Democrats weren't divided after all
Campaign signs, South Road at Freshwater Blvd. State Rep. John Santanella won his Democratic primary with 83% of the vote in an unofficial count, a 5-to-1 landslide. That's an extraordinary margin, and it matters beyond this race because of his dual role at the Capitol and on the Town Council. His challenger, Tom Tyler, the former town attorney, has the qualifications and experience to be an effective lawmaker. But he did not persuade Democratic primary voters that they should replace Santanella. Santanella emerges considerably stronger from this primary than he entered it. The results demonstrated that the Democrats are more unified than divided. The result does not predict November. But it tells Republicans that Santanella enters the general election with Democratic primary voters firmly behind him. The Republicans have selected Kelly Hemmeler as their candidate. Beyond Santanella's showing, Hemmeler may not get much help from the top of the ticket. Republican gubernatorial ...