Zoe Berg, Senior Photographer

The midterm elections are today, Nov. 8. Polls close at 8 p.m. Voters can register to vote today at City Hall. Check registration and confirm poll location here. 

Key Democratic candidates for statewide office gathered at New Haven’s BAR Pizza to make their final call to action before Election Day.

Sean Scanlon, the Democratic candidate for Connecticut state comptroller, had three words for the audience of about 100. 

“Bring it home.”

Governor Ned Lamont, who is running ahead in polls ahead of challenger Bob Stefanowski, recognized the Elm City’s importance as a vote-rich blue stronghold.

“Nobody knows how to get out to vote like New Haven,” Lamont said. 

Also in attendance were Richard Blumenthal, the senior U.S. senator from Connecticut, and Rosa DeLauro, the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District and head of the appropriations committee. Both are slated to win by double-digits.

Rosa DeLauro acknowledged the difficulties that her constituents faced over the past two years.

“This has been a tough, tough election,” DeLauro said. “People are living paycheck to paycheck; they are struggling. It’s the cost of living that is killing them. Their choice could not be clearer. Democrats have tried to lower taxes for working families.”

Mayor Justin Elicker, who won his second term last year, thanked the assembled Connecticut leadership for their commitment to democratic values and elections. 

“The folks up here are fighting that crazy with common sense and compassion that we need so much more in our community,” Elicker said. 

State Senator Pro Tempore Martin Looney spoke next. Looney has spent 29 years as a senator for Connecticut’s District 11, which represents the communities of New Haven, Hamden and North Haven. In the Tuesday midterms, he faces Republican challenger Steve Orosco.

“We all believe in one thing,” Looney said. “We believe that government, when it’s well run, when it’s efficient and it has a vision … makes important changes for good in the lives of the people.”

Some top Connecticut Democrats were confident in the party’s success on Tuesday. 

“People know what’s at stake in this election,” said Jimmy Tickey, vice chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party. “People are energized. There’s not an enthusiasm gap this year. I feel great about what we’ve done in Connecticut and our candidates and how hard they’ve been working.”

Vincent Mauro Jr., the New Haven Democratic Town Committee chair, said that he thought Governor Lamont would have a “decent victory”, and that incumbent U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro would show a “sound victory” — if people headed to the polls on Tuesday. 

Mary Jane Kenley, a door-knocker for Governor Lamont’s campaign in Branford, Connecticut, echoed this confidence that Governor Lamont would defeat his Republican opponent. 

Other attendees were more doubtful, warning of closer-than-expected races.

“I’ve noticed more people I know shift more to conservative issues,” said New Haven-area resident Olive Smith. “Especially with Roe v. Wade being overturned and the anti-critical race theory crowd.”

In 2022, Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 8.