1990 Connecticut Senate election

1990 Connecticut State Senate election

←  1988 November 6, 1990 1992 →
All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate 19 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Cornelius O'Leary Reginald Smith (retired) Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat 7th 8th Last election 23 13 Seats before 23 12 Seats won 20 16 Seat change 3 4   Third party   Leader Emil Benvenuto (lost-reelection) Party A Connecticut Leader's seat 36th Last election 0 Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seat change 1
Results:      Democratic hold      Republican hold     Republican gain
President pro tempore before election John B. Larson Democratic Elected President pro tempore John B. Larson Democratic

The 1990 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1990 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 lost 3 seats, while the Republicans gained 4 seats, but the Democrats ultimately maintained their majority in the Senate.

These elections also saw the attempt of Greenwich selectman and future governor Ned Lamont's attempt to win in the 36th district, but he lost to Republican William H. Nickerson after Republican Senator Emil Benvenuto, who had switched to the A Connecticut Party, also lost to him. ^{[1] [2]}

Retirements

Six incumbents did not seek re-election. ^[3]

Democrats

1. District 20: Mark H. Powers retired.
2. District 27: Richard Blumenthal retired to successfully run for Attorney General.

Republican

1. District 8: Reginald J. Smith retired.
2. District 14: Tom Scott retired to unsuccessfully run for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district against Rosa DeLauro.
3. District 32: James H. McLaughlin retired to unsuccessfully run for Connecticut's 5th congressional district.
4. District 33: Kenneth T. Hampton retired.

Incumbents defeated

Three incumbents were defeated in general elections. ^{[4] [5]}

In general election

A Connecticut

1. District 36: Emil Benvenuto lost re-election to Republican William H. Nickerson after he had switched from Republican to the A Connecticut Party.

Democrats

1. District 25: John Atkin lost re-election to Robert Genuario.
2. District 12: Thomas J. Sullivan lost re-election to William Aniskovich.

Results

District 1

Connecticut's 1st State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William A. DiBella (incumbent)	12,363	100.00%
Total votes			12,363	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 2

Connecticut's 2nd State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank D. Barrows (incumbent)	10,566	60.6%
	Republican	Mary K. Drost	6,871	39.4%
Total votes			17,437	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 3

Connecticut's 3rd State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John B. Larson (incumbent)	21,307	68.8%
	Republican	Debra M. Gaudette	9,672	31.2%
Total votes			30,979	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 4

Connecticut's 4th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael P. Meotti (incumbent)	24,465	65.3%
	Republican	Sonya "Sonny" Googins	12,998	34.7%
Total votes			37,463	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 5

Connecticut's 5th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kevin Sullivan (incumbent)	26,372	65.58%
	Republican	Douglas T. Putnam	13,421	33.37%
	Libertarian	Alfred F. Neves	424	1.05%
Total votes			40,217	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 6

Connecticut's 6th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph H. Harper Jr. (incumbent)	14,366	100.00%
Total votes			14,366	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 7

Connecticut's 7th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cornelius O'Leary (incumbent)	20,054	90.1%
	Libertarian	Robert S. Loomis	2,204	9.9%
Total votes			22,258	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 8

Connecticut's 8th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James T. Fleming	21,872	59.4%
	Democratic	David A. Baram	14,981	40.7%
Total votes			36,853	100.0%
	Republican hold

District 9

Connecticut's 9th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	A. Cynthia Matthews (incumbent)	21,094	58.5%
	Republican	Lawrence J. Ebner	14,958	41.5%
Total votes			36,052	100.0%
	Democratic hold

District 26

Connecticut's 26th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judith G. Freedman (incumbent)	26,527	100.00%
Total votes			26,527	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 36

On May 23, 1990, Emil Benvenuto endorsed A Connecticut Party candidate Lowell Weicker for governor. This outraged the state Republican Party, so much to the point that Benvenuto lost their endorsement and ran on the A Connecticut ticket. ^{[6] [7]}

Connecticut's 36th State Senate district election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William H. Nickerson	12,588	42.88%
	A Connecticut Party	Emil Benvenuto (incumbent)	9,488	32.32%
	Democratic	Ned Lamont	7,278	24.80%
Total votes			29,354	100.00%
	Republican gain from A Connecticut Party

References

1. "Democrats keep control of General Assembly". The Norwalk Hour . November 7, 1990.
2. "1990 Nov 6 :: General Election :: State Senator :: District 36". Connecticut Secretary of State.
3. Judd Everhart (May 16, 1990). "End of session closes doors on some political careers". The Norwalk Hour .
4. "Office of the Secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
5. "1990 Statement of vote". Connecticut Secretary of State.
6. Judd Everhart (May 24, 1990). "Lowell P. Weicker picks up another GOP endorsement". The Norwalk Hour .
7. "Close races loom for several House, Senate incumbents". The Norwalk Hour . July 30, 1990.