Excitement and enthusiasm reverberated in New Britain after the results of the 2018 election showed a blue wave of Democratic wins locally that was a part of day of Democratic gains in Connecticut and nationally.
“We did it. We did it,” exclaimed New Britain Democratic Vice Chair Ronald P. Davis online. Davis is also the President of the New Britain Branch of the NAACP.
“Thanks to my family and friends for voting yesterday. It was such an important election for all of us,” said Davis. “It was an historical day. A Blue wave in Connecticut and Jahana Hayes winning a Congressional seat to be the first African American to be sent by the people of Connecticut to Congress. Let’s rejoice this victory and defeat hate with love.”
New Britain helped Democrat Jahana Hayes toward her victory. She received 12,028 New Britain votes for the United States House of Representatives in the unofficial vote count, while her Republican opponent, Manny Santos, received only 4,383 votes in the city.
“I was so happy to to see so many Latinos and Blacks come out in my districts,” said State Representative Bobby Sanchez (D-25) on election night, “It has been unbelievable. I am glad that this team is going back to Hartford to represent.”
Sanchez received 3,291 votes, while petitioning candidate Alfred P. Mayo received 76 votes in the unofficial results.
State Senator Terry Bielinski Gerratana (D-6) described the enthusiasm of voters, saying that a constituent called her at 4:30am on election day asking for her to give him a ride to the polls. “That is how eager people were in our city to get out and vote. They did not did not stop coming.”
Gerratana received 17,173 votes, defeating Republican Robert Smedley, who unofficially received 10,263 votes.
“There was an involved and informed electorate today. People were not just voting against Trump,” said State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) on election night. “People knew that they were voting for fifteen dollars an hour. People knew that they were voting for Obamacare’s ten essential benefits. People knew that they were voting for property tax relief for themselves paid for by a little bit more from the rich, as it should be.”
Tercyak received 3,698 votes unofficially in the Twenty-Sixth Assembly District, while Republican candidate Tremell J. Collins received 1,601 votes.
“Thank you very much,” said State Representative Rick Lopes (D-24), after winning a solid victory in what had been expected to be the closest local election of 2018.
“As you all know, who were involved, it was a tough race,” said Lopes. “I had to get out and work. Five months of door knocking for me, starting in June. Three thousand doors, personally. How many more with volunteers and other people was uncounted. We ran out of door lit three times and had to reprint.”
Lopes credited the work of many volunteers with his win over Republican candidate Sharon Beloin Saavedra by an unofficial margin of 4,255 to 2,699. “What should have been a close race wasn’t,” he said.
“Thank you to everyone who volunteered for me throughout the campaign,” said Beloin Saavedra online. “I had energetic committed people, giving it their all for our message.”
Collins said, online that, “unfortunately I did not win the election but I can tell you I won many other things. I won great friends, new friends, family, running mates, residents of New Britain and the will to keep pushing.”
Collins added, “Congrats to those who won yesterday and to my opponent Peter Tercyak. I hope our elected officials live up to what they stood for and represent us, lead us and get Connecticut back on track.”
“Thank you to all my supporters, my family and friends, you all Rock!,” said Sanchez online. “I look forward to working another two years at the state Capitol. Education, health care, lower taxes, jobs and much more we need to work on! I’m ready to work with everyone, I don’t care what party you represent, we need to work together and work hard for the people!”
Gerratana, on election night, said, “Thank you New Britain. Thank you Democrats. Everyone worked so hard. Everyone registered voters. Everyone went door knocking. Everyone went canvassing. Everyone did lit drops. Everyone did poll standing. It all pays off. I am so grateful to all of you.”
“Congratulations Rick Lopes and the entire New Britain delegation for strong victories last night!,” Lopes’ campaign commented online. “Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this possible, and to all the voters who placed their trust in New Britain’s Democrats this year!”
Commenting online, the New Britain Democratic party simply said, “Blue New Britain. Blue Connecticut. Governor-Elect Ned Lamont.”
