Connecticut voters head to polls Tuesday to decide crucial races at local and state level

After a grueling campaign and a blizzard of television commercials, Connecticut voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide crucial races that will have an impact at the national, state, and local level.

Whether watching the news, college football games or other programs, viewers have been bombarded by 30-second spots from both Republicans and Democrats.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a Democrat who is running for re-election on a ticket with Gov. Ned Lamont, said the atmosphere will change Tuesday for voters.

“They’re excited about getting those ads off the TV set,’' Bysiewicz told reporters outside the state Capitol.

Election results.

“I agree. Most folks are glad it will be ending,’' U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said as he was standing next to Bysiewicz.

Lamont and Bysiewicz are battling in an expensive clash against the Republican ticket of Bob Stefanowski for governor and state Rep. Laura Devlin of Fairfield for lieutenant governor. Combined, the gubernatorial candidates, along with the Republican and Democratic governors’ associations and others, had spent nearly $43 million on the race as of Oct. 30. That total was still increasing Monday as the ads and pre-recorded robocalls to voters continued.

Stefanowski held a wrap-up press conference Monday at the Capitol, saying that he ran a better campaign than he had four years earlier.

“In 2018, I wasn’t out in front of the press that much,’’ Stefanowski told reporters, adding that his strategy had changed this year.

Webster Bank executive Rob Hotaling of Cheshire and running mate Stewart “Chip’' Beckett are running on a ticket for the Independent Party after an unsuccessful legal challenge by Stefanowski that would have knocked them off the ballot.

Blumenthal is facing Greenwich Republican fundraiser Leora Levy in a partisan race that featured numerous charges and countercharges as the candidates fought a high-stakes battle with national implications to control the U.S. Senate that is currently split at 50-50.

One of the hottest races of the year pits U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes against former two-term state Sen. George Logan of Meriden in a race widely described as a “toss up’' that will be decided by turnout. The highly respected Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia switched its view and now says the race is “lean Republican.’’ Whichever candidate does a better job at getting their voters to the polls will likely win the tight race, insiders said. Chief campaign consultant Liz Kurantowicz has been plotting the Republican moves as Logan has closed the gap in polling against the two-term incumbent.

On the underticket, state Attorney General William Tong of Stamford is running against Norwalk attorney Jessica Kordas, a first-time candidate. In an open seat, state Rep. Sean Scanlon of Guilford is battling for comptroller against West Hartford Republican Mary Fay. In another open seat, state Rep. Stephanie Thomas of Norwalk is running against Republican Dominic Rapini of Branford. For treasurer, New Haven attorney Erick Russell is battling Republican state Rep. Harry Arora of Greenwich.

Besides Hayes, all four Democratic incumbents in the U.S. House are seeking re-election, and Democrats say they expect them all to win.

The races include U.S. Rep. John B. Larson against Dr. Larry Lazor in the first district; Rep. Joe Courtney against Republican state Rep. Mike France in the second district; Rep. Rosa DeLaura vs. Republican Lesley DeNardis in the third district; and Rep. Jim Himes against former Darien first selectman Jayme Stevenson in the fourth district in Fairfield County.

There are referendums on a wide variety of topics, including schools, charter revisions, or land purchases in Glastonbury, Hartford, New Britain, Bristol, Wethersfield, Newington, and Enfield, among others.

In New Britain, a major charter change would sharply switch the system by creating a new city manager and putting the city’s daily operations under that executive, rather than the mayor. Some voters like the idea, while others say it’s a power play that eliminates the longstanding system.

In Bristol, voters will decide whether to change the mayor’s term to four years, rather than the current two years. The mayor would still be limited to a maximum of eight consecutive years in office under the charter. Voters will also decide whether to give the city council the authority to remove an elected official from office for engaging in illegal workplace harassment or violating the charter.

On the far right side of the ballot is a question that is sometimes overlooked by voters. The question is: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?’’ A similar question was rejected by voters in 2014, but advocates believe the chances are better this year as Connecticut remains among only four states that do not have early voting.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com