The 2022 Connecticut Secretary of the State election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next Secretary of the State of Connecticut. Incumbent Democrat Denise Merrill planned to retire at the end of her elected term, but resigned on June 30 to care for her ailing husband. Governor Lamont appointed former associate attorney general Mark Kohler to the position. Kohler was sworn in on July 11. He was not a candidate for the office in the November election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Stephanie Thomas, state representative from the 143rd district (2021–2023)
Eliminated in primary Maritza Bond, New Haven health director
Withdrawn Darryl Brackeen Jr., New Haven alderman (running for state house) Josh Elliott, state representative from the 88th district (2017–present) (running for re-election) Matt Lesser, state senator from the 9th district (2019–present) Hilda Santiago, state representative from the 84th district (2013–present)
Declined Mark Kohler, incumbent secretary of the state
Controversy During Matt Lesser's election bid for Secretary of the State in 2022, he faced backlash for attempting to change the order of balloting at the Democratic State Convention in the final hours.
Lesser pushed to have his race listed at the top rather than the bottom, a strategic move driven by the belief that his chances of endorsement might diminish if several white male candidates were considered before him.
Notably, two leading contenders for the endorsement were women of color, one of whom eventually became the nominee, Stephanie Thomas, the current Secretary of State.
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dominic Rapini, senior account manager at Apple and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018
Eliminated in primary Terrie Wood, state representative from the 141st district (2009–present)
Withdrawn
Brock Weber, executive aide to New Britain mayor Erin Stewart
Endorsements
Results
Independent Party of Connecticut primary Candidates Nominee Cynthia Jennings, environmental attorney
Libertarian primary Nominee Stephen Dincher, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut
Green primary Nominee Douglas Lary
General election Debate + 2022 Connecticut Secretary of the State debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican Libertarian Green Independent Party of ConnecticutKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Stephanie Thomas Dominic Rapini Stephen Dincher Douglas Lary Cynthia Jennings1 Oct. 25, 2022 Connecticut PublicBroadcasting Walter SmithRandolph YouTube
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball December 1, 2021Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Results
By county County Stephanie ThomasDemocratic Dominic RapiniRepublican Other partiesIndependent Total votes cast # % # % # % Fairfield 172,419 56.18% 128,813 41.97% 5,650 1.84% 306,882 Hartford 173,961 58.28% 117,869 39.49% 6,674 2.24% 298,504 Litchfield 34,687 43.95% 42,609 53.99% 1,620 2.05% 78,916 Middlesex 38,490 53.38% 32,125 44.55% 1,490 2.07% 72,105 New Haven 147,734 53.71% 121,957 44.34% 5,351 1.95% 275,042 New London 51,664 53.67% 42,159 43.79% 2,448 2.54% 96,271 Tolland 29,647 51.27% 26,879 46.48% 1,297 2.24% 57,823 Windham 17,029 45.06% 19,807 52.41% 958 2.53% 37,794Totals665,63154.41%532,21843.51%25,4882.08%1,223,337 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Windham (largest town: Windham)
By congressional district Thomas won all five congressional districts. District Thomas Rapini Representative 60% 37%John B. Larson 53% 45%Joe Courtney 56% 42%Rosa DeLauro 58% 40%Jim Himes 50% 48%Jahana Hayes
References
External links Official campaign websites Dominic Rapini (R) for Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas (D) for Secretary of State