The Nutmeg State. The Blue Wave hit Connecticut. I have written about the national elections but not Connecticut. I am saddened by one loss, and very disappointed one didn’t lose.
Blue wave crashes over CT General Assembly
Minority Leader Stephen Harding, a Brookfield Republican, says he believes he lost
CT Mirror
by Mark Pazniokas
November 4, 2026Republicans lost as many as eight of their 11 seats in the Connecticut Senate and at least nine in the House, with some races still to be determined early Wednesday morning, leaving the GOP with its smallest-ever presence in the upper chamber.
Democrats projected majorities as large as 33-3 in the Senate and at least 111-40 in the House, with House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, saying if other close races fall their way, the House Democratic advantage could be as much as 116-35.
In the Senate, only three of the Senate’s 11 Republicans were clear victors: Sen. Eric Berthel of Watertown, Sen. Henri Martin of Bristol and Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott. Democrats currently have a 25-11 majority. Incomplete results showed Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, trailing his Democratic challenger Aaron Zimmer with 71% of the votes counted
Sadly, my state rep. didn’t lose. She is a staunch Republican, totally anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ. I only contacted her once and once was enough. I got the distinct impression that she didn’t want to represent all her constituents… just the straight ones.
Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott didn’t lose either, and he has introduced many anti-trans bills and amendments. These included one to ban trans women in sports, and another stripping us of our health insurance!
The Republican that I wished got reelected… Sen. Kissel. The CT Mirror reported;
Democrats said they also unseated three other incumbents: Sen. John Kissel of Enfield, a state senator for 34 years, lost to David Kiner in the 7th District; Sen. Heather Somers of Groton lost to Joe de la Cruz in the 18th; and Sen. Jeff Gordon of Woodstock lost to Ethan Werstler in the 35th.
Why a Republican? Because he was an old-fashioned Republican… voted for the people, not the party. Back in 2011, when the trans non-discrimination bill passed, he looked up at us and gave a thumbs up! He was a “straight shooter.” When we (as in those who lobbied for us) talked to him, he said he was for it, but the party… no.
This photo was taken in the Capitol stairway. We were just coming down from the Senate gallery after the vote. In the photo: Sen. Beth Bye, me (CTAC), Sal Tarmarkin (CT Equality), Jennifer Levi (GLAD), Betty Gallo (Gallo & Robinson, lobbyist), and Gretchen Raffa (Planned Parenthood). Missing is Jerimarie Liesegang (CTAC), who was being interviewed.
No comments:
Post a Comment