2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut

none January 2026 January 2018 2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut Connecticut presidential no 2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut 2010 2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut 2022 November 8, 2016 150x150px File:Richard Blumenthal Official Portrait (4x5 crop).jpg Richard Blumenthal Democratic Party (United States) Working Families 1,008,714 63.19% File:Rep Dan Carter (cropped).jpg Dan Carter Republican Party (United States) 552,621 34.62% 220px County results 220px Municipality results 220px Congressional district results 220px Precinct results Blumenthal: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90%Carter: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal Democratic Party (United States) Richard Blumenthal Democratic Party (United States) The 2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Connecticut, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal won re-election to a second term in office. Blumenthal's final vote total of 1,008,714 at the time made him the largest vote-receiver in the history of statewide elections in the state. (Blumenthal's record was later broken by then-Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election; Biden received 1,080,680 votes.) He also became the first person to exceed 1 million votes in the history of statewide elections in Connecticut. He remains the highest vote-receiver in the history of statewide elections besides the presidency. Democratic nomination Candidates Declared Richard Blumenthal, incumbent U.S. senatorhttp://atr.rollcall.com/senate-races-2016-retirement-guide Senators Confirm Re-Election Bids for 2016 Roll Call Cahn Emily Levinson Alexis January 28, 2015 January 29, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150129222855/http://atr.rollcall.com/senate-races-2016-retirement-guide/ January 29, 2015 dead Republican nomination Declared Dan Carter, State Representativehttp://betheladvocate.com/breaking-news-ct-state-rep-dan-carter-is-exploring-run-for-u-s-senate Breaking News: CT State Rep. Dan Carter Is Exploring Run for U.S. Senate March 19, 2016 Bethel Advocate Withdrew at convention Jack Orchulli, CEO and co-founder of a Michael Kors apparel company; nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Darien-fashion-label-founder-Orchulli-to-run-for-7244196.php The Connecticut Post April 12, 2016 April 14, 2016 Neil Vigdor Darien fashion label founder Orchulli to run for Senate Failed to qualify August Wolf, investment executive and former Olympic athletehttp://ctmirror.org/2015/05/04/blumenthal-draws-gop-challenger Stamford Republican steps up to challenge Blumenthal The Connecticut Mirror Radelat Ana May 4, 2015 July 18, 2015http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-august-wolf-no-republican-primary-20160621-story.html Republican August Wolf Fails To Qualify For U.S. Senate Primary The Hartford Courant June 21, 2016 June 23, 2016 Russell Blair Declined Larry Kudlow, economist, television personality and columnisthttps://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/nyregion/larry-kudlow-weighs-run-against-senator-richard-blumenthal-in-connecticut.html Larry Kudlow Weighs Run Against Senator Richard Blumenthal in Connecticut The New York Times Burns Alexander September 22, 2015 October 1, 2015http://ctmirror.org/2015/09/28/kudlow-denies-report-hes-running-against-blumenthal Kudlow denies report he's decided to run against Blumenthal The Connecticut Mirror Radelat Ana September 28, 2015 December 19, 2015http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-larry-kudlow-senate-1208-20151207-story.html CNBC's Larry Kudlow Urged To Run For Senate Against Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal Hartford Courant Altimari Daniela December 7, 2015 December 19, 2015http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-rennie-kudlow-will-not-run-for-u-s-senate-20160216-story.html Kudlow Will Not Run for U.S. Senate Against Blumenthal Hartford Courant Keating Christopher February 16, 2016 February 16, 2016 Linda McMahon, businesswoman, former CEO of WWE, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012http://www.greenwichtime.com/business/article/Linda-McMahon-says-new-venture-brought-self-6810527.php Linda McMahon says self awareness influenced new venture for women Greenwich Time Krasselt Kaitlyn February 7, 2016 February 7, 2016 Rob Simmons, Stonington first selectman, former U.S. representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010http://blog.ctnews.com/politics/2015/04/08/simmons-rules-out-2016-challenge-of-blumenthal Simmons rules out 2016 challenge of Blumenthal Connecticut Post Vigdor Neil April 8, 2015 April 9, 2015 Joe Visconti, former West Hartford town Ccuncilor, nominee for CT-01 in 2008 and Independent candidate for governor in 2014http://blog.ctnews.com/politics/2015/05/01/visconti-exploring-2016-senate-run Visconti exploring 2016 Senate run Connecticut Post Vigdor Neil May 1, 2015 October 1, 2015 David Walker, former Comptroller General of the United States and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Walker-won-t-challenge-Blumenthal-for-Senate-6153442.php Walker won't challenge Blumenthal for Senate Connecticut Post Vigdor Neil March 23, 2015 March 25, 2015 Republican convention The Republican state convention was held May 9, 2016, at the Connecticut Convention Center to select candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. State Representative Dan Carter received the nomination with 76.7% of the delegate vote. Neither Jack Orchulli nor August Wolf received the necessary 15% of the delegate vote necessary to be granted an automatic primary on August 9, 2016.http://wtnh.com/2016/05/09/dan-carter-wins-connecticuts-republican-senate-nomination Dan Carter wins Connecticut's Republican Senate nomination WTNH May 10, 2016 In the first round of voting, Wolf received 179 delegate votes, equalling 15.1% and qualifying for a primary. However, before balloting closed, Orchulli dropped from the race and publicly endorsed Dan Carter, urging his candidates to switch their votes. During the vote switching, an additional 56 delegates that had voted for Wolf also switched their vote, dropping him well below the 15% threshold.http://ctmirror.org/2016/05/09/gop-unites-behind-carter-for-senate-denies-wolf-primary-margin CT GOP backs Carter for Senate, denies Wolf primary margin The CT Mirror May 10, 2016 On May 11, 2016, Wolf announced an attempt to force a primary by collecting the signatures of 8,079 registered Republicans by June 7.Altimari Daniela Rejected by GOP, An Angry August Wolf Seeks Primary http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-august-wolf-gop-20160511-story.html May 21, 2016 Hartford Courant May 11, 2016 However, on June 21, 2016, it was announced that Wolf had failed to reach the required signature threshold to force a primary, and he conceded the Republican nomination to Carter as a result.http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-august-wolf-no-republican-primary-20160621-story.html Republican August Wolf Fails To Qualify For U.S. Senate Primary Blair Russell Hartford Courant June 21, 2016 June 27, 2016 Convention results Candidate Delegates Percentage Dan Carter 907 76.7% August Wolf 123 10.4% Jack Orchulli 20 1.7% Not Present 132 11.2% Endorsements Dan Carter Len Fasano, minority leader of the Connecticut Senatehttp://ctmirror.org/2016/04/04/gops-dan-carter-announces-for-u-s-senate-nomination GOP's Dan Carter announces for U.S. Senate nomination The Connecticut Mirror April 4, 2016 Themis Klarides, minority leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives Jack Orchulli, former candidate for the U.S. Senate General election Debates Dates Location Blumenthal Carter LinkOctober 23, 2016Rocky Hill, ConnecticutParticipantParticipantFull debate Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report2016 Senate Race Ratings for November 2, 2016 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139360 The Cook Political Report March 26, 2021 Safe D November 2, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball2016 Senate http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2016-senate Sabato's Crystal Ball September 19, 2016 Safe D November 7, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report2016 Senate Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2016-senate-ratings-november-3-2016 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Safe D November 3, 2016 Daily KosDaily Kos Election 2016 forecast: The final version https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/8/1593119/-Daily-Kos-Election-2016-forecast-The-final-version Daily Kos March 27, 2021 Safe D November 8, 2016 Real Clear PoliticsBattle for the Senate 2016 http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/senate/2016_elections_senate_map.html Real Clear Politics October 28, 2016 Safe D November 7, 2016 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RichardBlumenthal (D) DanCarter (R) UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 1,387 ± 4.6% 63% 34% 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31 – November 6, 2016 1,173 ± 4.6% 62% 35% 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28 – November 3, 2016 925 ± 4.6% 62% 36% 2%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27 – November 2, 2016 753 ± 4.6% 62% 36% 2%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26 – November 1, 2016 616 ± 4.6% 60% 38% 2%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 554 ± 4.6% 59% 38% 3%Emerson CollegeEmerson College September 2–5, 2016 1,000 ± 3.0% 54% 33% 9%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University https://web.archive.org/web/20160625021929/https://www.qu.edu/images/polling/ct/ct06072016_Cvf63kbw.pdf June 25, 2016 June 1–5, 2016 1,330 ± 2.7% 60% 30% 10% background:#cff Hypothetical polling border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); with August Wolf Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RichardBlumenthal (D) AugustWolf (R) UndecidedQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University https://web.archive.org/web/20160213233512/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/images/polling/ct/ct10142015_c4f86xm.pdf February 13, 2016 October 7–11, 2015 1,735 ± 2.4% 61% 26% 13%Quinnipiac University June 1–5, 2016 1,330 ± 2.7% 62% 27% 11% with Larry Kudlow Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RichardBlumenthal (D) LarryKudlow (R) UndecidedQuinnipiac University October 7–11, 2015 1,735 ± 2.4% 61% 27% 12% Results right 300px Shift by county 300px Trend by county Legend #d40000 Republican — >15% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5−15% #ff2a2a Republican — +10−12.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5−10% #ff8080 Republican — +5−7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5−5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0−2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0−2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5−5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5−7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10−12.5% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5−15% #00a1c8 Democratic — >15% 300px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2016http://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/home 2016 General Election November 8, 2016 Official Results December 15, 2016 November 15, 2016 ct.gov Democratic Party (United States) Richard Blumenthal 920,766 57.68% +5.20% Working Families Party Richard Blumenthal 87,948 5.51% +2.83% Total Richard Blumenthal (incumbent) 1,008,714 63.19% +8.03% Republican Party (United States) Dan Carter 552,621 34.62% -8.60% Libertarian Party (United States) Richard Lion 18,190 1.14% N/A Green Party (United States) Jeffery Russell 16,713 1.05% N/A Independent Andrew Rule (write-in) 26 0.00% N/A Independent John M. Traceski (write-in) 12 0.00% N/A 1,596,276 100.0% N/Ax Democratic Party (United States) By county CountyRichard Blumenthal DemocraticDan Carter RepublicanVarious candidates Other partiesTotal votes castFairfield249,88761.44%148,93536.62%7,8871.93%406,709Hartford265,01866.91%122,62430.96%8,4302.12%396,072Litchfield49,87252.2%43,51945.55%2,1472.25%95,538Middlesex53,96062.09%30,99635.66%1,9571.25%86,913New Haven239,99165.38%119,77432.63%7,2831.98%367,048New London75,18863.27%40,23833.86%3,4142.87%118,840Tolland45,94960.38%27,98936.78%2,1662.85%76,104Windham28,84958.81%18,54637.81%1,6573.37%49,052Total1,008,71463.19%552,62134.62%34,9411.19%1,596,276 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Litchfield (largest city: Torrington) By congressional district Blumenthal won all five congressional districts by comfortable double-digit margins.https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2016statementofvotepdf.pdf?rev=05bd4d31e3284e2a8d485a77762891e6&hash=7F7E77B6C275733E11B61EB1C4BE4C7F Statement of Vote Secretary of the State of Connecticut May 19, 2025 live https://web.archive.org/web/20250309133349/https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2016statementofvotepdf.pdf?rev=05bd4d31e3284e2a8d485a77762891e6&hash=7F7E77B6C275733E11B61EB1C4BE4C7F 2025-03-09 District Blumenthal Carter RepresentativeConnecticut 1 1st 68% 30%John B. LarsonConnecticut 2 2nd 61% 36%Joe CourtneyConnecticut 3 3rd 68% 30%Rosa DeLauroConnecticut 4 4th 62% 36%Jim HimesConnecticut 5 5th 58% 40%Elizabeth Esty References External links Official campaign websites Richard Blumenthal (D) for Senate Dan Carter (R) for Senate Senate Connecticut 2016