Democrats expand overwhelming leads in both CT houses

HARTFORD (WTIC News) -- Overwhelming results favoring Connecticut Democrats on Election Day were less surprising than the sweeping national numbers favoring the party. But they were arguably just as dramatic.

Not only did Democrats sweep the governor’s race, all five congressional races and the state’s four constitutional offices, they drastically expanded their advantages in both chambers of the state assembly, where they already held more than a two-to-one edge, without losing a single seat.

Incoming Senate president Bob Duff of Norwalk will begin his new position with quite a voting advantage: Democrats picked up 8 seats in the state Senate to extend their lead to a remarkably one-sided 33-3 over Republicans.

Democrats picked up 14 seats in the state House to extend to an overwhelming 116-35 advantage.

In the Senate, only 3 of 11 Republicans held their seats: Eric Berthel of Watertown, Henri Martin of Bristol and conservative firebrand Rob Sampson of Wolcott, who had a relatively close call. With 99% of the vote counted, Sampson was leading by about 500 votes over Democrat Jack Perry.

There were several upsets. Democrat David Kiner ousted 34-year incumbent John Kissel in the 7^th Senate District, centered in Enfield and Suffield. Democrat Joe de la Cruz, a former state rep, beat incumbent Heather Somers in southeast CT’s 18^th District. In a close race, Democrat Carolann Reid took out Republican incumbent Jason Perillo in the 21^st, which includes Shelton and Stratford. Young Democrat Ethan Werstler, 26, bounced incumbent Dr. Jeff Gordon in the 35^th, covering parts of rural Northeast CT.

Democrat Paul Honig of Harwinton earned a second term in the 8^th District, taking 60% of the vote in his race against Harwinton first selectman Mike Criss. Democrat Martha Marx of New London held off conservative talk show host Lee Elci in the 20^th.

Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) lost his seat to Democrat Aaron Zimmer. It’s the first win for a Democrat in Litchfield County’s Senate District 30 since 1980. Harding offered his concession Wednesday.

Several Democratic state reps are moving upstairs to the Senate. With no Republican opponent, Al Paolillo replaces retiring Senate president Martin Looney in New Haven’s 11^th District and Jack Fazzino fills an open seat in the 13^th District covering Meriden and part of Middletown. State Rep. Maryam Khan won an open Senate seat covering Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor, taking an impressive 81% of the vote over Republican Timothy Knotts.

Democrats will fill several open seats in Fairfield County: Attorney Jill Oberlander replaces Ryan Fazio, the runner-up in the race for governor. Gov. Lamont’s campaign manager Rob Blanchard wins a seat covering Fairfield and Newtown that has been held by Republicans for a half-century, most recently by moderate Tony Hwang. Democrat Samantha Nestor, who serves as first selectwoman in Weston, won an open seat in Fairfield County’s 26^th Senate District.

There was one especially close call. It came in the New Haven suburbs, where Democrat Brandi Mandato led incumbent Republican Paul Cicarella by 25 votes.

Many Republican incumbents also lost their seats in the state House. One of them, Cara Pavalock D’Amato of Bristol, an outspoken Trump supporter who recently clashed with a neighbor in a social media standoff, lost to Democrat DeWayne Wynn, Jr.

Rep. Steve Weir of Hebron lost to Ellen Paul in a district covering Hebron and Glastonbury. Democrat Michelle Ku took out 7-term incumbent Mitch Bolinsky of Newtown.

Old Saybrook selectperson Jane Wisialowski (D) flipped a seat in the 23^rd House District, which includes Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. She beat Old Saybrook treasurer Barbara Labriola (R) in a battle to replace Republican Devin Carney, who chose not to run for reelection.

House Speaker Matt Ritter went unopposed in his Hartford district. House Minority Leader Vin Candelora of North Branford also went unopposed. His challenging job of wrangling votes just tougher, as he will oversee a shrinking Republican caucus when lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 6.