Uncontested Races

For Legislature Drop

HARTFORD (AP) — Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz says Connecticut has the lowest number of uncontested General Assembly seats since 1998.

She announced on Monday that 54 of the 187 races for the state Senate and House of Representatives lack a Democratic or Republican candidate. Back in 2008, the last legislative election year, there were 60 total races unchallenged by a major party candidate.

Bysiewicz credits the state’s public campaign financing system for the decline. Candidates can receive public money to finance their campaigns if they raise small contributions to qualify and abide by various rules and spending limits.

In 1998, there were 50 races uncontested. That number climbed to 73 uncontested General Assembly races in 2004.