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Republicans Make Historic Gains in Connecticut General Assembly

Harriet Jones
/
WNPR
Republican Heather Somers celebrates her win in the 18th district for the state Senate

Connecticut’s state Senate will be tied in the new session, with 18 Democrats and 18 Republicans after Tuesday's election. The GOP also made gains in the House, marking the biggest shift in power at the Capitol in a generation. 

Republicans had hopes of making a net gain of four seats to take control of the upper chamber in the General Assembly for the first time in 20 years. In the end they fell just short, winning three. Len Suzio ousted Dante Bartolomeo in the 13th, George Logan beat out Joe Crisco in the 17th, and Heather Somers took the open seat previously held by Andy Maynard in the 18th.

Somers said her priorities are clear as she heads to Hartford. “We have to change the business climate we have here in Connecticut," she said. "If we don’t change the fact that we are at the bottom of all the economic indicators here in Connecticut, nothing else can change.”

Democratic Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman will break tied votes in the newly reconfigured Senate, leaving her party just barely in control.

Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney issued a very short statement late Tuesday evening. “While tonight’s results weren’t what we hoped overall, we will continue to pursue an aggressive agenda to grow jobs, strengthen our economy and help middle class families get ahead,” said Looney. 

In the House, Republicans look likely to pick up a net gain of eight seats, leaving Democrats with a majority of only seven, 79-72. One of those pick ups was by William Petit, the survivor of a deadly home invasion in Cheshire in 2007. He won over longtime state Rep. Betty Boukus, who has served 11 terms in the House.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides said she believed that voters were angry and disappointed as they went to the polls. “House Republicans ran on our record of fiscal sanity and our commitment to our common sense approach to governing what has become an out of control State of Connecticut,” she said. “This should come as a wake up call: Connecticut taxpayers and voters are fed up.”

Democratic Rep Joe Aresimowicz, who expects to be elected House Speaker in the upcoming session, spoke about the spending by super PACs on ads in state races. ”Clearly the out of state independent money that blanketed Connecticut played a significant role,” he said.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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