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Connecticut Attorney General election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 30 (by mail), or Nov. 6 (in-person)
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 5
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID required
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
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| Connecticut Attorney General |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: June 12, 2018 |
| Primary: August 14, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent(s): George C. Jepsen (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Connecticut |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| Connecticut executive elections |
| Governor Lieutenant governor |
A Democratic Party primary election took place on August 14, 2018, in Connecticut to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the state's November 6, 2018, attorney general election.
For more information about attorney general elections in 2018, click here.
| SETTING THE STAGE | |
Candidates and election results
William Tong defeated Chris Mattei and Paul Doyle in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Connecticut on August 14, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Connecticut
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | William Tong  | 57.4 | 119,574 |
 | Chris Mattei | 25.8 | 53,822 | |
 | Paul Doyle | 16.7 | 34,822 | |
| Total votes: 208,218 | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Clare Kindall (D)
Campaign tactics and strategies
Advertisements
Chris Mattei
Support
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Context of the 2018 election
Past elections
2014
George Jepsen ran for re-election as attorney general of Connecticut in the 2014 election. Jepsen was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[1]
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Connecticut utilizes a closed primary system, in which only registered party members may vote in a party's primary. However, Connecticut state law allows parties to decide whether unaffiliated voters can vote in their primary before each election.[2][3][4]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Connecticut, all polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[5]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Connecticut, one must be a U.S. citizen and Connecticut resident who is at least 17 years-old and will be 18 on or before Election Day.[6]
Registration applications can be submitted online or completed via paper forms. The deadline for mail-in applications is 18 days before an election or primary, while same-day registration is available but must be completed at designated election-day registration locations in each town.[7]
Automatic registration
Connecticut automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Connecticut has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Connecticut allows same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Connecticut, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Connecticut does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, if you knowingly providing false information, "you can be convicted and imprisoned for up to five years and fined up to $5,000."[8]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site Voter Registration Lookup, run by the Connecticut Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Connecticut requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.[10] A voter who does not present a required ID may sign an affidavit with their name, address, and date of birth, and then election officials may determine that the voter is eligible to vote.[11]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2024. Click here for the Connecticut Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
First-time voters who registered by mail must present one of the following forms of identification to vote in an election with federal candidates on the ballot:
- Copy of a current and valid photo identification with the voter’s name and address, or
- Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows the voter’s name and address.
Other voters must present one of the following forms of identification:
- Any re-printed form of identification that shows the voter's name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph.
- Social security card.
Early voting
Connecticut permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Governor Ned Lamont (D) signed Public Act 23-5 into law on June 7, 2023. The law, which went into effect on July 1, 2023, implemented in-person early voting for elections occurring after January 1, 2024.[12] The length of the early voting period varies based on the type of election. Fourteen days of early voting are required for general elections, seven days are required for most primaries, and four days are required for special elections and presidential preference primaries. Each municipality was required to establish at least one early voting location.[13]
In 2022, Connecticut voters approved a legislatively referred constitutional amendment allowing the Connecticut General Assembly to pass laws providing for in-person early voting.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Connecticut voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in an election if they cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:[14]
- Active military service
- Absence from town of residence during voting hours
- Illness or physical disability, or role as a caregiver to another individual with illness or disability
- Religious beliefs precluding secular activity on election day
- Performance of duties as an election official at a different polling place during voting hours
To request an absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter may complete and sign an application and return it to their town clerk, or complete an online application. Voters requesting an absentee/mail-in ballot within six days of an election must complete an emergency application.[14]
An absentee ballot must be returned either in person by close of business the day before the election or by mail. If returned by mail, the ballot must be received by close of polls on election day.[14]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Connecticut heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in Connecticut.
- Democrats held all five U.S. House seats in Connecticut.
State executives
- As of August 2018, Democrats held six of 12 state executive positions, the remaining six positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of Connecticut was Democrat Dan Malloy. The state held elections for governor and lieutenant governor on November 6, 2018.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly. They had a 80-71 majority in the state House and a 18-18 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- Connecticut was one of eight Democratic trifectas, meaning that Democrats controlled the office of the governor, the state House, and the state Senate.
2018 elections
- See also: Connecticut elections, 2018
Connecticut held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- One U.S. Senate seat
- Five U.S. House seats
- Governor and lieutenant governor
- Four lower state executive positions
- 36 state Senate seats
- 151 state House seats
Demographics
| Demographic data for Connecticut | ||
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 3,584,730 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 4,842 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 77.3% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 10.3% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 14.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 37.6% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $70,331 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Connecticut. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, Connecticut's three largest cities were Bridgeport (pop. est. 146,579), New Haven (pop. est. 131,014), and Stamford (pop. est. 130,824).[15][16]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Connecticut from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Connecticut Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Connecticut every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), Connecticut 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton |
54.6% |  Donald Trump |
40.9% | 13.7% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
58.1% | Mitt Romney |
40.8% | 17.3% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
60.6% | John McCain |
38.2% | 22.4% |
| 2004 | John Kerry |
54.3% | George W. Bush |
43.9% | 10.4% |
| 2000 | Al Gore |
55.9% | George W. Bush |
38.4% | 17.5% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Connecticut from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), Connecticut 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Richard Blumenthal |
63.2% | Dan Carter |
34.6% | 28.6% |
| 2012 | Christopher Murphy |
54.8% | Linda McMahon |
43.1% | 11.7% |
| 2010 | Richard Blumenthal |
55.2% | Linda McMahon |
43.2% | 12% |
| 2006 |  Joe Lieberman (I) |
49.7% | Ned Lamont |
39.7% | 12.2% |
| 2004 | Chris Dodd |
66.4% | Jack Orchulli |
32.1% | 34.3% |
| 2002 | Joe Lieberman |
63.2% | Philip Giordano |
34.2% | 29% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Connecticut.
| Election results (Governor), Connecticut 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Dan Malloy |
50.7% | Tom Foley |
48.2% | 2.5% |
| 2010 | Dan Malloy |
49.5% | Tom Foley |
49% | .5% |
| 2006 | Jodi Rell |
63.2% | John DeStefano, Jr. |
35.5% | 27.7% |
| 2002 | John G. Rowland |
56.1% | Bill Curry |
43.9% | 12.2% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Connecticut in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, Connecticut 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016 | 0 |
0% | 5 |
100% | D+5 |
| 2014 | 0 |
0% | 5 |
100% | D+5 |
| 2012 | 0 |
0% | 5 |
100% | D+5 |
| 2010 | 0 |
0% | 5 |
100% | D+5 |
| 2008 | 0 |
36.8% | 5 |
100% | D+5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
20% | 4 |
80% | D+4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
60% | 2 |
40% | R+1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
60% | 2 |
40% | R+1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
40% | 3 |
60.0% | D+1 |
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Connecticut Party Control: 1992-2025
Fifteen years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | I | I | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Connecticut attorney general Democratic primary 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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Connecticut government: |
Elections: |
Ballotpedia exclusives: |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Unofficial Primary Results - August 2014," accessed September 25, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Major Party Nominating Procedures in States With Conventions," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-431," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-174," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Voting Eligibility," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Day Registration," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of the State, "State of Connecticut Mail-in Voter Registration," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "FAQ Voter ID," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "Sections 9-261," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Public Act No. 23-5," June 7, 2023
- ↑ State of Connecticut, "Governor Lamont Signs Legislation Establishing Early Voting in Connecticut Elections and Primaries," June 7, 2023
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Absentee Voting Information," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Cubit, "Connecticut by Population," accessed August 30, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Connecticut," accessed August 30, 2018
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