Democrats Retain West Haven House Seat

Former firefighter William Heffernan won a four-way race for the vacant 115th House District seat in a Jan. 23 special election.

Heffernan, the Democrat nominee defeated Republican candidate Silvana Apicella and two fellow Democrats, former West Haven mayor Edward O’Brien and Victor Borras.

O’Brien ran as a petitioning candidate and Borras as a write-in for the seat, left vacant when Democrat incumbent Dorinda Borer resigned after she was elected mayor of West Haven in November.

Just 16% of registered voters turned out to elect Borer’s successor for the seat, which represents most of West Haven.

Heffernan won 54% of the vote, followed by Apicella (22%), O’Brien (21%), and Borras (3%).

Borer ran unopposed when she was reelected to a fourth term in 2022.

Democrats hold a 98-53 majority in the state House.