SOUTHBURY — Nearly two-thirds of registered voters in Southbury cast ballots in the November 3 state election, and they sided with Democrats at the top of the ticket, giving Governor Ned Lamont a 298-vote edge over Republican Ryan Fazio.
Of the town’s 15,293 registered voters, 10,099 were checked off as having voted, according to unofficial election results from the Town Clerk’s office.
Lamont received 5,167 votes to Fazio’s 4,869 in Southbury, helping to secure the 72-year-old Greenwichite’s third term as the governor of the Nutmeg State.
The Associated Press (AP) called the statewide race for Lamont shortly after 9 p.m.
| Ned Lamont/Susan Bysiewicz (D+WFP) | 5,167 |
| Ryan Fazio/Matt Corey (R+IND) | 4,869 |
In the race for the 5th Congressional District, Democrat Jahana Hayes won Southbury with 5,335 votes to Republican Chris Shea’s 4,650. This is the first time that Hayes has won a majority of the votes in Southbury.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Hayes received a call from Shea, who conceded the race.
Hayes, who will be serving her fifth term in Congress, stopped by a polling location in Southbury on Tuesday evening to meet with supporters.
“I’m happy that people are showing up and voters are voting,” Hayes, the former 2016 National Teacher of the Year, told the Record. “You make your case, and people grade you on it.”
In talking to voters in the weeks leading up to Election Day, she added, “People are just really upset with the grift and corruption of this administration.”
Write-in candidate Jonathan DeBarros received seven votes from Southbury voters.
| Jahana Hayes (D+WFP) | 5,335 |
| Chris Shea (R) | 4,650 |
| Jonathan DeBarros (Write-in) | 7 |
In the 32nd State Senate District, Democrat Matt Knickerbocker received 5,061 votes in Southbury to Republican Eric Berthel’s 4,840, a 221-vote difference in Southbury’s local tally.
Berthel, the incumbent, led the district count as of 2 a.m. on November 4, with Middlebury results still outstanding. The race has not been called as of publication.
| Matt Knickerbocker (D) | 5,061 |
| Eric Berthel (R) | 4,840 |
Republican Jason Buchsbaum ran unopposed in the 69th House District and received 5,180 votes. The former Southbury Selectman will continue to serve the district that includes parts of Southbury, Bridgewater, New Milford, and Roxbury.
In the 131st House District, which covers only part of Southbury, Republican Arnold Jensen tallied 711 votes to Democrat Heather Stafford’s 656 votes in Southbury.
Jensen’s name also appeared on the Independent Party line, and the AP called the race in his favor around 11:30 p.m.
| Arnold Jensen (R+IND) | 711 |
| Heather Stafford (D) | 656 |
Democrats also carried the four other statewide offices in Southbury. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas received 5,391 votes to Republican Peter Lumaj’s 4,512. Treasurer Erick Russell received 5,151 votes to Republican Fred Wilms’ 4,752, the closest of the four. Comptroller Sean Scanlon received 5,364 votes to Republican Jennifer Tooker’s 4,541, and Attorney General William Tong received 5,424 votes to Republican John Bolton’s 4,549.
| Office | Dem Candidate | Rep Candidate |
| Secretary of the State | Stephanie Thomas (5,391) | Peter Lumaj (4,512) |
| Treasurer | Erick Russell (5,151) | Fred Wilms (4,752) |
| Comptroller | Sean Scanlon (5,364) | Jennifer Tooker (4,541) |
| Attorney General | William Tong (5,424) | John Bolton (4,549) |
David Labriola, the Judge of Probate for District 22, ran unopposed on the Republican line and received 6,071 votes.
Local results remain unofficial until the town’s canvass is complete.
By Evan Triantafilidis
