2025 Connecticut Senate District 21 special election

2025 Connecticut Senate District 21 special election
Connecticut Senate ; District 21
Turnout	17.13% (unofficial)
Perillo: 50–60% 60–70%	Afriyie: 50–60%
Senator before election; Kevin C. Kelly ; Republican	Elected Senator; Jason Perillo ; Republican

Last updated July 10, 2025

A special election was held in the U.S. state of Connecticut to elect a new member for District 21 in the Connecticut Senate, representing the town of Shelton, and parts of Seymour, Monroe, and Stratford. The election filled a vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican senator Kevin C. Kelly on January 8, 2025 to take up a judicial nomination.^[1] Longtime Republican state representative from District 113 Jason Perillo was elected senator, necessitating a special election in his state house district.^[2] The election took place concurrently with a special election in House District 40.

Background

Incumbent Republican senator Kevin C. Kelly served in the Connecticut Senate representing the 21st district from 2011 to 2025. He served as minority leader from 2021 to 2024. In his last election in 2024, he was re-elected unopposed. His last contested election was in 2022, when he was re-elected with 57.3 percent of the vote against a Democratic opponent.^[3]

Candidates

Party nominees for special elections are chosen through party conventions. Political parties were required to submit names for the ballot by February 15, 2025.^[4]

Tony Afriyie, congressional staffer (Democratic)^[5]
Jason Perillo, member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 113th district (2007–present) (Republican)

Results

2025 Connecticut Senate District 21 special election (unofficial, 23 of 23 precincts reporting)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jason Perillo	6,839	53.47%	46.53
	Democratic	Tony Afriyie	5,950	46.52%	N/A
	Write-in		1	0.01%	N/A
Total votes			12,790	100.00%

References

↑ Dixon, Ken (January 7, 2025). "CT Sen. Kevin Kelly to step down ahead of legislative session to become judicial nominee". CT Post. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
↑ Pazniokas, Mark (February 25, 2025). "Special elections: Jason Perillo wins in Senate, Dan Gaiewski in House". CT Mirror. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
↑ "Connecticut State Senate District 21". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
↑ "Connecticut state legislative special elections, 2025". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
↑ "State Senate District 21 Candidate's Questionnaire: Anthony Afriyie". Stratford Crier. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

Tony Afriyie (D)

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[1] Dixon, Ken (January 7, 2025). "CT Sen. Kevin Kelly to step down ahead of legislative session to become judicial nominee". CT Post. Retrieved February 22, 2025.

[2] Pazniokas, Mark (February 25, 2025). "Special elections: Jason Perillo wins in Senate, Dan Gaiewski in House". CT Mirror. Retrieved February 26, 2025.

[3] "Connecticut State Senate District 21". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 23, 2025.

[4] "Connecticut state legislative special elections, 2025". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 22, 2025.

[5] "State Senate District 21 Candidate's Questionnaire: Anthony Afriyie". Stratford Crier. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.

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See also: Political party strength in Connecticut