Democrats made sweeping gains in communities across the state Tuesday, possibly because the nation's controversial Republican president has energized some opposing voters, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy.

They took control of almost two a dozen towns and made major gains in almost a dozen more.

"I think part of it is the president's own behaviors," the governor said, referencing President Donald Trump. "But I also think that we're talking about things that make a difference to people's lives."

Control flipped from Republican to Democrat in both Weston and Republican stronghold Trumbull. But the GOP, for its part, won hotly contested races in Democratic strongholds of Westport and New Britain.

State Sen. Tony Hwang, a Fairfield Republican, says the real test is next year, when control of the state Legislature hangs in the balance.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman says she's cautiously optimistic about what she saw. Facing her own possible run for governor next year, Wyman knows Democrats have a tough road ahead.

The lieutenant governor toured a health clinic Wednesday morning in Bridgeport, where she said Democrats were more energized to get out the vote this year.

"I'm hoping that it's building a foundation for us for the bigger races, if we have people that are excited," Wyman she said. "It looked like, in many of our towns and throughout the state, people were really excited."

Democrats also won big in New Jersey and Virginia, but Connecticut's Democratic Gov. Malloy has historically low poll numbers. Gridlock in Hartford also led to a monthslong budget standoff that may have hurt some lawmakers in the voting booth.