Democrats made their first state legislative gains in 10 years Tuesday night, breaking an 18-18 tie in the Senate by picking up three Republican seats and defending vulnerable Democratic lawmakers who were targeted by the GOP.
Other Democratic gains in the Senate were possible, with three races too close to call as of 1:00 am.
House Democrats added at least nine seats to their 80-71 advantage. Republican Senate incumbents who lost include Toni Boucher of Wilton, Len Suzio of Meriden, and Michael McLachlan of Danbury.
Republican Rob Sampson of Wolcott won the seat being vacated by Joe Markley, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor.
Boucher, who won the seat 10 years ago after six terms in the House, was defeated by 22-year-old Will Haskell, a recent Georgetown University graduate.
McLachlan, who has represented the Danbury area since 2009, was unseated by Julie Kushner, the former director of UAW Region 9.
Suzio, one of the state Senate’s most conservative members, was unseated by Mary Daugherty Abrams, a former teacher and the wife of a former House member.
Democrats were able to fend off Republican efforts to pick up the senate seat for the Milford and Orange region that was vacated by Democrat Sen. Gayle Slossberg.
In the House, Democrats defeated at least nine incumbents: Robert Siegrist of Essex was unseated by Christine Palm; Fred Wilms of Norwalk lost to Lucy Dathan; Scott Storms of Windsor Locks was defeated by Jane M. Garibay; Greg Stokes of Enfield was unseated by Tom Arnone; Sam Belsito of Tolland lost to Pat Wilson Pheanious; William Duff of Newtown was defeated by Raghib Allie-Brennan; Michael S. Ferguson of Danbury lost to Kenneth Gucker; Adam Dunsby of Easton was unseated by Anne Hughes; Mike Bocchino lost to Steve Meskers.
