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Middletown Election 2025: Early Returns Show Tight Mayoral Race

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 17:59 GMT by Patch

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Middletown Election 2025: Polls Close, Early Results Pour In

November 4, 2025 – Middletown, CT – As the city of Middletown settled into a quiet post‑election mood, polls in downtown and across the city closed at 5 p.m. Eastern. The city’s election officials began a meticulous count of the ballots cast, and early returns are already painting a picture of a tight race for the mayor’s office, a decisive win for the incumbent in the city council, and a near‑tie on a key municipal ordinance. The local Patch article, published the same night, details the early numbers, offers insights from officials and candidates, and links to the city’s official election portal for those who want the full, certified results.

A Close Call for Mayor

The headline race—Mayor Linda O’Connor (D) versus Republican challenger Thomas Hayes—has been the focus of the city’s political conversation for weeks. Early results from the first precincts to report show O’Connor with a modest lead of roughly 3 percent. The article quotes City Clerk Maya Reynolds, who explained that the initial ballots are heavily weighted toward precincts that historically lean Democratic, but that the remainder of the city’s precincts could shift the balance.

“We’re seeing a very close race, especially in the northern wards,” Reynolds said. “Turnout in those areas is typically higher, and we expect a lot of mail‑in and early‑voting ballots to come in as the day ends.”

The report includes a small graphic comparing the percentages of the two candidates from the precincts that have already reported. O’Connor leads 53 percent to Hayes’s 50 percent in those precincts, with the remaining 2 percent in write‑in votes. The graphic also shows a trend line suggesting that the race could tighten as the count progresses.

City Council: Democrats Hold the Majority

While the mayoral race remains undecided, the city council election has delivered a clearer picture. Of the four seats up for election, Democrats retained three, securing 73 percent of the vote in the precincts that have reported. The lone seat that changed hands went to a Republican challenger, Mark Sullivan, who captured 57 percent of the vote in his ward.

The article cites Council Member Aaron Lee (D) who said, “It’s not surprising that we’re keeping a majority, given the turnout and the support we’ve had throughout the campaign. Mark’s win is a reminder that voters are looking for change in specific areas.”

The city’s election website, linked in the article, hosts a detailed breakdown of the city council results by ward, allowing voters to see how each precinct voted. This transparency is part of Middletown’s push to increase civic engagement after the 2022 election, when the city implemented a new online portal for voter registration and real‑time results.

A Pivotal Ordinance on the Ballot

Beyond the contests for elected office, voters also decided on “Proposition 12,” a measure that would raise the city’s property tax cap to fund a new public library branch and upgrade the high‑school athletic facilities. Early returns show a split result: 48 percent in favor, 52 percent against, with a margin of just 5,000 votes. The Patch article quotes City Council Chairwoman Teresa Gonzales (D), who said the measure has bipartisan support but is facing opposition from fiscal conservatives.

“We’re at a critical juncture,” Gonzales said. “The early numbers are showing a close call, but historically, these types of initiatives tend to tilt toward the status quo as the count finishes.”

The article links to the city’s public record on the ordinance, which includes a full explanation of the proposed tax changes and a breakdown of how the new funds would be allocated.

Turnout and Voter Engagement

According to preliminary data released by the county board of elections, turnout in Middletown was 52 percent of registered voters—a slight increase from the 48 percent seen in 2023. The Patch piece notes that the city’s increased voter education efforts—including a “Vote‑Ready” campaign featuring local influencers—may have contributed to this uptick.

The article also highlights that early voting and mail‑in ballots accounted for 38 percent of the total ballots cast, a record for the city. “We’re seeing a shift toward more convenient voting options,” said Deputy County Clerk Emily Patel. “This trend will likely continue and could alter how future elections unfold.”

What Comes Next?

As the polls close, the city’s officials are focused on completing a thorough audit of the ballots. The article explains that the final certified results will be posted on the city’s official website by Thursday, and that any candidates who wish to contest the outcome can file a notice of contest by the end of the week.

The Patch article concludes by urging residents to check the official city portal for the complete, certified results and to stay engaged with the city’s ongoing civic projects. Whether the mayoral race will be decided before the final vote count or will be settled after a weekend of tallies remains to be seen, but the early data suggests that Middletown’s political landscape is as dynamic as ever.