2018 Connecticut elections

The 2018 Connecticut elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the following offices: Governor and Lieutenant Governor (on one ticket), Attorney General, Secretary of the State, Comptroller, Treasurer, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Connecticut State Senate, Connecticut State House of Representatives, and various others. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2018.[1]

2018 Connecticut elections

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The Democratic Party performed strongly in federal elections with incumbent Democrats winning re-election to all five Connecticut seats in the U.S. House of Representatives by more than 10 points, and incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Murphy winning re-election by 20 points. Democrats also performed strongly in the Connecticut General Assembly, gaining 12 seats in the State House of Representatives and 5 seats in the State Senate. However, this "blue wave" did not transfer to all state elections.[2] Although typically considered a "blue state", no Democrat had won a gubernatorial election in the state by more than 5 points since 1986. This continued in 2018, with Democratic nominee Ned Lamont only winning the governorship by 3 points.

Federal

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United States House of Representatives

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Incumbent Democrats won re-election to all five Connecticut seats in the United States House of Representatives.

District Democratic Republican Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 166,155 60.61% 96,024 35.03% 11,961 4.36% 274,140 100.0% Democratic hold
District 2 167,659 57.99% 102,483 35.45% 18,972 6.56% 289,114 100.0% Democratic hold
District 3 163,211 60.40% 95,667 35.40% 11,361 4.20% 270,239 100.0% Democratic hold
District 4 168,726 61.21% 103,175 37.43% 3,750 1.36% 275,651 100.0% Democratic hold
District 5 142,901 52.80% 115,146 42.54% 12,617 4.66% 270,664 100.0% Democratic hold
Total 808,652 58.61% 512,495 37.14% 58,661 4.25% 1,379,808 100.0%

United States Senate

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Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy won re-election against Republican Matthew Corey.

2018 United States Senate election in Connecticut[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Chris Murphy 787,685 56.80% +4.35%
Working Families Chris Murphy 37,894 2.73% +0.36%
Total Chris Murphy (incumbent) 825,579 59.53% +4.71%
Republican Matthew Corey 545,717 39.35% −3.94%
Libertarian Richard Lion 8,838 0.64% −1.02%
Green Jeff Russell 6,618 0.48% N/A
Write-in 88 0.00% -0.45%
Total votes 1,386,840 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

State

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Executive

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Governor

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Two-term incumbent Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman were eligible for a third term but declined to run for re-election. Democratic nominees Ned Lamont and his running mate Susan Bysiewicz won the election against Republican nominees Bob Stefanowski and Joe Markley.

2018 Connecticut gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ned Lamont 676,649 48.10% −0.36%
Working Families Ned Lamont 17,861 1.27% −1.00%
Total Ned Lamont 694,510 49.37% -1.36%
Republican Bob Stefanowski 624,750 44.41% −1.71%
Independent Party Bob Stefanowski 25,388 1.80% −0.24%
Total Bob Stefanowski 650,138 46.21% −1.95%
Griebel-Frank for CT Party Oz Griebel 54,741 3.89% N/A
Libertarian Rod Hanscomb 6,086 0.43% N/A
Amigo Constitution Liberty Mark Greenstein 1,254 0.09% N/A
Write-in Lee Whitnum 74 0.01% N/A
Total votes 1,406,803 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Attorney general

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Two-term incumbent Democratic State Attorney General George Jepsen did not seek re-election. Democratic nominee and state representative William Tong defeated Republican nominee Susan Hatfield.

2018 Connecticut Attorney General election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William Tong 691,496 50.73% −2.80%
Working Families William Tong 23,844 1.75% −1.44%
Total William Tong 715,340 52.48% -4.25%
Republican Susan Hatfield 605,504 44.42% +5.31%
Independent Party Susan Hatfield 27,856 2.04% +0.03%
Total Susan Hatfield 633,360 46.47% +5.35%
Green Peter Goselin 14,358 1.05% −1.10%
Total votes 1,363,058 100.0%
Democratic hold

Secretary of state

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Incumbent Democratic Secretary of the State Denise Merrill won re-election to a third term against Republican nominee Susan Chapman.

2018 Connecticut Secretary of the State election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Denise Merrill 735,743 53.80% +5.71%
Working Families Denise Merrill 28,324 2.07% −0.79%
Total Denise Merrill (incumbent) 764,067 55.87% +4.91%
Republican Susan Chapman 557,616 40.77% −3.36%
Independent Party Susan Chapman 23,163 1.69% −0.93%
Total Susan Chapman 580,779 42.46% −4.29%
Green S. Michael DeRosa 12,469 0.91% −1.39%
Libertarian Heather Lynn Sylvestre Gwynn 10,361 0.76% N/A
Total votes 1,367,668 100.0%
Democratic hold

State Comptroller

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Two-term incumbent Democratic State Comptroller Kevin Lembo won re-election to a third term against Republican nominee Kurt Miller.

2018 Connecticut State Comptroller election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kevin Lembo 718,033 52.96% +0.67%
Working Families Kevin Lembo 28,773 2.12% −0.80%
Total Kevin Lembo (incumbent) 746,806 55.08% +2.79%
Republican Kurt Miller 563,099 41.53% −4.49%
Independent Party Kurt Miller 22,411 1.65% −1.08%
Total Kurt Miller 585,510 43.18% −2.84%
Libertarian Paul Passarelli 13,165 0.97% N/A
Green Edward Heflin 10,360 0.76% −0.94%
Total votes 1,355,838 100.0%
Democratic hold

State treasurer

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Five-term incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Denise Nappier did not seek re-election. Democratic nominee Shawn Wooden defeated Republican nominee Thad Gray.

2018 Connecticut Secretary of the State election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shawn Wooden 717,002 52.78% −1.49%
Working Families Shawn Wooden 31,089 2.29% N/A
Total Shawn Wooden 748,091 55.06% +0.79%
Republican Thad Gray 569,737 41.94% −1.51%
Independent Party Thad Gray 23,069 1.70% +0.29%
Total Thad Gray 592,811 43.63% +0.18%
Libertarian Jesse Brohinsky 15,514 1.14% N/A
Write-in W. Michael Downes 2,196 0.16% N/A
Total votes 1,358,612 100.0%
Democratic hold

Legislative

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Connecticut State Senate

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Democrats won 23 seats while Republicans won 13, expanding their majority by 5 seats.

23 13
Democratic Republican
Parties Candidates Seats Popular Vote
2016 2018 +/- Strength Vote % Change
Democratic 36 18 23   5 63.89% 725,644 53.10%   4.52%
Republican 34 18 13   5 36.11% 593,346 43.42%   2.92%
Independent Party 1 [a] 0 0  
0.00% 26,513 1.94%   0.74%
Working Families 0 [b] 0 0  
0.00% 19,966 1.46%   0.57%
Green 3 0 0  
0.00% 1,077 0.08%   0.15%
Total 74 36 36 0 100.00% 1,366,546 100.00% -

Connecticut House of Representatives

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Democrats won 92 seats while Republicans won 59, expanding their majority by 12 seats.

92 59
Democratic Republican
Parties Seats
2016 2018 +/- Strength
Democratic 80 92  12 60.93%
Republican 71 59  12 39.07%
Total 151 151 151 100.00%

Notes

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  1. ^ In addition, the Independent Party of Connecticut cross-endorsed 26 candidates, 2 Democrats and 24 Republicans.
  2. ^ In addition, the Working Families Party of Connecticut cross-endorsed 20 candidates, all Democrats.

References

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  1. ^ "Connecticut elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Kara, Jake (November 9, 2018). "A blue wave? Actually, the blues got bluer, but the reds also got redder". CT Mirror. Bruce Putterman. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "2018 Connecticut general election results" (PDF). Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. ^ "Public Reporting". ctemspublic.pcctg.net.
  5. ^ "2018 General Election - Attorney General". Connecticut Secretary of State.
  6. ^ "2018 General Election - Secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
  7. ^ "2018 General Election - Comptroller". Connecticut Secretary of the State.
  8. ^ "Statement of Vote - General Election November 6, 2018". Connecticut Secretary of the State.