Election Day good news for Democrats
News and notes from around the State Capitol
News and notes from around the state
- Election day Tuesday was a good day for Democrats across the state, but it was not all bad news for Republicans.
- Democrats scored big upsets in Danbury and Wethersfield and maintained the mayor’s office in Waterbury and West Haven, where state Rep. Dorinda Borer will take control.
- Despite the general good night that Democrats had, it was not a total washout for Republicans.
- Control of the top offices in two dozen city and town halls will change parties as a consequence of Tuesday’s elections, with 16 mayoral or first selectman seats flipping to Democrats and eight to Republicans. The highlights here from CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas.
- Once again, the Bridgeport election did not disappoint. Incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim, WON Tuesday night – thanks again to absentee ballots – and now will have to run AGAIN due to the drama that took place in the primary back in September. We will keep you posted as that case moves along. More from CT Mirror here and here.
- The election for Fairfield’s first selectman will undergo a recount because of the too-tight results. Democratic challenger Bill Gerber is leading incumbent Republican Brenda Kupchick by 42 votes. Fairfield County Business Journal has the latest here.
- Political newcomer Arunan Arulampalam declared victory Tuesday night, winning with 69% of the vote, making the son of Sri Lankan immigrants the next mayor of Hartford. The Hartford Courant reports on the next Mayor’s win here.
- Beyond big upsets in winning the Danbury and Derby mayoral races, Democrats performed fairly well elsewhere and posted significant victories in the Farmington Valley and along the shoreline. The Hartford Courant has the highlights here and CTNewsJunkie here.
News and notes from around the State Capitol
- On November 28th the legislature’s Regulation Review committee will consider new regulations on electric vehicles. House and Senate Republicans are mounting a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of the issue in hopes of stopping the regulations. CTNewsJunkie has the details here.
- Connecticut effectively has won the lottery jackpot over the last six years, when it comes to the state budget. There have been nearly $11 billion in budget surpluses since 2017. But those days may soon be over, reports CT Mirror’s Keith Phaneuf here.
- Public health officials reminded residents to stay current with their seasonal vaccines as the state reported its first deaths of the season for both influenza and RSV. That news here from CTNewsJunkie.
- Alexandra Daum, the commissioner of economic and community development, will be exiting the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont early next year to take a community development post at Yale University. Details from CT Mirror here.
- State officials announced the repayment of a $1.2 billion federal loan used to cover $11 billion in unemployment payments made during the COVID-19 pandemic. The retirement of the pandemic debt ensures Connecticut employers will avoid an increase in the federal unemployment taxes they pay beginning Jan. 1, 2024. The Waterbury Republican-American has that news here.
- Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection warned this week that THC and synthetic cannabinoid products purchased outside of the state’s regulated cannabis marketplace could be potentially harmful to consume. Details here from CTNewsJunkie.
News and notes from around the state
- Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas have requested rate plans they hope will bring in millions more in revenue to help pay for replacing aging infrastructure and improving safety. CTNewsJunkie reports on the proposed rates here.
- Korea-based Hanwha Aerospace is expanding its presence in Connecticut with the addition of a new division headquarters in Cheshire, the company announced this week. Hartford Business Journal has the details here.
- Carbone’s Ristorante, a landmark restaurant in Hartford’s South End, could mark its largest milestone ever since opening on Franklin Avenue in 1938, with plans to move the classic Italian eatery downtown to the Front Street entertainment district. The Hartford Courant reports on the plans here.
- Public health officials reminded residents to stay current with their seasonal vaccines as the state reported its first deaths of the season for both influenza and RSV. That news here from CTNewsJunkie.