Democrats Retain West Hartford House Seat

West Hartford Democrat Tammy Exum won the special election for the 19th state House District April 16.

The district covers parts of West Hartford, Farmington, and Avon.

Exum defeated Avon Republican Robert Margolis for the seat, left vacant following Democratic incumbent Derek Slap’s move to the state Senate after a February 26 special election.

Exum is a former West Hartford school board member. Her election
gives Democrats a 90-60 advantage in the state House, with one vacancy.

Unofficial results show Exum with 2,407 votes—roughly 65%—to 1,319 for Margolis.

Slap ran unopposed in last November’s general election.

Bridgeport Seat Vacant

One other House seat, the 130th District, remains open after the sudden, unexpected death of Democratic Rep. Ezequiel Santiago last month.

Four Democrats and one Republican have filed to run for the Bridgeport seat.

Antonio Felipe, 23, is the Democratic nominee. Three other Democrats—former state representatives Christina Ayala and Hector Diaz, and Kate Rivera—filed as petitioning candidates.

The Republican candidate is Joshua Parrow, a New York state resident who came to Bridgeport in 2009 to attend the University of Bridgeport and now works there.