By Brandon T. Bisceglia
Republicans and Democrats in Milford and Orange – and across the state – have the chance today to decide which candidates they want to represent their party in the November general elections.
They will only have choices for two state offices, though. For Democrats, those positions are secretary of state and the treasurer. For Republicans, the positions are secretary of state and US senator.
That limited selection is due to the fact that so few endorsed candidates are being challenged by members of their own party, despite the fact that all six statewide constitutional offices, all US House members, one US senator and all state legislators are up for election this year.
The state legislators who represent parts of Milford and Orange – state Reps. Charles Ferraro, Kathy Kennedy, Frank Smith and Mary Welander, as well as state Sen. James Maroney – are all running for reelection this year, and none have primary challengers on the ballot.
Gov. Ned Lamont is up for reelection and facing a rematch with Republican Bob Stefanowski, who lost to Lamont in 2018. But neither candidate is on the primary ballot, as both were selected in May with little debate during their respective party conventions.
The few offices that will appear on the ballot do have some fierce competition.
Both of the statewide offices being considered by Democrats were already held by members of their party who chose not to run again. The secretary of state position is down from a previously crowded field to two: party-endorsed nominee Stephanie Thomas and challenger Maritza Bond.
The Democratic field for treasurer is a three-way match between party-endorsed candidate Erick Russell, Dita Bhargava and Karen DuBois-Walton.
On the Republican side, the highest-profile primary race is for the US Senate, where candidates are vying to go up against Democrat Richard Blumenthal in the fall. Themis Klarides, who previously represented parts of Orange in the state legislature, is the endorsed candidate for that race, but faces stiff competition from Leora Levy and Peter Lumaj.
The Republican field for secretary of state is equally crowded, with endorsed candidate Dominic Rapini going up against Brock Weber and Terrie Wood.
Connecticut has closed primaries, meaning only voters registered with one of the parties can vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters vastly outnumber those affiliated with either party. People registering for the first time are still eligible to join a party and vote in the primaries, but the deadline for registered voters to change their affiliation and be eligible to vote in the primaries passed in May.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line to vote at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters can look up their polling location at portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx.