Could disgust with the Republican party nationally filter down and influence our local elections Nov. 7? For that to happen, a few factors would have to play a role.

Firstly, a sizable number of voters — meaning unaffiliated voters and those moderate Democrats who sometimes vote Republican — would have to be so upset with the current GOP that they will not cast any vote for a Republican candidate. Secondly, Democratic voters would have to turn out in larger numbers than they typically do for local elections. Finally, a race would have to be close enough for such things to matter.

Certainly, the Republican brand is seriously sullied. Donald Trump, the party’s national leader and once again its likely presidential candidate, confronts 91 felony charges across four cases involving allegations he broke the law to try to retain power after losing to President Joe Biden in 2020 and illegally maintained classified documents when he left office.

Then there is the debacle concerning a House speaker, with eight Republican congresspeople conniving to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy, but having no plan to replace him.

In most towns, I don’t see what is happening nationally having much influence over what takes place on Election Day. But there could be a couple of exceptions.

In some Republican-dominant towns, Democrats are not even trying. Ledyard Mayor Fred Allyn III, Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule and North Stonington First Selectman Bob Carlson are all Republicans who will return to office unchallenged.

Conversely, I would fully expect Groton Democrats to continue their dominance in the city and town council races, and neither Trump loathing nor anything else happening nationally will have much to do with it. City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick, a Democrat, will return to office unchallenged and none of the City Council candidates, all Democrats, are opposed. The Republican and Independent parties have put together slates in the town council race, but it would be a shock if Democrats did not prevail handily.

In Montville, my money (symbolically speaking) is on former police officer Lenny Bunnell keeping the mayor’s seat in the Democratic column, succeeding Mayor Ronald McDaniel, who is stepping down after three four-year terms. Thomas J. McNally, who tried and repeatedly failed to unseat McDaniel, is again the Republican candidate.

East Lyme is one place where a close election could be influenced by motivated Democrats and disgust with the status of today’s Republican party. Democrats have not held the top spot of first selectman since Republican Paul Formica defeated incumbent Democrat Beth Hogan in 2007. Hogan died earlier this year.

Formica left office after winning a state Senate seat in 2014. Succeeding him was fellow Republican Mark Nickerson, who subsequently won re-election. Another Republican, Kevin Seery, then won election in 2021, but has opted not to run again.

Democrats have made it close in East Lyme. Nickerson squeaked by in 2019. In 2021, Seery got 55% of the vote. The losing candidate both times was Camille Alberti. This time two selectmen are competing for the top spot, Republican Anne Santoro and Democrat Dan Cunningham.

There are reasons to believe that Republicans are vulnerable. In addition to the recent close elections, the 20th District Senate seat once held by Formica is now held by a Democrat, Sen. Martha Marx. If you are looking for evidence that local Republicans could be hurt by their national party’s performance, watch the results from East Lyme.

Norwich could also prove interesting. In local races, at least, Republicans have fared impressively well in this traditionally Democratic small city. Republicans control the council 4-3, including the vote of Republican Mayor Peter Nystrom, who — only two years into a four-year term — is not on the ballot. Norwich Democrats have suffered in local elections because their voters don’t turn out. Could that change in the current political atmosphere? Norwich Democrats are hoping so.

And then there is Stonington. Four candidates are competing for first selectman. Incumbent Danielle Chesebrough, who previously ran and won without holding a party designation, is now running under the new Forward Party banner. The Democratic candidate is Laura Graham and the Republican Bryan Bentz. Michael Spellman is running as a petitioning candidate.

I expect Chesebrough to get enough votes in this divided field to win the election. But whatever happens won’t have anything to do with Trump or Biden or the latest national brouhaha. This will be strictly a hometown Stonington fight, and a fascinating one for the politically inclined among us.

Paul Choiniere is the former editorial page editor of The Day, now retired. He can be reached at p.choiniere@yahoo.com.