HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Republican Party picked up several crucial seats across the state in Tuesday’s municipal elections.

The GOP picked up seats in Stamford, Norwich and Madison, and held onto seats in Middletown and New Britain.

It was a close mayoral race in New Britain, where incumbent Timothy Stewart beat Rep. Tim O’Brien. Stewart has held the office since 2003.

In Middletown, Mayor Sebastian Giuliano was re-elected over 29-year-old Democratic challenger Dan Drew. Drew, who reportedly knocked on 6,000 doors as part of his campaign, conceded to Giuliano just after 9 p.m.

"It's the first time in two years that Mayor Giuliano is being challenged and the incumbent has some interesting ideas," said Middletown voter Pat Jackowsci outside a Middletown polling place Tuesday morning.

Mayor Michael Jarjura will also keep his post as Waterbury Mayor after Tuesday's election. Jarjura easily won with 70 percent of the votes cast. Jarjura was challenged by John E. Theriault.

In Farmington, Republican Mike Clark defeated his Democratic challenger Amy Suffredini 64 percent to 36 percent.

Republican party chairman Chris Healy issued a statement that read, “Republicans won because they got the job done as incumbents or offered an optimistic alternative as challengers.”

Democratic party chairwoman Nancy DiNardo also issued a statement that said municipal campaign often center on local issues and said people are looking for change because of the poor economy.

All but seven of Connecticut's 169 cities and towns held elections on Tuesday.

The Wilton Town Registrar of Voters' office told Eyewitness News that the town experienced such a good turnout on Tuesday, that it had to turn to emergency paper ballots. They said those ballots must be counted by hand, which could make for a late night for those tallying votes.

One-hundred-and-thirty-one towns held races for mayor or first selectman, including New Haven, East Haven, Waterbury and Stamford. The secretary of state’s office said 22 towns and cities had uncontested races.

Voters in cities and towns across the state voted on referendum questions. In Manchester, voters decided whether to spend $8 million to pay for improvements to roads and sidewalks and for debt administration. The proposal would be financed by bonds.

Manchester residents who spoke with Eyewitness News said there are far too many potholes and it's time the roads are fixed. The proposal involves redeveloping the Broad Street commercial area, extending Center Springs Park to Broad Street, constructing a greenway along Bigelow Brook and street, and sidewalk and other infrastructure improvements.

In Cheshire, voters decided whether to spend $500,000 for infrastructure improvements at Cheshire High School. An addition was completed at the school in 2000, but the 1950s building wasn't renovated during the project. The proposal includes the renovation of high school locker rooms and hall lockers, practical life science and technology room improvements, replacing flooring in classrooms and hallways and paying for new equipment.