Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2018. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of 2018.”
Going into the 2018 elections in Connecticut and New Britain, even experienced political observers were unsure of what the results would be.
Republicans felt confident that the low approval rating of Governor Dannel Malloy would weigh down Democratic candidates and deliver big wins for Republicans. Democrats were concerned that they were correct. In they end, though, it was the Republicans’ association with President Donald Trump that mattered more to the voters.
Democrat Ned Lamont was elected as governor, and Democrats won all of the statewide constitutional officers, all of the Congressional elections in Connecticut and solid majorities in both houses of the state legislature.
In New Britain, the race to watch was widely considered to be in the Twenty-Fourth Assembly District. Democratic State Representative Rick Lopes (D-24) was being challenged by Republican candidate Sharon Beloin-Saavedra. Beloin-Saavedra was a former Democratic Board Board of Education President.
But, as results came in on election night, Lopes emerged as the winner by large margin. (Lopes Appears to Win 24th District)
Democrats swept all of the elections in New Britain in 2018 (Democratic Sweep in New Britain). Democrats rejoiced in the election of Congresswoman-elect Jahana Hayes (D-5), as well as State Senator Terry Bielinski Gerratana (D-6), State Representative Bobby Sanchez (D-25), State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) and Lopes. All of these candidates won big in New Britain. (New Britain’s Blue Wave) Also, in the New Britain portion of the Twenty-Second Assembly District, Democratic candidate Richard Ireland, Jr. received more votes than State Representative William A. Petit, Jr. (R-22).
It has been said that there was a “blue wave” in the elections, nationally. That was certainly true in New Britain, making New Britain’s “Blue Wave” one of the Top Ten stories covered in the New Britain Progressive in 2018.
New Britain’s Blue Wave
November 8, 2018
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.”
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