HARTFORD (WTIC News) -- Gov. Ned Lamont (D) made history on Election Day, becoming the second Connecticut governor to be elected to three consecutive terms. He defeated outgoing state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich), according to an AP projection at 9:17 pm. Lamont had 57.5% percent of the votes to Fazio’s 42.5% with 57% of the vote counted.
Mirroring their party's gains nationwide, Connecticut Democrats once again swept the state's five seats in the U.S. House and the state's slate of constitutional officers. It appears that Democrats will also expand their already-dominant advantages in the Connecticut General Assembly.
Lamont told a crowd of a few hundred Democrats gathered at Dunkin’ Park that Fazio “graciously conceded the race,” and he credited Connecticut’s fiscal condition compared to that of the nation:
“Unlike what you see in Trump’s Washington, we have balanced eight budgets in a row. That’s given us the certainly that needs to be going from the one of the slowest growing economies to one of the fastest growing economies in America.”
Former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin (D) cruised to a win over Dr. Amy Chai (R) in the state’s heavily Democratic First Congressional District, centered in the capital city. Bronin held a 2-to-1 advantage in the early count. He told a crowd of state Democrats at Dunkin' Park that he’s looking forward to challenging the policies of President Donald Trump in Congress, but he added that Democrats must also earn the trust of the American people.
Bronin will replace Rep. John Larson, a member of Congress since 1999.
In the Fifth District, Rep. Jahana Hayes (D) fended off a challenge by former Navy SEAL Chris Shea (R) to win her fifth term in the House. She held 56.6% of the votes to Shea’s 43.4%, with 46% of precincts reporting.
In the New Haven-based Third District, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D), 83, earned her nineteenth term in Congress, defeating Chris Lancia (R) handily. She is in position to return to as chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Joe Courtney (D) won his eleventh term representing Eastern Connecticut’s expansive, largely rural Second District, beating Republican George Austin.
In southwest CT’s Fourth District, incumbent Jim Himes (D) beat Dr. Michael Goldstein (R) in a rematch. With the U.S. House in Democratic control starting in January, Himes figures to rise to chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Connecticut’s all-Democratic team of constitutional officers also won reelection: Attorney General William Tong, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Comptroller Sean Scanlon and Treasurer Erick Russell.
Democrats came into Tuesday with a 102-49 edge in the state House and a 25-11 majority in the state Senate. Both advantages are set to expand, though the final numbers remained unclear as of early Wednesday morning.
Democrats Jill Oberlander and Rob Blanchard won open Fairfield County Senate seats vacated by Republicans Fazio and Tony Hwang, respectively.
Democrats also ousted several incumbent state senators, including John Kissel of Enfield, Heather Somers of Groton, Jeff Gordon of Woodstock and Jason Perillo of Shelton, while Democratic incumbents Paul Honig of Harwinton and Martha Marx of New London fended off challenges.
