Connecticut State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Connecticut State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Connecticut State Senate. The chamber's majority was held by the Democratic Party, which lost only a single seat following the election, dropping from 22 to 21. Their Republican counterparts increased from 14 to 15 seats.
Incumbents retiring
A total of six incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
Name | Party | Current Office |
---|---|---|
Gary LeBeau | Senate District 3 | |
Edward Meyer | Senate District 12 | |
Andrea Stillman | Senate District 20 | |
John McKinney | Senate District 28 | |
Donald Williams, Jr. | Senate District 29 | |
Jason Welch | Senate District 31 |
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the Connecticut State Senate:
Connecticut State Senate | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
Democratic Party | 22 | 21 | |
Republican Party | 14 | 15 | |
Total | 36 | 36 |
Qualifications
Candidate ballot access |
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Find detailed information on ballot access requirements in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. |
Article III, Section 3 of the Connecticut Constitution states: The senate shall consist of not less than thirty and not more than fifty members, each of whom shall be an elector residing in the senatorial district from which he is elected. Each senatorial district shall be contiguous as to territory and shall elect no more than one senator.
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In eight of the 36 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. Four Democrats and four Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 27 of the 36 districts up for election. Four of those seats held competitive elections in 2012 with a margin of victory ranging from 0 to 5 percent. Two other elections were mildly competitive, with a margin of victory of 5 to 10 percent. Three districts that held competitive elections in 2012 feature only one major party in 2014. Those districts were:
Competitive
- District 7: Incumbent John A. Kissell (R) defeated John Foxx (D) in the general election. Kissell won by a margin of victory of 1 percent in 2012.
- District 13: Incumbent Dante Bartolomeo (D) faced Len Suzio (R) in the general election. Bartolomeo won by a margin of victory of 0.7 percent in 2012.
- District 19: Incumbent Catherine A. Osten (D) defeated Steven Everett (R) in the general election. Osten won by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
- District 33: Incumbent Art Linares (R) defeated Emily Bjornberg (D) in the general election. Linares won by a margin of victory of 5 percent in 2012.
Mildly Competitive
- District 12: Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D) defeated Bruce H. Wilson, Jr. (R) in the general election for the seat vacated by Edward Meyer (D). Meyer won by a margin of victory of 6 percent in 2012.
- District 30: Incumbent Clark J. Chapin (R) defeated William O. Riiska (D) in the general election. Ward-Engelking won by a margin of victory of 10 percent in 2012.
Previously Competitive, Now Unopposed by Major Party
- District 16: Incumbent Joe Markley (R) ran unopposed in the Republican primary and defeated Christopher R. Robertson (W) the general election. Markley won by a margin of victory of 4 percent in 2012.
- District 24: Incumbent Michael A. McLachlan (R) ran unopposed in the Republican primary and defeated Theodore Feng (W) the general election. McLachlan won by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
Primary challenges
A total of three incumbents faced primary competition on August 12. Six incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 27 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators that faced primary competition were:
- District 2: Incumbent Eric D. Coleman (D) defeated Shawn Wooden and Len Walker in the Democratic primary.
- District 22: Incumbent Anthony J. Musto (D) was defeated by Marilyn Moore in the Democratic primary.
- District 23: Incumbent Andres Ayala, Jr. (D) defeated Scott Hughes in the Democratic primary.
Retiring incumbents
Six incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 30 (83.3%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, four Democrats and two Republicans, can be found above.
List of candidates
Note: In Connecticut:
- Endorsed candidates must be chosen at a party convention.
- No more than one candidate is allowed to be nominated for any office at the convention.
- That candidate then runs in the primary as a "party-endorsed candidate."
- Both endorsed and non-endorsed candidates must receive at least 15% of the vote at a convention or gather enough signatures to equal 2% of enrolled party members.
- If there is only one candidate, no primary is held.
District 1
August 12 Democratic primary:
- John W. Fonfara
- Incumbent Fonfara first assumed office in 1997.
- John W. Fonfara
November 4 General election candidates:
John W. Fonfara: 11,097
Barbara J. Ruhe: 4,135
Barbara A. Barry: 335
John W. Fonfara: 811
Alyssa S. Peterson: 156
District 2
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Shawn Wooden: 2,852
- Eric D. Coleman: 3,211
- Incumbent Coleman first assumed office in 1995.
- Len Walker: 151
November 4 General election candidates:
Eric D. Coleman: 18,905
Theresa Tillett: 4,507
Eric D. Coleman: 1,224
District 3
Note: Incumbent Gary LeBeau (D) did not run for re-election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Timothy D. Larson: 17,536
Sean Kelly: 11,337
District 4
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Steve Cassano
- Incumbent Cassano first assumed office in 2011.
- Steve Cassano
November 4 General election candidates:
Steve Cassano: 16,567
Whit Osgood: 15,181
Steve Cassano: 1,098
Whit Osgood: 1,048
District 5
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Beth Bye
- Incumbent Bye first assumed office in 2011.
- Beth Bye
November 4 General election candidates:
Beth Bye: 22,181
Bill Wadsworth: 14,653
Bill Wadsworth: 804
District 6
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Terry Gerratana
- Incumbent Gerratana first assumed office in 2011.
- Terry Gerratana
November 4 General election candidates:
Terry Gerratana: 13,637
Terry Gerratana: 1,897
District 7
August 12 GOP primary:
- John A. Kissel
- Incumbent Kissel first assumed office in 1993.
- John A. Kissel
November 4 General election candidates:
John Foxx: 9,704
John A. Kissel: 22,160
District 8
August 12 GOP primary:
- Kevin D. Witkos
- Incumbent Witkos first assumed office in 2009.
- Kevin D. Witkos
November 4 General election candidates:
Melissa E. Osborne: 13,843
Kevin D. Witkos: 22,364
Kevin D. Witkos: 1,508
District 9
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Paul R. Doyle
- Incumbent Doyle first assumed office in 2007.
- Paul R. Doyle
November 4 General election candidates:
Paul R. Doyle: 20,799
Earle V. Roberts: 12,164
Note: Roberts filed to run after the primary.
District 10
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Gary Holder-Winfield
- Incumbent Holder-Winfield first assumed office in February 2014.
- Gary Holder-Winfield
November 4 General election candidates:
Gary Holder-Winfield: 15,490
Gary Holder-Winfield: 1,125
District 11
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Martin M. Looney
- Incumbent Looney first assumed office in 1993.
- Martin M. Looney
November 4 General election candidates:
Martin M. Looney: 18,162
Martin M. Looney: 1,631
District 12
Note: Incumbent Edward Meyer (D) did not run for re-election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Ted Kennedy, Jr.: 20,885
Bruce H. Wilson, Jr.: 15,690
Ted Kennedy, Jr.: 1,174
Bruce H. Wilson, Jr. 856
District 13
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Dante Bartolomeo
- Incumbent Bartolomeo first assumed office in 2013.
- Dante Bartolomeo
November 4 General election candidates:
Dante Bartolomeo: 13,918
Len Suzio: 13,613
Len Suzio: 1,193
Dante Bartolomeo: 1,122
District 14
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Gayle Slossberg
- Incumbent Slossberg first assumed office in 2005.
- Gayle Slossberg
November 4 General election candidates:
Gayle Slossberg: 18,234
Matt Gaynor: 13,013
Matt Gaynor: 847
District 15
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Joan V. Hartley
- Incumbent Hartley first assumed office in 2001.
- Joan V. Hartley
November 4 General election candidates:
Joan V. Hartley: 12,083
Karl D. Shehu: 5,739
Blair Bertaccini: 510
Joan V. Hartley: 851
District 16
August 12 GOP primary:
- Joe Markley
- Incumbent Markley first assumed office in 2011.
- Joe Markley
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Markley: 22,132
Christopher R. Robertson: 5,945
District 17
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Joe Crisco
- Incumbent Crisco first assumed office in 1993.
- Joe Crisco
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Crisco: 14,382
Philip Tripp: 11,958
Philip Tripp: 902
Joe Crisco: 985
District 18
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Andrew Maynard
- Incumbent Maynard first assumed office in 2007.
- Andrew Maynard
November 4 General election candidates:
Andrew Maynard: 16,790
Kevin G. Trejo: 11,873
District 19
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Catherine A. Osten
- Incumbent Osten first assumed office in 2013.
- Catherine A. Osten
November 4 General election candidates:
Catherine A. Osten: 15,057
Steven Everett: 12,047
Catherine A. Osten: 1,369
Steven Everett: 999
District 20
Note: Incumbent Andrea Stillman (D) did not run for re-election.
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Elizabeth B. Ritter: 2,837
- William L. Satti: 1,495
- Elizabeth B. Ritter: 2,837
November 4 General election candidates:
Elizabeth B. Ritter: 13,077
Paul M. Formica: 16,103
Elizabeth B. Ritter: 804
Paul M. Formica: 1,404
District 21
August 12 GOP primary:
- Kevin C. Kelly
- Incumbent Kelly first assumed office in 2011.
- Kevin C. Kelly
November 4 General election candidates:
Prez Palmer: 10,384
Kevin C. Kelly: 21,731
District 22
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Anthony J. Musto: 1,530 - Incumbent Musto first assumed office in 2009.
- Marilyn Moore: 1,612
November 4 General election candidates:
Marilyn Moore: 12,237
Enrico R. Costantini: 11,545
Marilyn Moore: 1,202
District 23
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Andres Ayala, Jr.: 2,462
- Incumbent Ayala first assumed office in 2013.
- Scott Hughes: 1,091
- Andres Ayala, Jr.: 2,462
November 4 General election candidates:
Andres Ayala, Jr.: 9,476
Andres Ayala, Jr.: 807
District 24
August 12 GOP primary:
- Michael A. McLachlan
- Incumbent McLachlan first assumed office in 2009.
- Michael A. McLachlan
November 4 General election candidates:
Michael A. McLachlan: 13,392
Theodore Feng: 2,488
Michael A. McLachlan: 2,046
District 25
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Bob Duff
- Incumbent Duff first assumed office in 2005.
- Bob Duff
November 4 General election candidates:
Bob Duff: 16,310
Bill Dunne: 10,127
District 26
August 12 GOP primary:
- Toni Boucher
- Incumbent Boucher first assumed office in 2009.
- Toni Boucher
November 4 General election candidates:
Phil Sharlach: 12,617
Toni Boucher: 24,300
Phil Sharlach: 658
District 27
August 12 Democratic primary:
- Carlo Leone
- Incumbent Leone first assumed office in 2011.
- Carlo Leone
November 4 General election candidates:
Carlo Leone: 12,142
Eva A. Maldonado: 8,950
David Michel: 357
Eva A. Maldonado: 745
District 28
Note: Incumbent John McKinney (R) did not run for re-election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kim Fawcett: 15,121
Tony Hwang: 19,428
Kim Fawcett: 840
Tony Hwang: 1,053
District 29
Note: Incumbent Donald Williams, Jr. (D) did not run for re-election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mae Flexer: 11,537
John French: 10,850
Mae Flexer: 1,099
John French: 1,266
District 30
August 12 GOP primary:
- Clark J. Chapin
- Incumbent Chapin first assumed office in 2013.
- Clark J. Chapin
November 4 General election candidates:
William O. Riiska: 13,749
Clark J. Chapin: 17,744
Clark J. Chapin: 1,498
District 31
Note: Incumbent Jason Welch (R) did not run for re-election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Robert Michalik: 13,773
Henri Martin: 15,318
Robert Michalik: 1,150
Henri Martin: 1,149
Note: Michalik filed to run after the primary.
District 32
August 12 GOP primary:
- Robert J. Kane
- Incumbent Kane first assumed office in 2009.
- Robert J. Kane
November 4 General election candidates:
Donato Orsini: 11,383
Robert J. Kane: 23,547
Donato Orsini: 985
District 33
August 12 GOP primary:
- Art Linares
- Incumbent Linares first assumed office in 2013.
- Art Linares
November 4 General election candidates:
Emily Bjornberg: 16,161
Art Linares: 21,173
Colin D. Bennett: 527
Emily Bjornberg: 1,165
Art Linares: 1,499
District 34
August 12 GOP primary:
- Len Fasano
- Incumbent Fasano first assumed office in 2003.
- Len Fasano
November 4 General election candidates:
Len Fasano: 19,160
Len Fasano: 3,369
District 35
Note: Bill Loftus withdrew from race on July 11.[1]
August 12 GOP primary:
- Tony Guglielmo
- Incumbent Guglielmo first assumed office in 1993.
- Tony Guglielmo
November 4 General election candidates:
Tony Guglielmo: 25,547
Andrea Penta: 5,183
District 36
August 12 GOP primary:
- L. Scott Frantz
- Incumbent Frantz first assumed office in 2009.
- L. Scott Frantz
November 4 General election candidates:
L. Scott Frantz: 21,100
Edward Heflin: 3,189
See also
External links
- Connecticut Secretary of State - Official candidate list
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Primary and General election results
Footnotes