Unofficial vote totals Tuesday night showed that Democratic challenger Nick Gauthier defeated four-term incumbent Republican Rep. Kathleen McCarty for the 38th District seat by a vote of 7,252-7,100.

The district covers Waterford and parts of the Oakdale and Uncasville sections of Montville.

“To take out a 10-year long incumbent, to flip a seat from Republican to Democratic that’s been held onto for 10 years, in a very 50/50 district, that takes an incredible amount of work, and we all have to do it together," Gauthier said.

"From my background as an organizer, that’s why we won this election. Because we out-organized. And I’m going to bring that same mantra, and that same energy and that same advocacy as state representative. So thank you all very very very much again."

Gauthier, 37, a Waterford native, works for the town’s Senior Services department. He had campaigned on a platform built on lowering everyday costs for families, protecting the environment and promoting rights for workers and women.

Gauthier had been also endorsed by the Working Families and Independent parties and a three-term Representative Town Meeting member.

As the initial results came in to Republicans gathered at Filomena’s restaurant in Waterford, McCarty’s team was claiming victory.

McCarty, 73, had promised in her campaign to focus on many of the same issues that won her re-election over Gauthier in 2022 ― improving education and public health, promoting business and lowering living costs.

Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule announced McCarty as “the next state representative of the state of Connecticut.”

In a speech, McCarty first recognized members of her election team, including campaign Chairman Matthew Keatley and Chairwoman Cameron MacKenzie.

“I do want to tell you that I truly love this community, and it’s been a true honor and a privilege to serve in this role,” McCarty said. “I will continue to work as hard as I can to serve this community, hopefully, going forward.”

“We have a long way to go,” Brule said referencing waiting for the rest of the votes. “We know that.”

Then at Democratic headquarters at 10 p.m., early voting numbers for Waterford came in and showed Gauthier was surging, dropping McCarty’s lead to a mere 145 votes.

“The prevailing feeling is that its going to be extraordinarily close,” Gauthier said, while still awaiting early voting numbers from Montville, and absentee and same day registration numbers from both towns. “It’s going to come down to every last number.”

d.drainville@theday.com