In the 78th State House District (Bristol/Plymouth) Republican primary, Joe Hoxha defeated Aileen Abrams, reaping 75 percent of all votes cast, 802 to 268. By default, the endorsed candidate Hoxha will become the State House Representative since he will enter the Nov. 8 election unopposed.

Hoxha will assume the seat vacated by Whit Betts (R), who was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2010. During 2021-2022 Betts was a member of the following committees: Appropriations, Public Health and Environment. Betts announced his retirement from the state legislature earlier this year.

For their State Treasurer candidate, Democrats elected Erick Russell, the endorsed candidate. He defeated challengers Dita Bhargava and Karen DuBois-Watson. Russell garnered almost 60 percent of the votes cast, with 61,961 to Bhargava’s 24,480 and Dubois-Watson’s 21,046.

Russell will face Republican Rep. Harry Arora, R-Greenwich, in the Nov. 8 mid-term election.

In the Democratic race for Secretary of State, Democrats choose the party endorsed candidate Stephanie Thomas with a little over 75 percent of the vote over challenger Maritza Bond, 82,059 to 26,169.

Thomas will face Dominic Rapini in the Nov. 8 election. Rapini defeated Terrie Wood in the Republican primary for Secretary of State with 58 percent of the vote, 49,742 to 35,759.

For their U.S. Senate candidate, Republicans elected Leora Levy with 50 percent of the vote. She defeated party endorsed candidate Themis Klarides and another challenger Peter Lumaj, 46,665 to 37,017 and 8,643, respectively.

Levy will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal in this fall’s elections.

Vote totals are based on the latest figures and may vary as all the votes are accounted for.

All TBE readers, supporters and donors     

The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.     

• Non-members will be able to access five (5) articles per week.     
• Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access five (5) articles per week.     
• Donors and financial supporters will have no limits.     

Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.