Democrats Hold Bridgeport House Seat

Democrat Antonio Felipe of Bridgeport won a May 7 special election to fill the 130th state House seat left vacant with the unexpected passing of Democratic Rep. Ezequiel Santiago in March.

Felipe, 23, the party nominee, was the top finisher among a field of four Democrats and one Republican.

With Felipe’s victory, Democrats increase their control of the House to 91-60.

He defeated three Democrats who filed as petitioning candidates—former state representatives Christina Ayala and Hector Diaz, and Kate Rivera—as well as Republican Joshua Parrow.

The 130th District includes Bridgeport’s west and south ends and its downtown.

Unofficially, Rivera won the machine vote, 290-240, but Felipe overwhelmingly won mail-in ballots by 226-53. He took roughly 47% of the overall vote to Rivera’s 35%.