Conn Republicans say they earned top ballot line

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Republicans have asked the secretary of the state to put their candidates on the top line of November's statewide election ballots, even though a Democrat won the race for governor.

State law gives the top ballot line to the "party whose candidate for governor polled the highest number of voters in the last preceding election."

Democrat Dannel P. Malloy won the governor's race, but not all of his votes came from the Democratic Party line. Republican Tom Foley received 560,874 votes, while Malloy received 540,970 as a Democrat and 26,308 from those voting for him under the Working Families Party line.

Republicans say that means they get the top line.

Democratic Party Chairman Jonathan Harris and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

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