NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : EDITION-TIME COMPILATIONS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Connecticut
Democratic Sen. Christopher J. Dodd won over Republican Roger W. Eddy and Democratic Gov. William A. O’Neill defeated a surprisingly strong challenge from Republican Julie D. Belaga.
Belaga, a moderate who serves as the deputy state House majority leader, had won a three-way primary without the state GOP endorsement. Early polls had showed her within striking distance of O’Neill, who sought a second full term.
O’Neill had a 16-point lead in a Hartford Courant-Institute for Social Inquiry Connecticut Poll released Friday, but both he and Belaga had said they thought that the results would be much closer.
Her election would make Connecticut the only state to have had two woman governors. O’Neill assumed the job when Gov. Ella Grasso stepped down because she was dying from cancer.
Dodd, seeking a second term, was leading Eddy in Friday’s poll, 52% to 18%.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
