About 60 to 70 people gathered to celebrate the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris victory today on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

By Jarret Liotta

Staff in the town clerk’s office work on getting ballots together, including, from left, Tatiana Plachi, assistant town clerk, Ruth Cavayero, deputy town clerk, and Patty Strauss, town clerk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

While national results were still up in the air Tuesday night, Westport went with Joseph Biden for president with 12,775, while giving Donald Trump 4,184.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Himes saw reelection, gathering 11,968 votes in Westport, while his Republican challenger got 4,881 in town.

State Sen. Will Haskell won reelection to his 26th District seat, getting 10,230 votes in Westport as compared to his GOP challenger Kim Healy’s 4,721.

One of the major stories of the day was the large number of absentee ballots that were returned to Town Hall—a direct result of the pandemic.

By Jarret Liotta

It was a low-key gathering at Hudson Malone restaurant Tuesday, where a small group of local Republicans shared one another’s company and listened to some preliminary election results.

Republican candidate for the 136th state representative seat Chip Stephens looks over the numbers as they come in. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Chip Stephens, a longtime member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, conceded his challenge against Democratic incumbent State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg for the 136th District.

“We put up a good fight,” said Stephens upon learning he had lost the contest by a two-third majority vote.

Preliminary numbers from Town Hall gave Steinberg 10,446, to Stephens’ 5,266.

The following tallies are results of all voting in the 2020 Presidential Election, and are not the final results. Candidates receiving zero votes are not listed.

Presidential
Democratic: Biden & Harris - 12,775 (74.25%)
Republican: Trump & Pence - 4,184 (24.32%)
Libertarian: Jorgenson & Cohen - 202 (1.17%)
Green: Hawkins & Walker - 45 (.26%)

U.S. Congress (District 4)
Democratic: Jim Himes - 11,968 (70.34%)
Republican: John Riddle - 4,881 (28.69%)
Independent: Brian Merlen - 165 (.97%)

State Senate (District 26)
Democratic: Will Haskell - 10,230 (68.42%)
Republican: Kim Healy - 4,481 (29.97%)
Independent: Kim Healy - 240 (1.61%)

By James Lomuscio

State Senator Will Haskell, U.S. Congressman Jim Himes, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg at Wakeman Town Farm. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Democratic incumbents sailed to victory in Westport tonight with U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, state Sen. Will Haskell and state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg besting their Republican opponents here by around 1,000 votes or more at the polls.

The initial results do not include mail-in or absentee ballots.

Steinberg, who serves the 136th District, beat Chip Stephens by 4,124 to 3,298 poll-only votes, assuring him a sixth term.

The only other Connecticut representative to serve sixth term was Sarah Crawford during the 1960s, Steinberg said.

The following tallies are results of the in-person voting only today, and are not the final results. Candidates receiving zero votes are not listed.

Presidential
Democratic: Biden & Harris - 5,108
Republican: Trump & Pence - 2,902
Libertarian: Jorgenson & Cohen - 104
Green: Hawkins & Walker - 22

U.S. Congress (District 4)
Democratic: Jim Himes - 4,753
Republican: John Riddle - 3,202
Independent: Brian Merlen - 95

State Senate (District 26)
Democratic: Will Haskell - 4,089
Republican: Kim Healy - 2,867
Independent: Kim Healy - 114

Of the 20,296 registered voters in Westport, 8,882 turned in absentee ballots. By 6 p.m. today, 7,991 people voted in person. Combined, that’s 16,873 ballots cast, an 83% turnout by 6 p.m.

A lunchtime lull at Long Lots Elementary was very different from the long line it saw early in the morning when nearly 300 people voted by 7 a.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

By Jarret Liotta

Despite one minor incident where a voter refused to don a mask, things continue to run smoothly at the polls in Westport.

Tom Holoubek-Sebok casts his vote at Coleytown Elementary School in the early afternoon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Voter turnout remains strong, with 6,166 of the town’s 19,970 20,296 registered voters showing up at the polls by 1 p.m., with thousands of ballots also on hand at Town Hall.

“We’ve had a lot of traffic,” said Pamela Joseph, moderator for 132-2 at Coleytown Elementary School.

She described a good flow of people, beginning with a large number in the morning, courteous voters, and a hard working team of volunteer election officials helping things to run smoothly in the gymnasium.

The lines were long before the Saugatuck Elementary poll even opened. Voters are offered gloves and other protective measures. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com