Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said today that the 2012 election will have the fewest uncontested races for the General Assembly since 1998, when the state began tracking how many legislative elections were uncontested by a major party.
“I am very encouraged to see so many candidates stepping up and running for office, especially in a year when there are numerous retirements from the Connecticut General Assembly,” Merrill said.
In the 151-member House, the drop from 48 to 27 uncontested seats is a record. In 2006, the last cycle without the availability of public financing for legislative candididate, the number of uncontested races was nearly double.
A high number of open seats is contributing to the decrease in uncontested races, Merrill said.
Democrats now control the Senate, 22-14, and the House, 99-52.
Uncontested state Senate races
1998 7 out of 36 19.5%
2000 11 out of 36 30.6%
2002 8 out of 36 22.2%
2004 13 out of 36 36.2%
2006 9 out of 36 25%
2008 7 out of 36 19.4%
2010 6 out of 36 16.7%
2012 5 out of 36 13.9%
Uncontested state House races
1998 43 out of 151 28.5%
2000 60 out of 151 40.4%
2002 50 out of 151 33.1%
2004 60 out of 151 40.4%
2006 62 out of 151 41%
2008 53 out of 151 35%
2010 48 out of 151 31.8%
2012 27 out of 151 17.9%