WETHERSFIELD - Connecticut Democrats retained control of Wethersfield’s four legislative seats on Tuesday, underscoring the majority party’s Election Day dominance across the state.

       The re-elected Dems serving part or most of Wethersfield are State Senators Matt Lesser and John Fonfara, as well as State House Representatives Amy Morrin Bello and Kerry Wood.

       “It’s always exciting every election that you win,” Bello said at a gathering of supporters Tuesday night. “It’s such a privilege to serve Wethersfield and it’s wonderful to have voters’ trust -- I couldn’t be more humbled and grateful.”

       Bello’s 28th House District serves the largest portion of Wethersfield -- she held off GOP challenger Brianna Timbro to secure her second term at the State Capitol.

       Fonfara, the longest serving of the four, held the Wethersfield and Hartford’s Senate District 1 by capturing more than 68% of the votes cast, according to the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office.

       He edged Republican opponent Alexander Colaiacovo, who captured 4,900 votes to Fonfara’s 11,706.

       “I’m just grateful for all the hard work of so many supporters, and to the voters for having so much confidence in me,” Fonfara said.

       Lesser’s 9th District contains a smaller portion of Wethersfield -- and while GOP challenger Lisa Marotta claimed that part of the map, Lesser’s dominance in Newington and Middletown, the district’s two largest voting blocs, would catapult him to a third State Senate term.

       Lesser also won Cromwell, while Marotta, a sitting mayor, was dominant in her Rocky Hill hometown.

       “Thank you! Excited to have the opportunity to serve the people of Newington, Middletown, Cromwell, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield for another two years!” Lesser wrote on his Facebook page.

       Rep. Wood’s 29th House District serves Rocky Hill and part of Wethersfield -- Wood came out ahead of GOP challenger and Rocky Hill Town Councilor Pankaj Prakash in both towns.

       “I’m grateful to the voters for recognizing the work I’ve put in as State Rep,” Wood said Wednesday morning. “I’ve gone out of my way to reach out and make sure everyone’s at the table. All politics is local, and it’s not about ideology -- it’s about people.”

       This past election brought both local and national issues into the fold, with Democrats rallying voters around abortion rights in the aftermath of the SCOTUS’s Roe v. Wade reversal, and Republicans beating the drums on parental rights -- a catch-all for everything from COVID safety measures to school curriculum.

       But GOP candidates and voters were counting, perhaps most of all, on public safety concerns and discontent over inflation to deliver what they had billed as an Election Day “red wave”.

       “Do you like seeing gas at six bucks a gallon? Do you like crime?” GOP supporter Yvonne Krosky asked us, as she greeted voters outside the West Hill School polling place in Rocky Hill.

       She threw in an endorsement for her preferred candidates.

       “Pankaj Prakash is an immigrant. A data scientist with a Ph. D -- he is living the American Dream,” Krosky said. “Lisa Marotta is a highly educated attorney. A business owner. A mother.”

       Marotta spent Election Day morning traveling the district, landing at John Wallace Middle School in Newington around 10 a.m. She says voters she talks to aired similar sentiments about public safety and inflation.

       “Public safety is one major concern, but I think the biggest issue is affordability,” Marotta said. “I think there’s a lot of energy for change. I feel good.”

       Timbro expressed similar optimism -- though cautiously -- as she chatted with voters outside the community center in Wethersfield.

       “It’s hard to say, but I’ve been all over town and people are ready for change, so I’m feeling confident,” Timbro said.

       Democrats were counting on recent tax relief -- the most recent state budget contains over $663 million in recurring and temporary benefits -- as well as Governor Ned Lamont’s administration’s handling of the COVID pandemic, to make their case.

       “The response has been good so far, but we won’t know for sure till the polls close,” Lesser said as he greeted voters outside Cromwell High School.

       Both sides predicted high turnout -- Rocky Hill Republican Town Committee Chair Ed Charamut described seeing a “steady flow” of voters at his poll locations.

       “I think at the end of the day, you’re going to see a good turnout, and that’s how it should be,” Charamut said.

       “I think the voter turnout this year is positive for us,” said Rocky Hill Democratic Town Committee Chair Tejal Vallam at Wood and Lesser’s Rocky Hill campaign headquarters on election night. “We’ll find out more, but whichever way it goes, to have voters come out affirms my faith in the process -- that elections are still fair and representative of the will of the community.”

       Adam Wood, who oversaw (Kerry) Wood’s campaign, says the data -- showing roughly 56% turnout across the district -- reflects 2018 numbers; Democrats swept Newington, Wethersfield, and Rocky Hill legislative races that fall.

       “People change, so you never know,” (Adam) Wood said outside Rocky Hill Town Hall Tuesday night.

       But they knew -- (Kerry) Wood said Wednesday that their own campaign data, based on conversations with voters, had her team feeling confident heading into Election Night.

       “We didn’t want to celebrate before the numbers came in,” Wood said.

       Bello had a similar tone when we caught up with her late Tuesday night -- it was closing in on 10:30 p.m., and Bello was ahead before the tallying of absentees.

       “It’s looking good, but we have to wait for the final numbers to come in,” Bello said at her watch party.

       It didn’t take long -- the addition of ABs showed Bello at 5,781, to Timbro’s 4,828 total votes.

       By the time the official results were announced, Bello and Timbro were at a 54.6% to 45.4% split.

       "Thank you Wethersfield voters for putting your trust in me again! Serving at the State Capitol for two years has been a privilege and honor. I will continue to fight for safe and affordable communities, accessible and affordable healthcare including reproductive health services, public education, fair elections, our economy, and the environment," Bello wrote on her campaign Facebook page. "I advocate for our community every day and am thankful for this great opportunity to continue that work. I never could have won re-election without the love and support of my family, the dedication and hard work of my campaign team, and the endless hours spent on my campaign by so many volunteers. Thank you to all!"

       "Tough loss yesterday, but I can honestly say I am so proud of the job we did!" Timbro wrote on her campaign page. "We ran a great campaign and this no name, mom, wife, educator, realtor, who believes in common sense policy and the government being an authentic voice for the people, gave someone who has lived her entire life in Wethersfield and been in politics for a while, a run for it yesterday. I am incredibly proud of the job we did, we left absolutely nothing on the table. Thank you so much to all of my supporters, my team behind the scenes, the AMAZING volunteers who gave up hours because they believe in me, my family and of course my husband who has done nothing but support and cheer me on through this entire endeavor. I love this town and will keep fighting for change. In the wise words of my grandfather 'no matter what the outcome, the one thing you walk away with at all times, in defeat or a win…know when you look back you gave it 100%. As long as you know you gave it 100%, it’s all good.' Till next time."

       Across both 29th District towns, Wood captured around 55% of the vote, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial tallies.

       Prakash congratulated Wood and thanked supporters in a campaign Facebook page statement the next day.

       “I am humbled by the support I received as a first-time candidate for State Representative and I want to thank all the volunteers for their hard work and supporters for their encouragement. I wish we had a better outcome. We ran a strong, positive campaign with a lot of heart and effort, knocking on over 4,000 doors since June. But I always like to look to the future. The sun always shines the next day,” Prakash wrote. “I wish Representative Kerry Wood all the very best in this new term. As a Town Councilor, I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Rocky Hill, and as a voter, I will be closely monitoring our State Legislature's attempts to tackle the issues of affordability, public safety, healthcare costs, and economic growth in Connecticut.”

       “A really big THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered, supported, and voted this election cycle,” Marotta wrote on her campaign Facebook page. “I truly appreciate you and your belief in my mission. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but we will make it happen. Until next time!”