Following a late count of Ledyard's more than 2,000 absentee ballots, state Rep. Mike France will return to the House for the 42nd District, taking 6,221 votes.

Matt Geren, the endorsed Democratic challenger, received 5,318 votes. Rob Lawrence, a Democrat who ran as a petitioning candidate, had received 76 votes.

The district includes most of Ledyard, all of Preston and part of Montville; results did not include Election Day registration ballots or absentee ballots received Tuesday in Preston, which election officials will count Wednesday.

France said that it was a respectful and well-fought race, and he commended Geren's strong showing in Ledyard. He said his priorities in the next session will be the financial health of the state, given the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the economy, as well as fixing the police accountability bill that he felt shouldn't have been rushed through in a special session.

Geren said he was proud of what his team was able to accomplish with such a short campaign, and he was grateful for the support he received, especially in Ledyard.

Voter turnout in Ledyard was about 76% of more than 10,000 total registered voters, including Election Day registrations and absentee ballots; Republican Registrar of Voters Claudia Sweeney said Ledyard has never before had more than 10,000 registered voters. 

Total voter turnout in 2018 was about 71.9% of 8,913 voters, and turnout in 2016 was 83.9% of 8,787 voters.

a.hutchinson@theday.com