by Donald Eng CT Newsjunkie
Gov. Ned Lamont has won the Democratic primary for governor against challenger Hamden state Rep. Josh Elliott.
As of 9:20 p.m., about 34% of votes had been counted, with Lamont at 67% – about 2/3 of the votes.
Lamont, who is serving his second term as governor, will face state Sen. Ryan Fazio in the general election in November.
Elliott conceded the race just before 9 p.m., according to CT Insider.
The late-arriving crowd at Gov. Ned Lamont’s primary night party didn’t have long to wait before the celebration started.
With the Associated Press called the race for Lamont just after 8:20 p.m., the Arch Street Tavern was still half empty and well before Lamont himself made an appearance.
Entering the party shortly before 9 p.m. to the 80’s classic “Eye of the Tiger,” Lamont greeted supporters and gave a short speech before departing at around 9:15 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, in an introduction, said the supporters at the gathering would long remember the night.
“What you’re seeing is the beginning of a blue wave,” he said. He went on to state that Connecticut rejected what he called the divisive policies of President Donald Trump, and predicted the results were a precursor to a similar showing in November.
Lamont, in his victory speech, echoed that sentiment.
“When it comes to this country, I’m particularly distraught about one thing,” he said.
Pointing to the supporters, Lamont said Trump would look at the crowd and declare that many of them didn’t belong. As the group, some of which were wearing pride-themed shirts and LGBTQIA+ buttons, cheered, Lamont declared, “That’s not America and that’s not Connecticut.”
He also took a moment to praise his opponent, Elliott, for running what he called a feisty campaign. He said he looked forward to working with Elliott on future policy. Elliott will be on the ballot in November seeking another term in the state House.
Elliott, for his part, acknowledged that he had always faced an uphill fight, but that hard fights are worth fighting.
In a statement posted on social media, Elliott said that things like the state’s utility rates and reliance on property taxes would not fix themselves.
“Hard fights are hard, but they’re not impossible,” he said. “What I want the people of Connecticut to understand is we have to be fighting for more. We’re one of the wealthiest states in our country and people are suffering. We can do better.”
The rest of Lamont’s speech was essentially bullet points of his campaign message, citing his commitment to universal pre-kindergarten and tuition-free community college. He also gave a hint about his response to criticism about affordability in Connecticut, which polling has shown was a top concern among voters.
“Affordability means you can get by,” he said. “Opportunity means you can get ahead.”
Following Lamont’s win, Connecticut Democratic Party Chair Roberto Alvesreleased the following statement:
“Tonight, Connecticut Democrats delivered an overwhelming vote of confidence in Governor Lamont and his leadership. Governor Lamont and Democrats have worked together to put Connecticut on a stronger footing, lower taxes for working families, protect our rights, and move our state forward. Voters know what results and responsible leadership looks like, and they chose it again tonight.
“Tonight’s results are also a clear statement about the leadership and progress Democrats believe in, and the choice in November could not be clearer. Ryan Fazio offers the same MAGA-style agenda that is completely out of step with Connecticut families and completely unaffordable. Democrats are ready to take our case to voters in every corner of our state.”
Connecticut Republican Party Chair Ben Proto announced that his party released a new video, “Terms and Conditions”, highlighting what he said Connecticut families have been forced to accept under eight years of Lamont and one-party Democrat control: crushing property taxes, skyrocketing electric bills, an increasingly unaffordable state, and a government that continually asks taxpayers to pay more while delivering less.
“For eight years, Ned Lamont and Connecticut Democrats have told us how great things are. The problem is Connecticut families are living with the reality of their policies every single day,” Proto said. “They see it when they open their electric bill. They see it when they pay their property taxes. They see it at the grocery store, in their health care costs, and every time another family member, friend or business decides Connecticut has simply become too expensive.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.