Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot.Click to learn more!

Connecticut Secretary of State election, 2018

From Ballotpedia


2022
2014
Connecticut Secretary of State
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline:June 12, 2018
Primary: August 14, 2018 (canceled)
General: November 6, 2018

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Denise Merrill (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Connecticut
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Connecticut
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
Treasurer
Comptroller

Connecticut held an election forsecretary of state onNovember 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 12, 2018.

Democratic PartyFor more information about the Democratic primary,click here.
Republican PartyFor more information about the Republican primary,click here.
For more information about secretary of state elections in 2018,click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the election, thesecretary of state of Connecticut wasDenise Merrill (D), who was first elected in2010 and was re-elected in2014. Merrill announced on August 18, 2017, that she would seek election to a third term in 2018.
  • Connecticut was underDemocratic trifecta control. It had held this status sinceGov.Dannel Malloy (D) took office in 2011. Connecticut was also aDemocratic triplex.
  • Connecticut was won by theDemocratic candidate in each of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory wasBarack Obama's 22 percent margin in 2008, while the narrowest wasJohn Kerry's ten percent margin in 2004.

  • Candidates and election results

    General election

    General election

    General election for Connecticut Secretary of State

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    Image of Denise Merrill
    Denise Merrill (D)
     
    55.9
     
    764,067
    Image of Susan Chapman
    Susan Chapman (R)
     
    42.5
     
    580,779
    Image of Mike DeRosa
    Mike DeRosa (G)
     
    0.9
     
    12,469
    Image of Heather Gwynn
    Heather Gwynn (L)
     
    0.8
     
    10,361

    Ballotpedia Logo

    Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

    Total votes: 1,367,676
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

    Political party key:
    Electiondot.pngDemocratic
    Ends.pngRepublican
    Begins.pngGreen Party
    Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party
    Darkgreen.pngWorking Families Party
    IndependentIndependent Party

    Fusion voting candidates

    Democratic primary election

    Democratic primary election

    Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

    Republican primary election

    Republican primary election

    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Connecticut heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    • Democrats controlled both chambers of theConnecticut General Assembly. They had a 80-71 majority in the state House and a 18-18 majority in the state Senate.

    Trifecta status

    • Connecticut was one of eightDemocratic trifectas, meaning that Democrats controlled the office of the governor, the state House, and the state Senate.

    2018 elections

    See also:Connecticut elections, 2018

    Connecticut held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Connecticut
     ConnecticutU.S.
    Total population:3,584,730316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):4,8423,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:77.3%73.6%
    Black/African American:10.3%12.6%
    Asian:4.2%5.1%
    Native American:0.2%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
    Two or more:2.8%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:14.7%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:89.9%86.7%
    College graduation rate:37.6%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$70,331$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:12.2%11.3%
    Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Connecticut.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.

    As of July 2016, Connecticut's three largest cities were Bridgeport (pop. est. 146,579), New Haven (pop. est. 131,014), and Stamford (pop. est. 130,824).[1][2]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Connecticut from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from theConnecticut Secretary of State.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Connecticut every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Connecticut 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Democratic PartyHillary Clinton54.6%Republican PartyDonald Trump40.9%13.7%
    2012Democratic PartyBarack Obama58.1%Republican PartyMitt Romney40.8%17.3%
    2008Democratic PartyBarack Obama60.6%Republican PartyJohn McCain38.2%22.4%
    2004Democratic PartyJohn Kerry54.3%Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush43.9%10.4%
    2000Democratic PartyAl Gore55.9%Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush38.4%17.5%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results ofU.S. Senate races in Connecticut from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Connecticut 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Democratic PartyRichard Blumenthal63.2%Republican PartyDan Carter34.6%28.6%
    2012Democratic PartyChristopher Murphy54.8%Republican PartyLinda McMahon43.1%11.7%
    2010Democratic PartyRichard Blumenthal55.2%Republican PartyLinda McMahon43.2%12%
    2006Grey.pngJoe Lieberman (I)49.7%Democratic PartyNed Lamont39.7%12.2%
    2004Democratic PartyChris Dodd66.4%Republican PartyJack Orchulli32.1%34.3%
    2002Democratic PartyJoe Lieberman63.2%Republican Party Philip Giordano34.2%29%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Connecticut.

    Election results (Governor), Connecticut 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2014Democratic PartyDan Malloy50.7%Republican PartyTom Foley48.2%2.5%
    2010Democratic PartyDan Malloy49.5%Republican PartyTom Foley49%.5%
    2006Republican PartyJodi Rell63.2%Democratic Party John DeStefano, Jr.35.5%27.7%
    2002Republican Party John G. Rowland56.1%Democratic Party Bill Curry43.9%12.2%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Connecticut in theU.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Connecticut 2000-2016
    YearRepublicansRepublicans (%)DemocratsDemocrats (%)Balance of power
    2016Republican Party00%Democratic Party5100%D+5
    2014Republican Party00%Democratic Party5100%D+5
    2012Republican Party00%Democratic Party5100%D+5
    2010Republican Party00%Democratic Party5100%D+5
    2008Republican Party036.8%Democratic Party5100%D+5
    2006Republican Party120%Democratic Party480%D+4
    2004Republican Party360%Democratic Party240%R+1
    2002Republican Party360%Democratic Party240%R+1
    2000Republican Party240%Democratic Party360.0%D+1

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    Astate government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Connecticut Party Control: 1992-2026
    Sixteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year9293949596979899000102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
    GovernorIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    SenateDDDRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    HouseDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD


    Pivot Counties

    See also:Pivot Counties by state

    One of eight Connecticut counties—12.5 percent—is aPivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and forDonald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    CountyTrump margin of victory in 2016Obama margin of victory in 2012Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Windham County, Connecticut7.78%13.28%14.68%

    In the 2016 presidential election,Hillary Clinton (D) won Connecticut with 54.6 percent of the vote.Donald Trump (R) received 40.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Connecticut voted Republican 53.33 percent of the time and Democratic 46.67 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Connecticut voted Democratic all five times.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Connecticut. Click[show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled byDaily Kos.[3][4]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 120 out of 151 state House districts in Connecticut with an average margin of victory of 30.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 105 out of 151 state House districts in Connecticut with an average margin of victory of 30.9 points. Clinton won 32 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 31 out of 151 state House districts in Connecticut with an average margin of victory of 8.6 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 46 out of 151 state House districts in Connecticut with an average margin of victory of 11.6 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.
    2016 presidential results by state House district
    DistrictObamaRomney2012 MarginClintonTrump2016 MarginParty Control
    192.49%6.77%D+85.789.51%7.51%D+82D
    251.55%47.37%D+4.250.60%44.71%D+5.9R
    393.57%5.98%D+87.690.54%7.47%D+83.1D
    492.54%6.94%D+85.688.06%9.25%D+78.8D
    586.69%12.67%D+7484.70%12.67%D+72D
    688.20%11.40%D+76.885.82%11.88%D+73.9D
    796.89%2.76%D+94.194.49%3.74%D+90.8D
    855.13%43.29%D+11.846.51%47.31%R+0.8R
    967.00%31.94%D+35.162.68%32.97%D+29.7D
    1076.58%22.61%D+5469.78%27.16%D+42.6D
    1174.13%24.75%D+49.468.65%27.19%D+41.5D
    1266.56%32.04%D+34.561.42%33.32%D+28.1D
    1360.43%38.23%D+22.259.26%35.40%D+23.9R
    1456.37%42.40%D+1455.67%39.58%D+16.1R
    1581.61%17.90%D+63.781.29%16.01%D+65.3D
    1649.87%48.82%D+1.156.13%38.43%D+17.7D
    1747.47%51.38%R+3.952.15%42.98%D+9.2R
    1868.94%29.85%D+39.174.69%20.99%D+53.7D
    1957.66%41.43%D+16.266.20%29.38%D+36.8D
    2068.52%30.32%D+38.269.47%26.31%D+43.2D
    2150.75%48.05%D+2.753.47%41.89%D+11.6D
    2261.25%37.50%D+23.849.25%46.39%D+2.9R
    2354.11%44.83%D+9.352.45%43.51%D+8.9R
    2470.27%28.84%D+41.463.41%32.86%D+30.6D
    2584.83%14.40%D+70.478.83%18.44%D+60.4D
    2671.82%27.05%D+44.863.33%32.51%D+30.8D
    2760.13%38.56%D+21.654.67%40.90%D+13.8R
    2854.92%43.86%D+11.152.42%43.20%D+9.2D
    2955.94%42.86%D+13.153.94%41.63%D+12.3D
    3049.89%48.85%D+142.33%53.52%R+11.2D
    3150.61%48.25%D+2.455.31%39.59%D+15.7R
    3255.04%43.64%D+11.448.68%46.17%D+2.5R
    3368.45%30.17%D+38.362.44%32.43%D+30D
    3452.37%46.13%D+6.245.22%49.75%R+4.5R
    3553.54%45.30%D+8.247.56%48.30%R+0.7R
    3656.48%42.32%D+14.251.77%43.33%D+8.4R
    3756.45%42.30%D+14.252.15%43.02%D+9.1R
    3856.59%42.00%D+14.648.17%46.43%D+1.7R
    3981.86%16.53%D+65.374.88%19.98%D+54.9D
    4057.78%40.50%D+17.350.42%42.21%D+8.2D
    4162.63%35.97%D+26.759.86%35.06%D+24.8D
    4251.47%46.82%D+4.743.33%50.62%R+7.3R
    4356.83%41.64%D+15.252.51%42.78%D+9.7D
    4454.23%43.73%D+10.536.16%57.01%R+20.9R
    4552.33%45.60%D+6.734.94%58.76%R+23.8R
    4668.64%29.50%D+39.158.38%35.58%D+22.8D
    4752.23%46.02%D+6.238.68%54.73%R+16.1R
    4856.08%42.14%D+13.947.81%45.96%D+1.9D
    4973.67%24.87%D+48.863.83%30.75%D+33.1D
    5049.83%48.43%D+1.442.53%51.72%R+9.2D
    5151.10%46.82%D+4.337.72%55.77%R+18.1D
    5247.99%50.41%R+2.437.65%57.14%R+19.5R
    5353.61%44.77%D+8.847.47%45.79%D+1.7R
    5474.44%22.99%D+51.573.43%20.23%D+53.2D
    5551.04%47.60%D+3.447.12%47.50%R+0.4R
    5660.67%37.75%D+22.953.61%40.46%D+13.2D
    5750.28%48.34%D+1.943.86%51.08%R+7.2R
    5858.16%40.10%D+18.148.03%46.50%D+1.5R
    5954.00%44.54%D+9.543.77%50.61%R+6.8R
    6060.09%38.49%D+21.654.41%40.52%D+13.9R
    6147.86%50.91%R+3.146.44%48.03%R+1.6R
    6246.32%52.24%R+5.942.91%51.10%R+8.2R
    6345.24%53.11%R+7.935.91%59.22%R+23.3R
    6458.49%40.18%D+18.355.25%39.96%D+15.3R
    6550.51%47.54%D+339.91%54.86%R+15D
    6644.89%53.81%R+8.942.18%53.32%R+11.1R
    6750.13%48.38%D+1.844.87%50.51%R+5.6R
    6838.36%60.44%R+22.131.77%64.70%R+32.9R
    6947.56%51.44%R+3.947.18%48.90%R+1.7R
    7049.43%48.89%D+0.539.65%55.54%R+15.9R
    7144.04%54.99%R+1141.39%54.93%R+13.5R
    7278.99%20.44%D+58.671.22%26.33%D+44.9D
    7359.14%40.12%D+1953.73%43.11%D+10.6D
    7460.54%38.37%D+22.255.35%41.21%D+14.1R
    7582.13%17.29%D+64.875.49%22.22%D+53.3D
    7642.30%56.16%R+13.935.72%59.35%R+23.6R
    7757.96%40.82%D+17.147.28%48.37%R+1.1R
    7849.31%49.34%R+037.09%59.43%R+22.3R
    7962.13%36.79%D+25.350.65%44.76%D+5.9D
    8039.96%59.03%R+19.131.66%64.81%R+33.2R
    8152.24%46.34%D+5.943.60%51.71%R+8.1R
    8261.74%37.01%D+24.751.60%43.65%D+8D
    8357.43%41.64%D+15.848.30%47.77%D+0.5D
    8478.63%20.21%D+58.468.42%27.38%D+41D
    8558.63%40.00%D+18.649.49%45.95%D+3.5D
    8650.94%47.93%D+341.45%55.07%R+13.6R
    8751.00%47.91%D+3.143.00%53.54%R+10.5R
    8864.84%34.33%D+30.563.09%33.50%D+29.6D
    8945.88%52.83%R+741.73%53.94%R+12.2R
    9049.50%49.27%D+0.244.92%50.42%R+5.5R
    9171.02%28.05%D+4368.79%28.01%D+40.8D
    9290.04%9.26%D+80.888.23%8.87%D+79.4D
    9394.04%5.26%D+88.892.21%5.63%D+86.6D
    9489.09%10.11%D+7986.85%10.34%D+76.5D
    9593.24%6.45%D+86.887.85%10.25%D+77.6D
    9680.44%18.19%D+62.377.99%18.82%D+59.2D
    9779.86%19.36%D+60.571.03%26.02%D+45D
    9858.10%41.10%D+1759.59%36.92%D+22.7D
    9958.20%40.74%D+17.543.42%53.68%R+10.3D
    10068.37%30.20%D+38.259.83%34.70%D+25.1D
    10150.24%49.15%D+1.152.73%42.75%D+10R
    10259.07%39.83%D+19.254.29%42.07%D+12.2D
    10349.87%48.93%D+0.947.42%48.09%R+0.7D
    10461.67%37.00%D+24.748.24%47.64%D+0.6D
    10547.47%50.85%R+3.436.71%58.78%R+22.1R
    10646.91%51.93%R+549.00%46.32%D+2.7R
    10746.14%52.69%R+6.645.69%50.22%R+4.5R
    10846.63%52.18%R+5.643.14%52.59%R+9.5R
    10959.30%39.85%D+19.554.64%41.59%D+13.1D
    11069.46%29.43%D+4066.40%29.93%D+36.5D
    11146.72%52.32%R+5.655.72%39.70%D+16R
    11243.53%55.23%R+11.742.08%53.69%R+11.6R
    11345.59%53.06%R+7.538.93%56.85%R+17.9R
    11452.24%46.77%D+5.551.57%44.86%D+6.7R
    11569.14%29.79%D+39.457.47%38.78%D+18.7D
    11682.99%16.24%D+66.875.09%22.25%D+52.8D
    11754.80%44.05%D+10.846.58%49.79%R+3.2R
    11856.74%41.72%D+1550.06%45.44%D+4.6D
    11949.33%49.44%R+0.146.15%50.19%R+4R
    12052.66%46.17%D+6.549.00%46.86%D+2.1D
    12169.58%29.53%D+40.163.75%32.86%D+30.9D
    12243.71%55.48%R+11.840.56%56.27%R+15.7R
    12346.02%53.07%R+7.147.40%48.87%R+1.5R
    12492.91%6.85%D+86.188.21%10.08%D+78.1D
    12538.12%60.99%R+22.954.45%40.22%D+14.2R
    12687.89%11.69%D+76.282.05%15.49%D+66.6D
    12773.75%25.71%D+4870.48%26.91%D+43.6D
    12893.61%5.92%D+87.788.85%9.56%D+79.3D
    12977.69%21.51%D+56.274.21%22.70%D+51.5D
    13092.36%7.37%D+8587.37%10.56%D+76.8D
    13143.13%55.42%R+12.335.63%60.28%R+24.7R
    13249.34%49.72%R+0.456.65%39.38%D+17.3R
    13357.75%41.06%D+16.759.87%35.88%D+24D
    13445.32%53.75%R+8.450.73%45.11%D+5.6R
    13549.88%49.04%D+0.858.64%36.95%D+21.7R
    13656.68%42.57%D+14.169.50%26.62%D+42.9D
    13766.76%31.99%D+34.866.51%29.67%D+36.8D
    13851.38%47.42%D+450.31%45.50%D+4.8R
    13958.71%39.40%D+19.346.27%47.70%R+1.4D
    14080.35%18.77%D+61.676.93%19.96%D+57D
    14139.54%59.82%R+20.356.05%38.27%D+17.8R
    14252.46%46.56%D+5.956.93%39.06%D+17.9R
    14349.54%49.41%D+0.157.08%38.35%D+18.7R
    14455.71%43.34%D+12.457.85%38.43%D+19.4D
    14582.37%17.09%D+65.380.19%17.15%D+63D
    14666.49%32.45%D+3470.69%25.77%D+44.9D
    14750.78%48.18%D+2.657.96%38.09%D+19.9D
    14869.33%29.79%D+39.568.87%27.90%D+41D
    14942.34%56.81%R+14.554.38%41.72%D+12.7R
    15048.35%50.82%R+2.561.39%34.60%D+26.8R
    15143.49%55.63%R+12.155.81%39.53%D+16.3R
    Total58.08%40.75%D+17.354.65%40.99%D+13.7-
    Source:Daily Kos


    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsConnecticut secretary of state election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

    Connecticut government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    Elections
    20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
    Flag of Connecticut
    v  e
    State ofConnecticut
    Hartford (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2026 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy

    v  e
    2018 state executive official elections
    Governor
    Lieutenant Governor
    Attorney General
    Secretary of State
    Treasurer
    Auditor
    Comptroller
    Education officials
    Commissioners
    Alabama (agriculture)Alabama (public service)Arizona (mine inspector)Arizona (public service)Arkansas (public lands)California (board of equalization)California (insurance)Florida (agriculture)Georgia (agriculture)Georgia (insurance)Georgia (labor)Georgia (public service)Iowa (agriculture)Kansas (insurance)Louisiana (public service)Montana (public service)Nebraska (public service)New Mexico (public lands)New Mexico (public service)North Dakota (agriculture)North Dakota (public service)North Dakota (tax)Oklahoma (insurance)Oklahoma (labor)Oklahoma (public service)Oregon (labor)South Carolina (agriculture)South Dakota (public lands)South Dakota (public service)Texas (agriculture)Texas (public lands)Texas (railroad)
    Elections
    20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
    Ballotpedia
    Editorial Content
    Josh Altic, Director of ContentDaniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & DataCory Eucalitto, Associate Director of FeaturesRyan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot MeasuresMandy McConnell, Managing Editor of NewsDoug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local ExpansionAbbey Smith, Managing Editor of ElectionsJanie Valentine, Managing Editor of LawJoel Williams, Managing Editor of EventsJoseph Greaney, Managing Editor of PolicyAndrew BahlJaclyn BeranMarielle BrickerJoseph BrusgardEmma BurlingameKelly CoyleJon DunnVictoria EdwardsThomas EllisNicole FisherThomas GrobbenBrianna HoseaMolly KehoeTyler KingGlorie MartinezNorm Leahy, Senior EditorNathan MaxwellJimmy McAllisterBrandon McCauleyAndrew McNairEllie MikusMackenzie MurphyKaley PlatekSamantha PostAdam PowellAnnelise ReinwaldSpencer RichardsonVictoria RoseBriana RyanMyj SaintylMaddy SaluckaEmma SoukupAlexis ThackerMina VogelSamuel WonacottTrenton Woodcox