CT PRIMARIES: INCUMBENTS FIGHT TO STAY, NEWCOMERS READY TO SHAKE THINGS UP

CT voters to head to the polls Sept. 9 for primary elections. Photo: Stock

Voters in more than 20 Connecticut towns and cities will cast ballots Tuesday in local party primaries for mayor, first selectman, and town council races, with several long-serving incumbents facing challenges from within their own parties.


Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote in their party’s primary.

A total of 11 Democratic and 10 Republican primaries are scheduled, including contested races in Stratford, Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Oxford, and Wolcott.
Voter access


State law allows voters whose names do not appear on the checklist to cast ballots on primary day under certain conditions. They must provide a voter registration receipt from the Department of Motor Vehicles or another official agency showing their application was submitted by the deadline. The voter must also complete a registration card, have it approved by a registrar, and present valid identification.

Voter registration status can be verified online at myvote.ct.gov/lookup.



Democratic primaries

Democratic contests are scheduled in Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Chester, Hamden, New Britain, New Haven, New London, North Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford.

In Stratford, Town Council incumbents Alvin O’Neal (District 3) and René Gibson (District 4) are facing primary challenges. Democrats will also choose between David Chess and Linda Manos for the party’s mayoral nomination. The winner will face Republican incumbent Laura Hoydick in November.


In Stamford, eight Democratic members of the Board of Representatives are defending their seats in contested races. They include Bonnie Kim Campbell, Denis Patterson, Anabel Figueroa, Brittany Lawrence, Eric Morson, Amiel Goldberg, Bobby Pavia, and Lewis Finkel.

In Norwalk, Common Council President Barbara Smyth and Council member Darlene Young are competing for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Incumbent Mayor Harry Rilling is not seeking reelection.


Hamden has one of the most crowded Democratic mayoral fields, with six candidates vying for the nomination, including Legislative Council President Dominique Baez.


In Chester, Democratic First Selectwoman Cynthia Lignar is seeking renomination.


In Bridgeport, the Democratic City Council primary in the 137th District was canceled after a judge disqualified challengers to incumbents Aidee Nieves and Maria Valle, ruling that petition signatures were invalid.



Republican primaries

Republican primaries are being held in Greenwich, Griswold, Haddam, Oxford, Plainfield, Sterling, Thomaston, Voluntown, Waterbury, and Wolcott.

In Oxford, First Selectman George Temple, a Republican who has held the office since 2011, faces a primary challenge from Jeffrey Luff.


In Greenwich, four Republican incumbents on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, David Alfano, Nisha Arora, Harry Fisher, and Lucia Jansen- are facing primary challenges for renomination.

In Wolcott, two Republicans are competing to challenge longtime unaffiliated Mayor Thomas G. Dunn in November. James Paolino is the party’s endorsed candidate, while Paul D’Angelo is running by petition. Dunn, who has served as mayor since 2003, is not participating in the primary.




What’s next

Winners of Tuesday’s primaries will appear on the ballot for the Nov. 4 general election, when voters will select municipal leaders across the state.

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