Greenwich Republicans Are Joyous on Election Night 2024

By Jim Bonney, Luke Merrell and Leslie Yager

In Greenwich, Tuesday’s elections for the three members of the House delegation and the State Senate seat in the 36th district, collectively referred to as the Greenwich Delegation, likely resulted in a net gain for Republicans who were overjoyed as they learned the preliminary election results.

Republicans gathered at George Italian Seafood & Steakhouse in Byram and Democrats gathered at Old Greenwich Social Club in Old Greenwich.

Though several races were too close to call, by 11:30pm, Democratic State Rep Steve Meskers in the 150th district as well as Republican State Senator Ryan Fazio in the 36th district, and Republican Tina Courpas in the 149th House district were confident in their wins.

Per the Secretary of State website, turnout in Greenwich was 81.32%. The number of absentee ballots received and counted was 4,083. The number of early ballots received was 12,239.

Results as of 11:30pm. Nov 5, 2024

Ryan Fazio addressed the crowd of Republicans at George’s Restaurant in Byram as Tina Courpas and Paul Cappiali looked on. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: James Bonney

GHS students came out in their Trump hats and “Re-Elect Fazio” sweatshirts. Nov 5, 2024 Photo James Bonney

Ryan Fazio addressed the gathered Republicans at George Restaurant in Byram. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: James Bonney

State Senator Ryan Fazio with GHS students on election night. Nov 5, 2024 Photo James Bonney

State Senator Ryan Fazio, representing the 36th district, which includes Greenwich and parts of New Canaan and Stamford, shared remarks with the crowd in Byram.

Noting it was premature for final results, he said, “After running against the single most most expensive state legislative campaign in state history, I’m still standing.”

“We all feel like winners, and it is most all because of you in this room who have dedicated so much and have been willing to support us through these many months of hard work,” he added. “Representing my home district is the honor of a lifetime.”

Interviewed later by James Bonney, Senator Fazio said his top priority in his upcoming term will be to try to solve the state’s energy crisis and reduce the cost of electricity bills and cost of living in general in the state.

Tina Courpas addresses the gathered Reppublicans at George Restaurant in Byram. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: James Bonney

Tina Courpas addresses the gathered crowd on election night in Byram. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: James Bonney

Tina Courpas, a newcomer who seemed poised to defeat incumbent Democrat Rachel Khanna, said she was proud and happy with the job volunteers had done on her campaign.

While the final results were yet to come, the crowd erupted in applause when she said her campaign had won in all five districts in Greenwich in same-day voting as well as in Westover in Stamford.

“The victory is due because we had the most incredible team, the most incredible people I’ve never had a situation where a professional endeavor depended literally entirely on others, who were not getting paid,” she said.

Ms Courpas, talking to Jim Bonney, said that her goals for the term will include local control of zoning, public safety, defending a woman’s right to choose and providing “common sense, balanced policies.”

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for everything – your goodwill, your encouragement, your votes,” Courpas said. “This has been the most humbling and tremendous process.”

Paul Cappiali described his campaign as amazing and said he had respect for his fellow Republicans as well as his opponent.

“The American political system is still the best in the world. It’s an experiment that’s still in progress and it doesn’t get beat by anyone else,” Cappiali said. “We all want what’s best for the United States of America and, it trickles down – we want what’s best for Greenwich.”

Tod Laudonia addresses the gathered crowd of Republicans in Byram. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: James Bonney

Tod Laudonia, Greenwich’s former tax collector, who challenged Hector Arzeno for State Rep in the 151st district said the race was still too close to call, but he was nevertheless very happy.

“I got to meet generations who knew my family – knocking doors. It really is fun out there talking to people in town,” Laudonia said.

Democrats at Old Greenwich Social Club watched a monitor as results were updated.Nov 5, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

Much later, at about 11:30, Democrats, who gathered at Old Greenwich Social Club, were less upbeat.

State Rep Hector Arzeno (-151), who appeared to have won by a few hundred votes, declined to share remarks, noting his opponent, Tod Laudonia, had not called to concede.

State Rep Steve Meskers (D-150), did acknowledge his victory against challenger Mr. Cappiali, who had called to concede, saying, “I’m thrilled to be re-elected…I would have hoped for more robust results for all of us because the efforts we made and our messaging, and what we care about, and our values, should resonate through the community. So I am a little disappointed where we are tonight.”

Meskers said he was grateful to the many Democratic volunteers who had supported him, when his mother died in the midst of the campaign.

“I counted on many of you to carry forward my campaign. I’m deeply honored and grateful for the efforts you made for me. You can count on my support and my work to keep our message going forward,” Meskers added.

Democratic candidate for State Senate in the 36th district Nick Simmons shared remarks at Old Greenwich Social Club on election night. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

The contest between Ryan Fazio and Nick Simmons, which had been closely followed and notable given both candidates grew up in Greenwich and are in their mid-30s did not have official results

For his part, Mr. Simmons who arrived at Old Greenwich Social Club around 11:15pm, said he had no regrets.

“This has been the most incredible year of my life – getting to work with such incredible people fighting every single day for what you know is right. There were some things out of our hands today. There were races lost across the state we thought we’d win,” Simmons said. “At the end of the day, we fought for what we believed in and what we know is right.”

DTC chair Christina Downey at Old Greenwich Social Club. Nov 5, 2024 Photo Luke Merrill

State Rep Steve Meskers and State Rep Hector Arzeno at Old Greenwich Social Club watched a monitor as results were updated. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

State Rep Hector Arzeno shared brief remarks as Greenwich’s Democratic Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan, DTC chair Christina Downey and Lucy von Brachel looked on. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

State Rep Steve Meskers shared remarks at Old Greenwich Social Club. Nov 5, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

Ballot Question: No Excuse Absentee Voting

Across the state of Connecticut, a ballot question about whether to amend the state Constitution to expand absentee voting so voters will no longer be required to have an excuse to cast a mail-in ballot was successful. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the yes votes were 673,296 and the no votes were 522,668.

In Greenwich the yes votes were 16,796 and the no votes were 11,653.

US Congress, 4th district

In other races, unofficial results as of 2:00am indicated incumbent Democrat Jim Himes won reelection to the U.S. House in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District, defeating his Republican challenger Dr. Michael Goldstein of Greenwich and Independent candidate Benjamin Wesley.

US Senate

Also, the US Senate race between Chris Murphy and Matt Corey was called earlier in the evening, with incumbent Democrat Chris Murphy victorious.