Tong wins Democratic nomination

Democratic-endorsed candidate William Tong, 45, of Stamford, has won his primary race for attorney general.

The Associated Press called the race about 10 p.m. with 54 percent of the districts reporting in and Tong with 58.5 percent of the vote over Chris Mattei’s 28.8 percent and Paul Doyle’s 15 percent.

“I’m so grateful to my family and my parents and the people of this state who helped us make history tonight. I am the first Asian American to ever be nominated for constitutional office,” Tong said. “It’s really an honor ... to try to break through this ceiling and run through this wall. I’m grateful to everybody for their help.”

He had praise for the men who ran against him.

“I think that Paul Doyle and Chris Mattei ran tremendous campaigns and they are worthy competitors and they both have a lot to offer to our state,” he said. Now he plans “taking on (GOP primary winner) Sue Hatfield and (President) Donald Trump.”

He credited his win, in part, to his background as an immigrant.

“People understood that right now when so many people in Connecticut feel like they have a target of their backs, as a son of immigrants and a son of this state, who has struggled to get here, they know that I feel their fight and have lived their fight really personally.

“We have an existential fight between me and Sue Hatfield to protect the families of our state,” he added. “I think it’s very clear if you are a woman or an immigrant or a Connecticut taxpayer, Sue Hatfield and Donald Trump have declared you and your families.”

Mattei, 40, is a former federal prosecutor; Doyle, 55, is a state senator from Wethersfield who chaired the legislature’s Judiciary Committee with Tong.

In the Republican primary, party-endorsed candidate Sue Hatfield, 46, a former state prosecutor and registered nurse, handily beat John Shaban, 54, a Greenwich attorney and former Redding state representative. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 9 p.m. with 22.5 percent of the vote in and Hatfield leading 79.7 percent to 20 percent.

“We’re feeling great. It’s really been a product of my supporters, my team,” Hatfield said. “People have come out that really want somebody different. They want somebody who is not a career politician.”

Voters from all over the state, including friends and family, converged on Pub 45, state rep. Kevin Skulczyck’ s establishment in Jewett City. and offered “wonderful support.”

“We’re putting our head back down and looking to November,” Hatfield said.

Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media William Tong, Democratic candidate for Connecticut attorney general, and his wife Elizabeth and children, check in with election poll workers as they cast their vote at the District 21 polling station at Scofield Magnet Middle School in Stamford on Tuesday.