Photo by Sally Bahner
Branford residents cast some 3,584 votes in Tuesday’s state primary election, making for an overall turnout of just 17.5 percent. All numbers reported are approximate and subject to final verification.
Democrat gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont and the Democrats led the turnout in all seven districts. Lamont was the overwhelming winner with 1,872 votes over Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim’s 310.
Republican candidate for governor, Bob Stefanowski, also took all seven districts with a total of 538 votes. His closest competitor was David Stemerman with 322 votes, followed by Tim Herbst with 196, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton with 163, and Steve Obsitnick with 151.
Democrat Susan Bysiewicz garnered 1,360 votes for lieutenant governor over Eva Bermudez Zimmerman’s 825. On the Republican side, Joe Markley took 511 votes to Erin Stewart’s 337 and Jayme Stevenson’s 285.
For treasurer, Democrat Shawn Wooden topped Dita Bhargava 1,176 votes to 959 votes. In the Republican camp, Thad Gray, with 647 votes beat Art Linares, who had 458 votes. Adam Greenberg took 576 votes over Kurt Miller’s 529; Miller, however, was the overall Republican winner in the state.
William Tong will be the Democratic candidate for attorney general, with 1,212 votes; his two competitors, Chris Mattei got 744 votes and Paul Doyle, 188 votes. For the Republicans, Sue Hatfield won with 902 votes, while Jake Shaban got 218.
Republican contenders for US senate were Matthew Corey, who won over Dominic Rapini. Corey will challenge Democrat Chris Murphy, a formidable opponent.
Earlier in the Day
Photo by Sally Bahner
Fourth District polling location
On the morning of Connecticut’s Democratic and Republican primaries, Registrar of Voters Dan Hally (D) reported that Branford numbers were “close to last year’s.”
Registered Democrat numbers, Hally said, stood at 6,802, up 20 from 2017’s 6,782. Republican registrations decreased by 10, from 3,644 to 3,634. A voter registration event Sunday at The Stand resulted in just three new Democratic voters and no Republicans.
Unaffiliated voters make up a majority of registered voters. As of Nov. 1, 2017, there were 9,514 active unaffiliated voters and a total of 20,123 active registered voters.
Hally said that people often change their party affiliation for a primary, then return to unaffiliated status.
Only registered Democrats and registered Republicans are allowed to vote in Connecticut primaries. Branford residents are casting their votes only for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and comptroller.
Low, But Consistent Turnout
An early afternoon sampling of districts found relatively empty voting halls with a few people moving in and out. More voters were generally voting for the Democrats At District 4, Fire Headquarters, the 1 p.m. count was 138 votes for Democrats and 84 for Republicans.
District 2, St. Therese Church, totaled 135 Democratic votes and 56 Republican.
And District 7, Mary R. Tisko School, saw 125 for Democrats and 98 for Republicans. Moderator Dan Deibrisceglie said a turnout of 30 to 35 percent “would be nice.”