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Backing GOP, North Branford Bucks Ballot Trends for Governor, Other Offices

With some 62 percent of the electorate coming out to the polls, North Branford stuck to its Republican roots during the statewide election on Nov. 6, with the highest voting numbers in all races backing GOP candidates. As of Oct. 31, 2018, North Branford had a total of 5,296 voters registered in District One and 4,422 registered to vote in District Two. Fielding her last election as a Registrar of Voters of 30 years for the town, Paulette Hart said it was a good turnout for a mid-term election and that polls were "busy" throughout the day.

In state district races, the town's electorate came out strong for incumbent State Representative and North Branford resident Vincent Candelora, who won a seventh consecutive term to the 86th District Seat in Hartford (see "Candelora Wins 86th"). Over 66 percent of North Branford voters selected Candelora. Democratic opponent, North Branford resident Vincent Mase Sr., received nearly 34 percent of the vote and Green Party candidate and Guilford resident Colin Souney received 0.91 percent of North Branford's vote. The 86th district represents North Branford/Northford and sections of Guilford, Durham and Wallingford.

In the Nov. 6 District 12 open seat race for State Senate won by Democrat Christine Cohen over GOP candidate Adam Greenberg, Greenberg earned over 62 percent of North Branford's vote, compared to over 37 percent pulling for Cohen. The win for Cohen retains the 12th as a Democratic seat following the decision of Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. not to run for re-election.  District 12 represents the towns of North Branford, Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth and Durham (see "Democrat Christine Cohen Wins District 12 Senate Seat").

North Branford also showed support for unopposed District 35 (Branford/North Branford) Judge of Probate incumbent Frank Forgione (R) with 4,855 votes. North Branford's Registrar of Voters Lisa Fitch (R) received 3,673 votes and Marlene Esposito (D) received 2,423 votes.

Bucking voting trends in many towns across the state, North Branford's Republican voting tallies outnumbered votes for Democrats and other contenders in the gubernatorial race as well as U.S. congressional races and all other offices on the ballot. The electorate put 61.39 percent of all votes toward Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski, who failed to win the election statewide; while 33 percent backed Democratic governor-elect Ned Lamont. North Branford GOP voters also put on a push for U.S. Senate candidate Matthew Corey, who earned 53.99 percent of all votes in town; but failed in his statewide bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy, who received 41.91 percent of North Branford's votes.

Long-serving Democratic incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro regained her seat in the Nov. 6 election; but in a surprising switch from the last time North Branford voted in the District 3 U.S. Congressional Representative race (2016), DeLauro did not receive the majority of North Branford votes as part of her successful win over Republican candidate Angel Cadena. In North Branford in 2016, DeLauro earned 4,301 votes over 3,027 cast for Cadena. On Nov. 6, 2018, DeLauro received 3,176 votes in town, or 49.58 percent; while Cadena earned 3,230 North Branford votes or 50.42 percent.

In other state office races, North Branford voters averaged 20 percent more votes for GOP candidates over Democratic candidates. Fifty-seven percent of town voters backed GOP Secretary of State candidate Susan Chapman, who lost statewide to Democrat Denise Merrill, Merrill received 42 percent of North Branford votes. In North Branford, 58 percent voted for State Treasurer GOP candidate Thad Gray, who lost to Democrat Shawn Wooden; receiving 41 percent of town votes. North Branford gave 58 percent of its votes to GOP State Comptroller candidate Kurt Miller, who lost to Democrat Kevin Lembo, given 40 percent of the vote; and 62 percent of voters in town supported GOP Attorney General candidate Sue Hatfield, who lost to Democrat William Tong, who received 37 percent of the vote in North Branford.