Reporting by Thane Grauel and Gretchen Webster, compiled by John Schwing

WESTPORT — Democrats swept the boards Tuesday, winning each of the local races for General Assembly seats on the ballot, with state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg winning a seventh term in the 136th House District, and newcomers Ceci Maher and Dominique Johnson notching victories in the 26th Senate and 143rd House districts, respectively.

Democrat Lisa Wexler also easily won re-election as probate judge in Westport-Weston.

Steinberg rolled up a victory margin of roughly two-to-one over Republican Alma Sarelli, according to unofficial tallies.

“Once again the people of Westport have honored me by re-electing me to be their state representative,” Steinberg said. “I could not be more honored.”

Steinberg’s victory Tuesday marked a reversal of his political fortunes, after he lost a close race last year for Westport’s first selectman’s post.

In the closely watched race for the open seat in the 26th state Senate District, Republican Toni Boucher — seeking a comeback after losing the seat to Democrat Will Haskell four years ago — conceded the race to fellow Wilton resident Ceci Maher shortly before 11 p.m.

Maher, in remarks to Democrats gathered at the Little Barn restaurant, thanked Boucher for her “gracious” concession, and said she was grateful to voters for sharing her vision of “a Connecticut with a bright future, a Connecticut that has welcoming communities, and a Connecticut that can grow.”

In Westport, Maher won 7,720 votes to 4,265 for Boucher, but vote totals in the district’s seven other communities were not immediately available.

Sarelli, a relative newcomer to politics, gathered Tuesday night with other Republicans at Rizzuto’s restaurant. “I’m really optimistic for what I saw at the polls and knocking on doors,” she said. “I think the people of Westport want a change.”

She said voters were responsive to her message calling for more transparency in government and that the rights of parents should be honored in schools. 

Sarelli came to the Little Barn late Tuesday to congratulate Steinberg, as the exhausted politicians were getting ready to head home for needed rest.

Meanwhile, Democrat Dominique Johnson amassed a large lead, with about 64 percent of the Westport vote, over Republican Nicole Hampton for the open 143rd House seat — however, the largest share of that legislative district is within Norwalk.

By 10:30 p.m., Johnson said that, not counting absentee ballots, she maintained a district-wide lead over Hampton, with an unofficial tally of  4,613 votes to 3,602 from both communities.

Democrat Lisa Wexler, the incumbent probate judge for Westport and Weston, handily won re-election, rolling up a three-to-one ratio over her Republican challenger Patrizia Zucaro in Westport and a two-to-one ratio in Weston, according to the unofficial numbers.

Polls in Tuesday’s elections closed at 8 p.m., and locally there were no problems reported by elections officials at any of Westport’s five polling stations.

Tuesday’s turnout was 57 percent of Westport’s 19,282 registered voters.

Joe Sledge, the chairman of the Westport Republican Town Committee, commenting Tuesday as the votes were being counted, said, “It’s going to be close on critical races. Every race is critical to our party.”

“We’re excited to get the count and get on with good government,” he added at a gathering of local Republicans in Rizzuto’s restaurant.

Asked if national Republican Party issues make it difficult for Republicans to succeed in Westport, he said, “all politics are local.”

“We manage to win with superior candidates, strong messaging and candidates who will work for Westport,” Sledge added.

Vera Shanov, moderator of the District 4 and 5 polls at Greens Farms Elementary School, called the in-person voter turnout “fabulous,” saying it was roughly 50 percent of those districts’ registered voters.

Outside that polling station, Nicole Klein and Robin Weinberg, of the League of Women Voters of Westport, offered voters information about the constitutional ballot question on allowing early voting in future elections. The league favored a yes vote on the question.

“If you believe in democracy,” Klein said, “then you should believe in early voting.”