Election 2024: Democrats Expand General Assembly Margins

The Democratic Party expanded its margins in both the state Senate and House following the Nov. 5 elections.

When the 187-member General Assembly convenes in January for the 2025 session, there will be 19 new members of the House and two new members of the Senate.

Democrats will hold a 25-11 advantage in the Senate, with 102 seats in the House to the Republican Party’s 49.

Both Senate and House Democrats will have super majorities in their respective chambers, with the potential to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Republicans have lost seven seats since tying the Senate in the 2016 elections. House Republicans lost a net 20 seats over the same period.

Connecticut voters also overwhelming approved a state constitutional amendment allowing no-excuse absentee voting.

Senate Races

Democrats picked up one Senate seat, the Eighth District currently held by first-term incumbent Sen. Lisa Seminara (R-Avon).

Challenger Paul Honig, who lost to Seminara by 125 votes in 2022, won their rematch by just 153 votes.

Republicans held two hotly contested seats in Fairfield County.

Five-term incumbent Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield) defeated Democrat Rob Blanchard by a 10-point margin in the 28th District.

In the 36th District, two-term incumbent Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich) took 52% of the vote in his race against Democrat Nick Simmons.

Republican Chris Reddy, who lost the 29th District race to incumbent Sen. Mae Flexer (D-Windham), asked state elections officials to investigate votes cast by college students.

Flexer won 50% of the vote, with Reddy at 48% and the Green Party’s Alice Leibowitz at 2%.

State House

Democrats flipped six GOP seats for a net gain of four seats in the 151-member state House. The 2025 session will be the first time Republicans held less than 50 seats since 2010.

Democrats won the following House districts held by Republicans:

• 22nd District: Rebecca Martinez defeated first-term incumbent Rep. Francis Cooley (R-Plainville) by four percentage points
• 37th District: Finance Committee ranking member and four-term incumbent Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-East Lyme) lost to Nick Menapace by less than 100 votes
• 38th District: Five-term incumbent Rep. Kathleen McCarty (R-Waterford) lost to Nick Gauthier by 174 votes
• 117th District: MJ Shannon won the seat held by Rep. Charles Ferraro (R-West Haven)—who did not run for reelection—since 2015
• 120th District: First-term incumbent Rep. Laura Dancho (R-Stratford) lost to Kaitlyn Shake
• 138th District: Former state representative Kenneth Gucker recaptured the seat he lost to Rep. Rachel Chaleski (R-Danbury) in 2022

Eight-term incumbent Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) lost to GOP challenger Joe Canino in the 65th House District.

In the 149th House District, Republican Tina Courpas defeated first-term incumbent Rep. Rachel Khanna (D-Greenwich).

Reimagine Connecticut

Seventy successful legislative candidates—a bipartisan group representing 37% of the next General Assembly—pledged support for CBIA’s Reimagine Connecticut policy solutions.

Those policies are designed to help retain and attract residents, enhance and protect our workforce’s well-earned reputation for innovation and productivity, and promote Connecticut as a high-value destination for businesses.

A bipartisan group representing 37% of the next General Assembly pledged support for CBIA’s Reimagine Connecticut policy solutions.

“We were thrilled with the broad bipartisan support for Reimagine Connecticut, which is also supported by a large coalition of businesses and employer groups,” CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said.

“We look forward to working with lawmakers to tackle the high costs of living and running a business, implement pathways to rewarding careers, and make our economy more vibrant, robust, and equitable.

“Connecticut’s economic opportunities are limitless and our policy solutions open doors to opportunity for all residents, address the high costs of living and running a business, expand career pathways, and foster innovation.”

Congressional Races

Democratic Party incumbents swept all Connecticut’s congressional races.

Senator Chris Murphy won a third U.S. Senate term, taking 58% of the vote in a four-candidate race.

Rep. John Larsen retained the 1st U.S. House District seat he has held since 1999, winning 64% of the vote in a three-way race against Republican Jim Griffin and the Green Party’s Mary Sanders.

Democrat incumbents swept all Connecticut’s congressional races.

In the 2nd U.S. House District, Rep. Joe Courtney won a 10th term, defeating Republican Mike France by a 16-point margin.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro was reelected to the 3rd U.S. House District seat she has held since 1991, beating Republican Michael Massey.

Rep. Jim Himes won a ninth term, winning the 4th U.S. House District over Republican Michael Goldstein and Independent Benjamin Wesley.

In the 5th U.S. House District, Rep. Jahana Hayes won a fourth term, defeating former state senator George Logan in a rematch of the 2022 election.