1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1982 United States gubernatorial elections.

1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election

←  1978 November 2, 1982 1986  →
Turnout	67.5% [1]
Nominee Bill O'Neill Lewis Rome Party Democratic Republican Running mate Joseph J. Fauliso Gerald Labriola Popular vote 578,264 497,773 Percentage 53.35% 45.93%
County results Municipality results O'Neill:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Rome:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Governor before election Bill O'Neill Democratic Elected Governor Bill O'Neill Democratic

The 1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill O'Neill had assumed the governor's office in 1980 after Ella Grasso resigned due to poor health. Grasso died just weeks later on February 5, 1981. Governor O'Neill defeated former Connecticut state senator Lewis Rome for his first full term in the governor's office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican nominee

• Lewis Rome, former Senate majority leader, former state Senator from the 8th district, former mayor of Bloomfield, and candidate for this seat in 1978.

Defeated at convention

• Gerald Labriola, state senator from the 15th district. (Later became lieutenant governor nominee).

Withdrew after convention

• Richard C. Bozzuto, former Senate minority leader, former state senator from the 32nd district, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1980.

Withdrew before convention

• Russell L. Post Jr., state senator from the 8th district. ^[2]

July 24, Republican convention. (First round)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lewis Rome	414	44.61%
	Republican	Richard C. Bozzuto	392	42.25%
	Republican	Jerry Labriola	122	13.14%
Total votes			928	100.00%

After the first round of voting, Labriola withdrew, not reaching the 20% threshold needed to enter a primary. He freed his delegates 'to support the candidates of their choice.' He added, however, that his personal choice was Rome. ^[3]

July 24, Republican convention. (Second round)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lewis Rome	488	52.47%
	Republican	Richard C. Bozzuto	442	47.53%
Total votes			930	100.00%

Although he met the threshold standards to launch a primary, on August 4, eleven days after the convention, Bozzuto finally announced that he would not seek a primary against Rome. ^[4]

Results

1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bill O'Neill (incumbent)	578,264	53.35%	−5.80%
	Republican	Lewis Rome	497,773	45.93%	+5.19%
	Libertarian	Walter Gengarelly	7,839	0.72%	N/A
Total votes			1,083,876	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1983". CT State Library.
2. "Post Drops Out of GOP Contest". The Norwalk Hour . July 17, 1982.
3. Madden, Richard L. (July 25, 1982). "WEICKER AND ROME ENDORSED; BUSH PLANS PRIMARY". The New York Times .
4. "Bozzuto Won't Take Road to Rome". The Norwalk Hour . August 5, 1982.
5. "1982 Statement of Vote" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.