Bristol Likes Malloy, Fedele, But Mostly, Lembo

Bristol's tallies, from the registrar's office, with my thanks to Republican Registrar Sharon Krawiecki who helped me out on deadline, are listed below. But before you scan through, there's one interesting thing that I don't want you to miss. The city's top vote-getter tonight was Kevin Lembo, who totally buried challenger Michael Jarjura in the primary for comptroller. Maybe voters got sick of seeing just how low Jarjura could go with his negative ads.

Republicans

Governor:
Tom Foley -- 477
Mike Fedele -- 543
Oz Griebel -- 303

Lieutenant Governor:
Mark Boughton -- 564
Lisa Wilson-Foley -- 681

U.S. Senator:
Linda McMahon -- 679
Peter Schiff -- 337
Rob Simmons -- 330

Congress:
Ann Brickley -- 632
Mark Zydanowicz -- 649

Attorney General:
Martha Dean -- 777
Ross Garber -- 510

Democrats:

Governor:
Dan Malloy -- 1,808
Ned Lamont -- 1,369

Lieutenant Governor:
Nancy Wyman -- 1,984
Mary Glassman -- 1,154

Secretary of the State:
Denise Merrill -- 1,975
Gerry Garcia -- 1,137

Comptroller:
Kevin Lembo -- 2,130
Michael Jarjura -- 905

Nelson Blames Women Voters

In an unexpected upset, challenger Mary Rydingsward narrowly beat Democratic Town Chairman Elliot Nelson in the race for registrar, 1,580 to 1,556.
“I’m passionate about democratic principles, and voting is one of those principles,” Rydingsward said at her victory party at the Downtown Café.
Nelson, the party-endorsed candidate, said he was surprised the race went to Rydingsward, a registered Democrat who has served as the treasurer of the Working Families party for the past two years. He said he’d expected to win by a comfortable 60-40 margin.
“It was the women vote that put her over the top,” said Nelson, who said he would ask for a recount because the vote was so close.
"The women don't love me," he moaned to a supporter.
Rydingsward said she had a lot of support and knocked on a lot of doors.
Asked whether the women’s vote made the difference, Rydingsward said, “I think the women, especially in Bristol, would like a qualified candidate in the position of registrar.”
Nelson said he ran a good campaign and was satisfied. He said he's still party chairman and planned to work hard to put a Democrat in the governor's mansion this fall.

Democratic Upset in Bristol; Rydingsward Victorious

Mary Rydingsward beat out Democratic Town Chairman Elliot Nelson in the primary tonight for Democratic Registrar of Voters.
Nelson, who was the party's endorsed candidate, chalked it up to the women's vote.
She said it's because she knocked on a lot of doors.
It was very close -- 1,580 to 1,556.
Nelson said he will ask for a recount because it was so close.
More later.

It's Primary Day -- Go Vote!

If you are at least 18 and an American citizen, I hope you are registered to vote. If you are registered as a member of either the Republican or Democratic party, please take a few minutes to go vote in today's primary.

I can't remember so many hotly contested statewide races as we have this year in Connecticut. Don't sit this one out. Take part and cast your ballot. It's your state, after all.