Unofficial results from voting machine tallies on Tuesday night indicate resounding victory for the Democratic slate at all levels.

Unofficial 2024 Election Day voting results in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s voting results were far from finalized Tuesday night, but it was clear to the Democrats gathered after the polls closed that the town’s entire legislative delegation had been re-elected in a landslide.

State Sen. Derek Slap, as well as state Reps. Bobby Gibson (D-6th), James Sanchez (D-15th), Jillian Gilchrest (D-18th), Tammy Exum (D-19th), and Kate Farrar (D-20th) all publicly declared victory shortly after a spreadsheet showing the Election Day voting tallies was completed and displayed on a screen at the Democrat’s post-election gathering. Gilchrest, Exum, and Farrar were running unopposed, and while the results for Slap, Gibson, and Sanchez did not show the results from the other towns they represent, the margin of victory was clear.

As of 6 p.m., roughly 80% of West Hartford’s voters had cast their ballots – including 17,255 who voted early. The results of the early voting, as well as results from the more than 3,000 absentee ballots cast and 531 Same Day Registration voters, have not yet been reported.

“Celebrate the wins, at least right now,” Slap told the crowd, knowing the national election results were far from being finalized. “May I call your attention to this board right here,” he said, pointing to the spreadsheet indicating the unofficial results. “This is a landslide because of you. This is a landslide for West Hartford Democrats.”

Slap, who defeated newcomer Republican challenger Kyla Zimmerman, said he was “nauseously optimistic” about the national election, and said while there is a chance that local Democrats may need to be the “resistance,” he was optimistic “that we are all going to be able to go and return to Hartford and work with the Harris administration to stand up for women’s reproductive healthcare, to stand up for science, to stand up for love, and decency, and civility. To stand up for all the things that we care so much about. I am grateful to be on this journey with you.”

State Sen. Derek Slap, who has been re-elected to represent the 5th District, speaks at a gathering of Democrats after the polls closed Tuesday night. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Gilchrest also thanked the Democratic team, and said serving as a state representative is her “dream job.”

“This is emotional work,” said Exum, who said it’s really special to live in West Hartford. “But the only thing more special than living in West Hartford is to represent West Hartford, and Avon with me as well.” Exum said it was difficult to move forward after her husband died suddenly last year, and it was the encouragement and outreach of the community that made the difference.

“I thank you for trusting me at this time to continue to do this work,” Exum said. “Regardless of the national outcome, and regardless of what’s happening in my life, I still choose to embrace hope.”

Farrar also said that regardless of the outcome of other races, “I join my colleagues in saying that I am just so grateful that the voters of the 20th District in West Hartford and Newington have the trust and faith in me to continue into my third time in representing them, and there is so much more work to do … together.”

She said that today she had engaged with several first-time voters, who were so proud to cast their votes, “and that really embodies the pride that we have in our democracy. … Let’s not stop fighting for our values.”

Gibson and Sanchez, who represent slivers of the West Hartford but live in Bloomfield and Hartford respectively, also thanked their West Hartford constituents for their support.

Mayor Shari Cantor speaks at a gathering of Democrats after the polls closed Tuesday night. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Democratic Town Committee Chair John Bailey thanked all who contributed to the local victories. “Our democracy is on the line,” said Peter Andrews, the DTC vice chair, who also thanked everyone for their hard work.

Mayor Shari Cantor also congratulated the team for their work behind the scenes, and for navigating the challenges of the state’s first experience with early voting for a general election. “This was a big operation,” she said.

“I’m so proud of everybody that voted and really grateful to everyone who stepped in and helped,” Cantor added.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy also declared victory over Republican challenger Matthew Corey less than an hour after the polls closed, and the Associated Press declared that Democratic Kamala Harris won in Connecticut. Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson also appeared to win re-election over challengers Jim Griffin and Mary Sanders based on unofficial results.

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