HARTFORD, CT — Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin easily won re-election Tuesday, defeating six challengers, including former Mayor Eddie Perez.
“We’ve tackled some of the toughest crises the city’s ever faced. We didn’t shy away. And we will be equally determined in taking on the battles we have left to fight,” Bronin said.
There was some anger against Bronin for running for governor in 2018 just two years into a four-year term, but it wasn’t enough to make a dent in his support.
In Hartford, all six Democratic candidates for city council won, but the Working Families Party lost one of their three seats to John Gale, a Democrat who formed his own party to run. Gale raised nearly $22,000 in contributions from supporters, including donations from Bronin’s parents, Andrew and Rita Elaine Jones-Bronin.
Councilwoman Wildaliz Bermudez will retain her seat on the council and Josh Michtom won the second Working Families Party seat.
In New Haven, Justin Elicker defeated New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, who ran as a Working Families Party candidate. Elicker defeated Harp by a 2-1 margin in an election where turnout was around 29%.
Harp “is not going to be remembered for these past three or four weeks,” Elicker said, alluding to her negative campaigning. “Mayor Harp is going to be remembered for her 30 years in public service.”
In Bridgeport, Mayor Joe Ganim easily won Tuesday’s general election. By 8:30 p.m., state Democratic leaders had enough information to believe Ganim would win a second four-year term since his return from prison to the local political scene.
In Danbury, Republican Mayor Mark Boughton survived his toughest election challenge in two decades by narrowly defeating Democrat Chris Setaro.
When it comes to the state representatives and senators who were also elected or running for local office, the results were mixed.
Greenwich voters elected Rep. Fred Camilio to be their next first selectman, reversing the momentum the Democrats had gained over the past two years. Republicans also took back control of the Board of Estimate and Taxation and tax collector’s office as well.
In Fairfield, Rep. Brenda Kupchick, a Republican, defeated eight-term Democratic incumbent Michael Tetreau, whose public works director was recently arrested.
In Vernon, Republican state Sen. Dan Champagne fended off a challenge from former Democratic state Rep. Claire Janowski. Republicans also maintained control of the Town Council and Board of Education.
In Sprague, Sen. Cathy Osten, who chairs the General Assembly’s powerful Appropriations Committee, lost her First Selectwoman seat to Republican Cheryl Allen Blanchard. Even though Sprague is a small town, Republicans believe the victory sends a strong message not only about what’s happening in Sprague, but what’s happening at the state level.
Mary Fay, a Republican who won re-election in West Hartford, said that Tuesday’s contest was about the damage the Democratic Party has done at the state level. She said it was ridiculous to even suggest the election was about Republican President Donald Trump. Democrats maintained control of six of nine seats on the Town Council with Shari Cantor once again garning the most votes to retain the title of mayor.
Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Wyman maintained that her party had a strong day.
“Democrats also flipped leadership in five towns and swept seats on under-tickets across the state. Democrats worked hard and came out to vote,” Wyman said.
Democrats had wins in Madison and East Haven.
Republican Party Chairman JR Romano said the GOP has expanded their control at the local level with Tuesday’s vote. Romano cited Sprague and Fairfield as big victories for the party.
“Tonight, Connecticut Democrats heard loud and clear that voters are frustrated and exhausted by their constant assault on our municipalities,” Romano said. “While results are still trickling in, I am thrilled to announce Republican victory in Fairfield, Danbury, Greenwich, New Britain, Derby, Rocky Hill, Old Lyme, Sprague and more! These results are nothing less than a stunning shot across the bow for out-of-touch-liberal Democrats, who so far have remained clueless of the struggles their policies have inflicted on Connecticut families.”