The Hamden general election concluded with Democrat Josh Elliott continuing as state representative for a fourth term and voters approving the revised legislative charter for the town.
Elliott received 66% of the votes for the 88th Connecticut State House of Representatives district seat against Republican opponent Mike Pace. The Connecticut Secretary of State reported Elliott raked in 5,184 votes compared to Pace’s 2,666 votes.
“I’m glad that the stress is over,” Elliott told HQNN. “I will say, there’s always that sense of relief more than anything. While I am in campaign season, there’s always just the whole thing hanging over my head.”
Elliott said Election Day this year went smoothly compared to the first time he ran for state representative.
“The day went by very quickly, it went by very smoothly – a lot less stress,” Elliott said. “It’s a nice place to be a multi-year incumbent. There’s a lot (of) fewer surprises.”
Elliott plans to continue working on issues related to the economy, criminal reform and women’s health. He plans to begin addressing transgender health issues as well.
“I’m trying to get a little bit more educated there in terms of what needs to be done,” Elliott said. “Ideas don’t just become reality, they need people to be proactively pushing them through the various phases.”
Following the conclusion of his first political campaign, Mike Pace attributes his loss to the existing political climate in the town.
“I was disappointed, not going to lie, because I know I worked harder than my opponent did,” Pace told HQNN. “But it just goes to show the Democratic machine in Hamden is just too much.”
Pace said people around him have noted that despite only 18% of Hamden residents being registered as Republicans, he received 34% of the vote. Pace says he has been encouraged that these numbers may be a good first step and something to build upon for future elections, however he is unsure if he wants to fight the uphill battle.
“The commitment of running and to spend the amount of time I spent, and Josh – my opponent – he didn’t even raise his money to run his campaign,” Pace said. “He essentially didn’t need to. He beat me pretty decently; it wasn’t like it was that close and he didn’t really do much of anything to campaign, so what does that tell you? That’s a kick in the balls right there.”
Regardless of whether or not Pace decides to campaign again when the time comes, he plans to continue being an active member in the Hamden community.
“I think it’s important to stay involved in what’s going on in your community no matter what side of the party line you stand,” Pace said. “You’re in your community, you’re paying taxes in the community, you might as well get involved. I see myself still volunteering and going to meetings about what’s happening in the town and what’s trying to be moved forward.”
“We lost,” said Hamden resident Brian Blake in response to Elliott’s victory over Pace. “It affects the people that live here. We need to lower the tax rate, lower the gas prices. The cost of living is increasing and that needs to change.”
Hamden voters also approved the town’s revised legislative charter, which included an increase to the mayor and town clerk’s terms from two years to four starting in 2025.
Hamden resident Matthew Garcia said he’s in favor of the new changes.
“I mean the president’s term is four years, I believe (it) gives them more time to enact their policies,” Garcia said.
Connecticut voters also approved revising the state’s constitution to establish in person early voting as soon as 2024.
“If you have everybody rushing on Election Day they only have a certain amount of time to vote, so I can definitely see it being beneficial to have people come in before,” Garcia said. “Maybe (people) can’t go in on voting day (because) they have other obligations or commitments that they have to attend to.”