UPDATE: This report was updated on Thursday, November 5 at 4:15 pm to include official local voting tallies, additional candidate comments, and related content.

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Four familiar faces are returning to represent the community in the Connecticut General Assembly, and Newtown could eventually see multifamily apartment housing at Fairfield Hills after local voters endorsed considering limited mixed-use development to the Fairfield Hills Master Plan.

According to Newtown Registrar LeReine Frampton, 7,171 absentee ballots were received and 26 were rejected; there were 121 Election Day registration ballots cast; 35 military; and 50 overseas ballots received. Besides the Election Day registrations, 19,292 Newtown voters were registered and qualified to vote, and by the time polls closed 17,469 ballots were cast.

Incumbent Republican Mitch Bolinsky successfully overcame a challenge from his two-time Democratic rival Rebekah Harriman-Stites, receiving 7,332 votes to her 6,951.

In a Facebook post, Bolinsky addressed the following statement to constituents:

“Thank you to the good people of Newtown for blessing me again with the honor of representing you at the state Capitol. Yesterday, November 3, 2020, was a roller coaster of a day that began and ended in the dark. The voices, smiles, wishes and expressions of love from so many of you warmed me to the heart, despite the chill in the air. It was also my Mom & Dad’s first anniversary in heaven, after 63 on earth. I can feel them smiling over me, as I feel from so many of you on this day of pride and joy.

“I am truly grateful for your support and will always be here for you, my friends. It is an honor to be your voice in Hartford and your conduit into Connecticut’s cold, unfriendly state government,” Bolinsky added. “We have much work to do to clean up and prioritize you in the self-absorbed Hartford insider’s club that collaborated to take me down. Your support beat that machine and the outside forces that sought to ‘change’ our town. As in my first 4-terms, this term’s for you.”

'Deeply Grateful'

Harriman-Stites, who was cross endorsed by the Working Families Party (WF) released the following statement: “After counting through the night, and though the numbers are not finalized, it appears that Representative Bolinsky has won a 5th term.

“I am deeply grateful to all of the volunteers and supporters. I have a lot to process and a whole lot more to say, but for now, I am taking a big break to focus on myself, my family, and the full and rewarding life I have, regardless of the result of an election.

“Again, I thank the Newtowners who were so passionate in their support of this campaign,” she added. “At the moment, I will leave you with this — do not lose sight of the reasons we came together, and keep pushing to demand the change we all deserve.” She said in a separate post: “I can hold my head high knowing that I never once comprised my integrity or my values. I have absolutely no regrets.”

After working through the night and into mid-morning, Frampton and Registrar Erica Canfield released local polling numbers that also showed 2nd District Democratic Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan overtaking GOP challenger and former Rep Dan Carter in local voting 343 to 326. Carter was also on the ballot having been cross endorsed by the State Independent Party.

Hours earlier, Allie-Brennan, who received the WF endorsement as well, posted the following message on his social network pages signaling he had won reelection: “Humbled and honored to have earned your support for 2 more years as your voice in Hartford! Just spoke with Dan Carter who conceded and wants to sit down to discuss ways in which we can work together on the issues that are important to the 2nd District. Now we get back to work!!”

Incumbent Republican 28th State District Senator Tony Hwang, who was cross endorsed by the Independent Party, outpaced returning Democratic challenger Michelle McCabe in Newtown, and issued a statement following a concession call from her signaling a victory.

“I am incredibly thankful for the continued trust placed upon me by the voters of the 28th Senate district,” Hwang said. “I am humbled to be given the opportunity to continue to represent and serve our community and state. I would also like to acknowledge Ms McCabe for a hard-fought campaign and wish her well.”

Unprecedented Voter Turnout

The senator said he was inspired by the unprecedented voter turnout in his 28th District and throughout the state, calling it “a resounding response to the many challenges we face and an acknowledgement of the demanding work that must be done on behalf of the people.”

“The ongoing Covid-19 public health crisis and economic plight in Connecticut have left working families, seniors, and our most vulnerable in a precarious position,” Hwang said. “Our businesses need an opportunity to recover, our children need to be able to return to the classroom safely, and our democratic institutions and economy require strengthening. I remain committed to serving the best interests of our community and representing all of you. Better days lie ahead, and we will get there by working together to find solutions to the challenges before us.”

McCabe, who was also endorsed by the WF Party, issued a statement as well, saying: “Since April 2018, I became intimately involved in the struggles of the residents and businesses of the 28th and committed to bringing innovation and investment to address them. I planned to bring my persistence and courage to see policies enacted that could bring immediate relief to the high cost of living in Connecticut, while making sure that we leave no one behind.”

McCabe said while it is hard to not see those ideas through, it was enormously gratifying that the talent of Jennifer Leeper is being added to wonderful incumbents like Representatives McCarthy Vahey, Allie-Brennan, Hughes, and Steinberg.

“I am comforted knowing that we are fortunate to be in such good hands during what will be the most consequential legislative term of our lifetimes. The voters of the 28th have made their choice and, while our incumbent prevailed, for the second time he was shown that there is a substantial portion of his constituents who do not feel he represents their concerns. I hope that he learns to listen, even when it is difficult for him to hear, and makes decisions based on what is best for all of the residents who he represents,” McCabe continued.

She recognized that campaigns like hers are powered by the volunteers who sacrifice so much of their time, their passion, and their energy to the candidates.

“This campaign is no different and your investment made an enormous difference in every race. From the donations to the hours making calls that could range from very unpleasant to uplifting to the sign deliveries and the letter writing to talking to friends and neighbors to lit dropping and poll standing — you are the army of democracy,” McCabe concluded.

She said no matter who wins the race to be our next president, “the most important outcome must be, no matter what, that we don’t give up. We don’t give up on our values. And we don’t give up on our fellow Americans. If we truly live up to our values of love conquering hate and equity for all, we must find a way to stitch this country back together again, one person at a time.”

Reelected Unopposed

Republican State Rep JP Sredzinski, whose 112th District includes several neighborhoods in the southern part of Newtown was unopposed, and therefore automatically qualified for another two-year term after he received his first vote early Tuesday morning, November 3. He was also the cross-endorsed Independent candidate.

Sredzinski released the following statement: “Since 2015, it has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of the 112th district as their State Representative. Monroe and Newtown share many similarities when it comes to state government, and I am grateful today to have been reelected to a fourth term. I am deeply blessed to have many strong supporters and friends throughout the district, many of whom live in Newtown. I want to thank the voters for returning me to Hartford to serve them.”

The lawmaker said despite some final election results being unknown at the time he made his statement, “we can all agree that the election is over.”

“The partisanship needs to stop,” Sredzinski added. “The time to govern is now. The people of Monroe, Newtown, and the entire State of Connecticut expect us to lead to make our state the best it can be. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature and will seek to be part of the solution to help my district and the State of Connecticut strengthen its economy, navigate through this pandemic, and continue to improve our quality of life.”

The outcome of the 5th District US Congressional race was sealed just before 11 am Wednesday, as incumbent Rep Jahana Hayes released a statement saying her Republican opponent David X. Sullivan had conceded. Hayes was cross endorsed by the WF Party.

Her Independent challenger, Newtown resident Bruce Walczak, received comparatively few votes across the district.

Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, who said he voted in person November 3, sent congratulations to each of the candidates regardless of the outcomes of their individual contests.

“When you’re on the ballot, there’s a lot of anxiety that comes with it,” Rosenthal said. “You’re putting yourself out there, you’re putting your family out there, politics is a tough business. People can be incredibly mean at times, but on the other hand it can be incredibly rewarding. People in Newtown are very discerning when it comes to their vote, and while elbows may get sharp during election season, when it’s over everybody works together.”

Fairfield Hills Referendum

Regarding the outcome of the Fairfield Hills vote, which passed 9,401 to 7,311, the first selectman recognized that the high turnout Tuesday gave thousands of residents an opportunity to weigh in.

“The information about this has been out there for a long time,” Rosenthal said. “What this says there is a well of support to consider [housing] as part of the future development of the campus.”

Following numerous public and virtual information sessions he hosted or participated in, the first selectman said he was pleased there was fairly strong support for possible residential options on the campus.

“Nothing is automatic, but there is support for considering it and this vote allows us to move ahead on the process,” he added. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Rosenthal credited Walczak, who was a staunch opponent to the residential option, for probably being the first resident to suggest sending the measure to a public vote, which the first selectman vowed would be binding.

“I think putting it on a ballot and letting people weigh in on the concept of housing is the best way to build consensus around how to move forward,” he said. “I’m glad we ended up following the path Bruce suggested.”

The final official vote totals from the Newtown registrars are as follows:

Ballot question: 9,401 Yes / 7,311 No

Registrar of Voters: LeReine Frampton (D) — 8,575 / Erica Canfield (R) — 7,983

State Assembly District 112: JP Sredzinski (R) 1,146 / (I) 328

State Assembly District 106: Mitch Bolinsky (R) 7,332 / Rebekah Harriman-Stites (D) 6,665 (WF) 286

State Assembly District 2: Dan Carter (R) 320 (I) 6 / Raghib Allie-Brennan (D) 335 (WF) 10

State Senate District 28: Tony Hwang (R) 8,631 (I) 484 / Michelle McCabe (D) 7,592 (WF) 253

US Congress District 5: David X. Sullivan (R) 7,327 / Jahana Hayes (D) 8,826 (WF) 336 / Bruce Walczak (I) 421