Uncontested Conn. legislative races decline

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says the number of General Assembly races not being contested by the major political parties has dropped since the last legislative elections.

Merrill announced Wednesday that 32 of the 187 seats for the state Senate or the House of Representatives lack either a Democratic or Republican candidate in this year's election. That's compared with 54 uncontested seats in 2010, a decline of nearly 41 percent.

Merrill said it's probably not a coincidence that the decline in uncontested races coincides with the state's public campaign financing system. Legislative candidates were first allowed to participate in 2008. They must collect small contributions and abide by spending rules to qualify for a public grant.

In 2008, 250 of the 343 General Assembly candidates participated in the program.