1986 Connecticut Senate election

Not to be confused with 1986 United States Senate election in Connecticut.

1986 Connecticut State Senate election

←  1984 November 4, 1986 1988  →
All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate 19 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Cornelius O'Leary Reginald Smith Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat 7th 8th Last election 12 24 Seats won 25 11 Seat change 13 13 Popular vote 530,506 415,730 Percentage 56.07% 43.93% Swing 11.83% 11.34%
Results:      Democratic hold     Democratic gain      Republican hold
President pro tempore before election Philip Robertson Republican Elected President pro tempore John B. Larson Democratic

The 1986 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1986 United States elections. All 36 seats were up for re-election. Senators serve two-year terms and are up for re-election every election cycle.

The Democrats, led by minority leader Cornelius O'Leary, flipped control of the State Senate. They managed to gain a two-thirds majority over the Republicans, achieving a supermajority. This was in large part attributed to the popularity of incumbent Democratic governor William O'Neill and his landslide re-election, having a coattail effect boosting down-ballot Connecticut Democrats due to the state's improved economy, with it also leading to them reclaiming the state house. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Retirements

Two incumbents did not seek re-election.

Republicans

1. District 5: Anne P. Streeter retired.
2. District 26: John Grennell Matthews retired.

Special elections

One special election was called for the 25th district due to Republican Senator Andrew Santaniello's unexpected death on March 15, 1986. The date of the election was held on May 6, 1986. Republican councilman Joseph Santo managed to beat former Democratic state representative John Atkin, and held the seat Republican. ^[4]

However, in the general election on November 4, Atkin managed to unseat Santo in a rematch, flipping the seat Democratic. ^[5]

Incumbents defeated

Twelve incumbents, all Republicans, were defeated in general elections. ^{[6] [7]}

In general election

Republicans

1. District 4: Carl A. Zinsser lost re-election to Michael P. Meotti.
2. District 9: Richard B. Johnston lost re-election to A. Cynthia Matthews.
3. District 12: Richard S. Eaton lost re-election to Thomas J. Sullivan.
4. District 16: Joseph C. Markley lost re-election to Donald M. Rinaldi.
5. District 17: John F. Consoli lost re-election to Gary A. Hale.
6. District 18: Donald Schoolcraft lost re-election to Steven Spellman.
7. District 19: Eric R. Benson lost re-election to Kenneth L. Przybysz.
8. District 20: Pierce F. Connair lost re-election to Mark H. Powers.
9. District 22: Lee Scarpetti lost re-election to Howard T. Owens Jr.
10. District 24: Robert T. Miller lost re-election to James H. Maloney.
11. District 25: Joseph Santo lost re-election to John Atkin.
12. District 35: James D. Giulietti lost re-election to Marie Herbst.

Results

Senate seats Democratic   69.44% Republican   30.56%

Popular vote Democratic   56.07% Republican   43.93%

District 1

Connecticut's 1st State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William A. DiBella (incumbent)	14,624	77.4%
	Republican	Donald B. LaCroix	4,268	22.6%
Total votes			18,892	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 2

Connecticut's 2nd State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank D. Barrows (incumbent)	13,522	76.9%
	Republican	Arnika-Maia Mott	4,063	23.1%
Total votes			17,585	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 3

Connecticut's 3rd State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John B. Larson (incumbent)	20,316	100.00%%
Total votes			20,316	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 4

Connecticut's 4th State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael P. Meotti	17,776	51.1%
	Republican	Carl A. Zinsser (incumbent)	16,998	48.9%
Total votes			34,774	100.0%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 5

Connecticut's 5th State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kevin Sullivan	21,374	55.5%
	Republican	Charles R. Matties	17,163	44.5%
Total votes			38,537	100.0%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 6

Connecticut's 6th State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph H. Harper Jr. (incumbent)	15,625	69.7%
	Republican	Bernard B. Walsh Jr.	6,804	30.3%
Total votes			22,429	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 7

Connecticut's 7th State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cornelius P. O'Leary (incumbent)	18,880	100.0%
Total votes			18,880	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 8

Connecticut's 8th State Senate district election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Reginald J. Smith (incumbent)	18,757	55.8%
	Democratic	Dwight Schweitzer	14,874	44.2%
Total votes			33,631	100.0%
	Republican hold

References

1. Richard L. Madden (November 5, 1986). "CONNECTICUT: O'Neill Wins and Lifts Party's Assembly Hopes". New York Times .
2. "Vote for State Senators, November 4, 1986, Senatorial Districts". Connecticut State Library.
3. Brent Laymon (November 5, 1986). "O'Neill victory sweeps state Democrats back into control of General Assembly". The Norwalk Hour .
4. "Atkin announces run". The Norwalk Hour . July 18, 1986.
5. "Bad News, Good News". The Norwalk Hour . November 5, 1986.
6. "Office of the Secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
7. "1986 Statement of Vote" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. November 4, 1986.