Any doubts that Connecticut’s political races are heating up were erased Monday with numbers from the state’s chief elections official showing contested races are up for General Assembly seats this November.
Only 54 of 187 races for state Senate or House lack either a Democratic or Republican candidate this year as compared with 60 total unchallenged contests in 2008, a decrease of 10 percent, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said.
With 29 percent of races uncontested, this year ranks the lowest since 1998, when 27 percent of races were unchallenged, her office said.
“This decline in uncontested General Assembly races means more Connecticut citizens are interested in the electoral process and running for office,” Bysiewicz said.
The increase in contested seats also demonstrates the impact of state public campaign financing introduced in 2008, she said.
The number of uncontested races for 2010 has decreased significantly from those of the past two election cycles, her office said. The number of races in which a major party has not fielded a candidate for the state Senate has diminished considerably from 2006 when nine of 36 races (25 percent) went uncontested.Â
In 2008, seven Senate races were uncontested by Republicans or Democrats. The most dramatic decline in uncontested races, however, can be seen in elections for the State House of Representatives. In 2006, 62 races for house seats (41 percent) lacked a major party candidate, while in 2008, 53 races (35 percent) remained uncontested. In, 2010, 48 races are uncontested (31.8 percent).Â
