Though votes were still being tallied around the state of Connecticut, incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy (D-WFP) decided to give a rousing speech to his supporters at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, declaring victory.
As the Hartford Courant reported, Malloy told his supporters, “We don’t have the final numbers, but we know what the big numbers are, and we are going to win this thing.”
Malloy boasted that his record on job creation, raising the minimum wage, and investment in education reform were reasons for his victory.
Foley, who was in the lead for awhile during the night, did not officially concede, but told supporters, “We probably have lost this race.”
As in the 2010 gubernatorial race, Malloy’s biggest boost came from the state’s largest cities of Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport.
Numerous election day irregularities occurred across the state, as Breitbart News reported on Tuesday, including missing poll lists in the capital city of Hartford. In Naugatuck, as NBC Connecticut reported, voters were given 2012 ballots on which to cast their vote.
As the Courant notes, voter turnout in Connecticut was high, as the state utilized its new same-day voter registration policy. In New Haven, some were waiting on line for two hours.
Connecticut returned its all-Democrat delegation to Congress, and the state’s assembly will remain in the hands of the Democrats as well.
Foley said his team would double-check the election results before officially conceding the race. According to the Courant, he said he ran a good campaign but believes Republicans have a difficult time overcoming negative advertising and getting Independent voters to the polls.
“That’s what concerns me about the future of the state,” he said. “The state can turn into a [place] where only Democrats can win elective office.”
“We did as well as a Republican can do in Connecticut,” Foley said.