Democrats won legislative seats in Fairfield County that have been held by Republicans for generations.
- In the 26th Senate District, 22-year-old Democrat Will Haskell of Westport defeated state Sen. Toni Boucher of Wilton. The seat has been held by Republicans since the 1970s. Prior Daily Voice coverage of this race can be found by clicking here.
- For the first time since the 1930s, a Democrat won the 36th Senate District, which includes Greenwich and part of Stamford and New Canaan. Democrat Alexandra Bergstein defeated Republican incumbent L. Scott Frantz.
- A 60-year-old newcomer to state politics marked a first for Connecticut on Election Day. On Nov. 6, Stephen Meskers became the first Democrat to win the 150th District House seat since 1912. More Daily Voice coverage on that landmark race can be found by clicking here.
- A 45-year-old state representative from Stamford who grew up in the Hartford area marked another first for Connecticut politics on Election Day. William Tong became the first Asian-American in the state's history to win a statewide office with his election as Attorney General. More details on Tong are reported in this Daily Voice story.
- Last but not least, Democrat Jahana Hayes, the former National Teacher of the Year who sought elective office for the fist time, made state history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress from Connecticut. Daily Voice coverage of that historic victory can be read by clicking here.
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