Moira Rader Clinches Democrat Primary 98th District State Rep Race

GUILFORD, CT — Moria Rader clinched the Democrat primary election for the 98th district, which covers most of Guilford and part of Branford to include Pine Orchard and Stony Creek.

Rader got 1,063 votes to progressive Democrat opponent Andy Gottlieb's 439 ballots.

The breakdown for Rader: Leete School, 252 votes. Baldwin School, 235 votes. Guilford Fire, 198. Cox School, 279. Absentee votes, 99.

The breakdown for Gottlieb: Leete School, 122 votes. Baldwin School, 115 votes. Guilford Fire, 85 votes. Cox School, 83 votes. Absentee votes, 34.

Preliminary results from Branford: Rader got 244 votes and Gottlieb received 107 votes.

The current 98th District State Representative is Democrat Sean Scanlon, who is not running for reelection. He's the Democratic nominee for State Comptroller.

Rader announced her victory in front of supporters Tuesday night in Guilford,saying she was "overwhelmed by and immensely grateful for the extraordinary support the communities of Guilford and Branford have shown me."

"It has been an exhilarating several months of door knocking, phone calls, meet and greets, community events and all that goes into a thriving, hard-working campaign. I have loved the opportunity to reach as many voters as possible with my message of commitment to public service and my focus on the issues that mean the most to our district’s families,"Rader said. This collective hard work and outreach to the community has resulted in our primary win tonight."

Rader is currently the Guilford Board of Education vice chairperson. She was first elected to the Board of Education in 2016. Before that she served on the A. W Cox Elementary Advisory Board, volunteered as a K-3 religious education teacher at St. George and volunteered with shoreline non-profits that support families.

She said she looks forward to a "robust campaign" for the Nov. 8 General Election.

She said she'll "on November 8, during which I will continue to connect with Guilford and Branford voters about our shared vision for Connecticut."

Those are, "affordable and accessible health care for all; protecting and expanding women’s reproductive rights; reinforcing mental health care supports; ensuring thriving, equitable public schools; strengthening gun safety laws; creating meaningful climate change action; and improving voter access and equity."

Melting machines and no AC

Despite a primary day turnout, for this election statewide around 15 percent and in Guilford, 27 percent, the Secretary of State said, registrars do whatever it takes to make voting possible for citizens.

It's likely Guilford voters had no idea that officials from Guilford Parks & Rec, Public Works, the schools, and the Registrar's office came together to provide large fans for the Cox School poll location as it has no air conditioning. It was hot, but not too uncomfortable, Republican registrar Gloria Nemczuk said.

Or that on the blistering hot primary election day, rollers inside a voting machine at Calvin Leetes began melting — they're made of rubber — forcing registrars to install a new tabulator.

Or that at Melissa Jones, which is undergoing pavement work, a contractor needed to come Monday night to build a ramp, so voters could drive up to get to the polls.

"It's what we do as registrars," Nemczuk said. But the melting machines part was new. Hurricanes, nor'easters, power outages, flooding rains, you name it, Nemczuk said she's been through it. But not melting machines due to extreme heat.

"Now I've been through everything."