Photo by Lisa Kelly
Robin Comey, Christine Cohen, Sean Scanlon
Reflecting many races across the country, it was a close match between Democrat Christine Cohen and Republican Adam Greenberg for the 12th District State Senate seat being vacated by Ted Kennedy Jr. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Cohen received 24,632 (51.06 percent) of the votes to Greenberg’s 23,613 (48.95 percent), cast in Branford, Guilford, Durham, North Branford, Madison, and Killingworth. The numbers are unofficial as of Wednesday morning.
Cohen is the first Democratic woman elected to represent the 12th District. She was preceded by two Republican women: Lucy Hammer, who was elected in 1960 and served six terms, and Barbara Reimers, who served from 1977 to 1979.
In comments to the Eagle on Wednesday, Cohen said, “So many worked tirelessly throughout the campaign. Together we knocked thousands of doors, made thousands of calls and wrote thousands of postcards. I am so very grateful for the support I’ve received and I am thrilled and honored to have been elected to represent the 12th district of Connecticut.”
Cohen added, “My message of revitalizing our state through business development, job growth, transportation improvements and protection of our valued assets – education and the environment, was one that resonated with so many. I look forward to being the voice of Branford, Madison, Guilford, North Branford, Durham and Killingworth at the Capitol and am eager to get to work towards fiscal stability.”
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In the last day of campaigning, Cohen visited the towns in the 12th District and made several stops in Branford, including Tisko School with Ted Kennedy Jr. and Sean Scanlon, 98th District Rep.
Greenberg Gracious
Photo by Bill O’Brien
Adam Greenberg, in his concession speech to Cohen at Donovan’s Reed in Branford, said that she had waged a “gracious, unbelievable campaign… We did a hell of a job… It was never about me. It was about the people.”
He said that he got into the campaign with heart, mind, and soul – for the people of the state, adding that Cohen reassured him that she would not vote along party lines and for special interests.
Photo by Bill O’Brien
“We have to support her,” Greenberg said. “There’s too much division. We’re gonna band together.”
He said he would help “in any way that that I can.”
Greenberg also thanked his wife, Lindsay, and campaign manager, Jennifer Cusano.
Photo by Bill O’Brien
“We have to not be afraid to have these conversations,” he said. “Don’t give up. Persevere. Just push through.”
In the governor’s race, another close one, Democrats Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz took 6,891 votes (48.43 percent) in Branford over Republicans Bob Stefanowski and Joe Markey’s 6,497 (45.66 percent). Statewide, the totals were 642,889 (47.15 percent) for the Lamont ticket, and 617,752 (45.30 percent) for the Stefanowski ticket. New Haven pushed Lamont over the top, but the voting process was not without controversy.
Democrats U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro easily retained their seats, statewide and in Branford.
Voter turnout in Branford was 66.69 percent. It was 66.32 percent statewide.
For additional details on the Connecticut races, go to the Secretary of State’s website.