Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz told the Connecticut Post that the number of uncontested races has been reduced as compared to 2004. Bysiewicz said:

Bysiewicz said the new public-financing program is attracting more candidates for the 2008 legislative elections than the former lobbyist-driven system.

"It seems to look better," she said. "There are fewer uncontested races this year compared to 2006."

She said currently, there are 41 uncontested House races, including 29 GOP incumbents and 12 Democratic veterans. Two years ago, there were 62 uncontested House contests.

"It looks like 27 percent are uncontested in the House in 2008, compared to 44 percent in 2006," Bysiewicz said.

In the Senate, there are seven uncontested seats, compared to nine in 2006.

"It does appear that publicly funded campaigns reduce the number of uncontested races and encouraged more candidates," she said.

This is the first year candidates can opt into Connecticut's Clean Elections system that was passed in the legislature in 2005. Connecticut joins six other states and two cities that have passed Clean Elections modeled public financing of elections.