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Politics & Government

GOP Gains in Hartford, Quashes Super Majority

In a state where Democrats can claim nearly every major position in the capitol, Republicans picked up enough seats in the legislature to do away with the Dems' super majority.

(Editor's Note: Welcome to the first installment of "Capitol DisPatch: CT," a weekly column that delivers to you each Monday morning what's happening with our state legislators in Hartford — and how bills, issues and discussions in the state capitol affect Fairfield constituents.)

The Republicans won enough seats in Connecticut's legislature, the General Assembly, that the Democrats can no longer tell them to sit in the corner and behave.

"With 14 additional seats in the House, we have enough to sustain a veto," said Toni Boucher, a state senator representing the 26th District, which includes Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton.

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In addition to picking up 14 seats in the state House, the GOP gained one in the state Senate. And while that's enough to squash the super majority, it's not enough to drastically change dealings in both chambers. Because as Democrat Dan Malloy appears to be in line to become the Nutmeg State's next governor — after Bridgeport's ballot battle — the GOP's new veto-prevention power will have less value then it would have had Republican Tom Foley won.

The Democrats now control nearly every level of state government, from attorney general to secretary of the state, comptroller to treasurer.

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Moreover, Democrats represent Fairfield County in Congress. In the Fourth District, Rep. Jim Himes (D-4) became the first Democrat to win re-election since 1966. 

Before last week, the last time a Fairfield County Democrat declared a re-election victory was in 1894.

"In the past, more than 60 percent of the races were uncontested," said Gary Rose, a professor and chair of politics and government at . "This time most of the districts were contested. That meant the Democrats couldn't maintain the two-thirds majority."

Locally, voters returned several local Democrats to the General Assembly, including state Rep. Kim Fawcett (D-133), representing parts of Westport and Fairfield, and state Sen. Andrew McDonald, (D-27), who represents parts of Stamford and Darien.

"Losing the super majority is helpful for us who are fiscal moderates on both sides of the aisle," Fawcett said. "At the same time, we are weakened by losing some really strong conservative Democratic voices."

On Thursday, House Democrats unanimously voted state Rep. Christopher Donovan (D-84) for his second term as speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

With 100 votes in the Democratic caucus, Donovan is assured of the needed 76 votes when the full House of Representatives formally votes for Speaker in January. A polarizing figure, Donovan came to represent the super-majority era that many Republicans sought to end.

In a separate vote, the House Democrats elected as majority leader Rep. Brendan Sharkey (D-88), representing part of Hamden. Sharkey succeeds Denise Merrill, who was elected on Tuesday as Connecticut's next secretary of the state.

Sharkey's election buoyed newly elected state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (D-136), representing part of Westport.

"He really represents a more moderate faction. I was very heartened being moderate myself," Steinberg said. "The moderate faction seems to be coalescing, and that's a very encouraging sign."

Though Republicans gains were few, it might help shift the paradigm.

"Maybe survivors from both sides of the aisle will set aside the fierce rhetoric," Steinberg said. "But it will still be up to the Democrats to reach across."

State Sen. John McKinney (R-28), who represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown and part of Weston, and heads to Hartford for his seventh two-year term, trounced Democratic challenger Mitch Fuchs. And John Hetherington (R-125), representing parts of New Canaan and Wilton, ran uncontested.

Boucher, who took all seven towns in her district, attributed her victory to her ability to appeal to Democratic constituents. Now, Democrats in Hartford must appeal to Republican colleagues so the business of the budget – issue number one said most legislators – can be addressed.

The majority sets the entire legislative calendar. With the GOPs gains, that will change, said Gail Lavielle, a Republican who defeated incumbent Democrat Peggy Reeves to represent the 143rd District, which covers parts of Norwalk and Wilton.

A member of Wilton's board of finance, Lavielle said consensus in the state House is essential. Finances must come first because "a $3.5 billion annual deficit can't stand."

"In my view that really has to be high on the priority list," Lavielle told Patch. "The situation is so alarming financially there has to be more compromise. The majority will have to deal."

Still, some local Democrats don't see much of a change.

"If Malloy is the governor then picking up a number of seats is a little less significant," said David Kostek, vice chair of New Canaan's Democratic Town Committee. "Connecticut has always been a bulwark against the Republican tide and in 2012 and 2014 I don't see Republicans making significant inroads."

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