NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Connecticut continues to be a solidly blue stronghold, as the state’s congressional delegation remains entirely Democrat after Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Republican George Logan officially conceded to incumbent Rep. Jahana Hayes Thursday morning in the highly-contested race for Connecticut's District 5 seat in the U.S. House.
"We have no legal recourse to force a recount," he said during a press conference outside the RNC Community Center in New Britain. "The time has come for this campaign, to end."
Logan said he and his team had concerns with some issues regarding counting and reporting of the votes, but also said that despite that, there was no legal recourse for a recount.
"I knew it was going to be a close race," said Hayes Wednesday night. "I didn't know it was going to be this close, but I was willing to fight. It's the fighting fifth. Everybody knows that."
Wednesday night, The Associated Press declared Hayes the winner of the tight race.
The Office of the Secretary of the State said in a statement Wednesday night Hayes had a margin of victory of 1,842 votes over Logan, enough to not trigger a recount.
"While the outcome of Tuesday's election was not what we worked hard for, it is a warning that the voters of the Fifth Congressional District want their voices to be heard," Logan said.
Thursday afternoon, the balance of power in the U.S. Congress was still up in the air, with neither party reaching the 218-seat threshold necessary to win the House.
Republicans are closing in on that majority, but even if they succeed, it could be by a razor-thin margin.
“For four years, I have delivered for this community and I was proud to run on my record of helping the people in every part of this district,” Hayes said. “In a midterm year, with a Democratic president, the fact that there was not this clean sweep that everyone was talking about, is a story in and of itself.”
The "red wave" Republicans hoped would sweep the nation isn't shaping up the way they anticipated, but Connecticut GOP leaders aren't discouraged.
"I'm optimistic about the Connecticut Republican Party. I'm optimistic about the Republican Party across the country, and the message that we have," said Ben Proto, CT GOP chair.
On the question of Logan running again, Proto said Republicans hope to regroup, refocus and move forward.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.