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In the race for attorney general, Democrat George Jepsen, with a reported lead of 51 percent over Republican opponent Martha Dean's 46 percent, declared victory in a speech delivered to supporters in Hartford.
"I can't wait to get started because, as you all know, there is a lot of work to do," he said.
Dean, who ran against current attorney general Richard Blumenthal in 2002, had not conceded.
"We expected the numbers to look better at this point, but the race is not over and we won't concede until it is," she was quoted as saying. "We're proud of the campaign we ran."
The race between Jepsen and Dean at times got heated. Around the primaries, Dean was criticized for advocating firearms training in the schools, scouting and summer camps. More recently, the race gained much attention after Dean filed a lawsuit challenging Jepsen's qualifications.
Dean claims that Jepsen, by his own admission, does not have a background in litigation. And although the court has yet to make a ruling, Jepsen, who's been in the legal profession for 26 years, argues that he does have what it takes to be the state's next attorney general.
"Connecticut needs an attorney general who is ready, willing and able," Jepsen said. "I have the experience for this job and I will be ready on day one. I will not let you down."
If Jepsen's lead remains, he will fill the seat that was vacated by Blumenthal, who won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Chris Dodd.
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