1982 Connecticut Senate election

Not to be confused with 1982 United States Senate election in Connecticut.
1982 Connecticut State Senate election
November 2, 1982
All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate
19 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Richard Schneller George Gunther
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 20th 21st
Last election 23 13
Seats won 23 13
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 574,592 468,465
Percentage 54.98% 44.82%
Swing Increase 4.42% Decrease 4.61%
Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
President pro tempore before election

James J. Murphy Jr.
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

James J. Murphy Jr.
Democratic

The 1982 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1982 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.

While both parties gained and lost seats, neither had a net-change, leading to the Democrats maintaining their 23-13 majority over the Republicans.[1]

Immediately following the elections, Republican Senate minority leader George Gunther was ousted and replaced with Philip S. Robertson.

Retirements

Eight incumbents did not seek re-election.

Democrats

  1. District 5: Clifton A. Leonhardt retired to run for Connecticut's 6th congressional district. (Later withdrew).[2]
  2. District 9: Bill Curry retired to unsuccessfully run for Connecticut's 6th congressional district against Nancy Johnson.
  3. District 11: Anthony M. Ciarlone retired.

Republican

  1. District 6: Nancy Johnson retired to successfully run for Connecticut's 6th congressional district against Bill Curry.
  2. District 8: Russell L. Post Jr. retired to run for governor. (Later withdrew).[3]
  3. District 15: Gerald Labriola retired to unsuccessfully run for lieutenant governor of Connecticut.
  4. District 25: Alfred Santaniello Jr. retired.
  5. District 28: Myron R. Ballen retired.

Special elections

On December 31, 1980, Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso was forced to resign due to health issues after she was diagnosed with cancer. Her lieutenant, William A. O'Neill succeeded her as governor. According to Connecticut law, the President pro tempore of the Senate, at the time of which was Joseph J. Fauliso, would automatically assume the office of lieutenant governor once vacant. This left his seat, the 1st district, vacant, creating a special election.

On February 17, 1981, freshman Democratic state-representative William A. DiBella beat Republican Donald B. LaCroix, 76.8% to 23.2%, holding the seat Democratic.[4]

Incumbents defeated

In primary election

Democrats

  1. District 3: Marcella Fahey lost renomination to John B. Larson.

In general election

Democrats

  1. District 33: Frederick R. Knous lost re-election to Kenneth T. Hampton.[5]

Results

Senate seats
Democratic
 
 63.89%
Republican
 
 36.11%
Popular vote
Democratic
 
 54.98%
Republican
 
 44.82%

District 1

Connecticut's 1st State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William A. DiBella (incumbent) 16,767 100.00%
Total votes 16,767 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 2

Connecticut's 2nd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wilber G. Smith (incumbent) 14,049 69.0%
Republican Hendrik Eleveld 6,328 31.0%
Total votes 20,377 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 3

Connecticut's 3rd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John B. Larson 18,402 62.5%
Republican Kevin H. Norige 11,047 37.5%
Total votes 29,449 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 4

Connecticut's 4th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carl A. Zinsser (incumbent) 17,429 50.6%
Democratic Stephen T. Penny 17,024 49.4%
Total votes 34,453 100.0%
Republican hold

District 5

Connecticut's 5th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Anne P. Streeter 24,274 56.9%
Democratic Gerald A. Roisman 18,092 42.4%
Libertarian Dana L. Downing 313 0.7%
Total votes 42,679 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 6

Connecticut's 6th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph H. Harper, Jr. 17,859 66.1%
Republican William M. Buzanoski 8,823 32.6%
Solidarity Party Joseph K. Pac 358 1.3%
Total votes 27,040 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 7

Connecticut's 7th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cornelius O'Leary (incumbent) 20,290 66.7%
Republican John C. Hinchliffe Jr. 10,150 33.3%
Total votes 30,440 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 8

Connecticut's 8th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Reginald J. Smith 19,808 55.5%
Democratic John D. McKeon 15,893 44.5%
Total votes 35,701 100.0%
Republican hold

District 9

Connecticut's 9th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. Cynthia Matthews 19,902 54.3%
Republican Charles E. Alfano 16,738 45.7%
Total votes 36,640 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 10

Connecticut's 10th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John C. Daniels (incumbent) 16,823 74.4%
Republican Thomas E. Mansfield 5,794 25.6%
Total votes 22,617 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 11

Connecticut's 11th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anthony V. Avallone 17,421 69.4%
Republican Martin L. Rudnick 7,692 30.6%
Total votes 25,113 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 12

Connecticut's 12th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Regina R. Smith (incumbent) 17,151 54.9%
Republican Jay Cretella 14,080 45.1%
Total votes 31,231 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 13

Connecticut's 13th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Amelia P. Mustone (incumbent) 18,672 67.3%
Republican Louis Maleto 9,087 32.7%
Total votes 27,759 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 14

Connecticut's 14th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Scott (incumbent) 16,355 52.9%
Democratic Joan P. Abeshouse 14,541 47.1%
Total votes 30,896 100.0%
Republican hold

District 15

Connecticut's 15th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert G. Dorr 15,231 50.5%
Republican Thomas F. Upson 13,823 45.9%
Independent Jo-El McGuinness 1,093 3.6%
Total votes 30,147 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 16

Connecticut's 16th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William J. Sullivan (incumbent) 16,850 61.5%
Republican Joseph J. Stango 10,549 38.5%
Total votes 27,399 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 17

Connecticut's 17th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eugene A Skowronski (incumbent) 19,723 61.3%
Republican George R. Temple 12,461 38.7%
Total votes 32,184 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 18

Connecticut's 18th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary A. Martin (incumbent) 13,026 54.3%
Republican Victor T. Boatwright 10,976 45.7%
Total votes 24,002 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 19

Connecticut's 19th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James J. Murphy Jr. (incumbent) 17,150 64.5%
Republican Peter J. Reenstra 9,461 35.5%
Total votes 26,611 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 20

Connecticut's 20th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard F. Schneller (incumbent) 18,214 60.3%
Republican Henry J. Wyatt 11,998 39.7%
Total votes 30,212 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 21

Connecticut's 21st State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Gunther (incumbent) 19,454 63.7%
Democratic Virginia M. Chittem 11,097 36.3%
Total votes 30,551 100.0%
Republican hold

District 22

Connecticut's 22nd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard T. Owens Jr. (incumbent) 17,739 56.6%
Republican Dale W. Radcliffe 13,361 42.6%
Conservative Fred Radford 263 0.8%
Total votes 31,363 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 23

Connecticut's 23rd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Margaret E. Morton (incumbent) 10,351 70.1%
Republican Joseph Haschak 4,424 29.9%
Total votes 14,775 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 24

Connecticut's 24th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne A. Baker (incumbent) 13,212 51.6%
Republican Martin J. Smith Jr. 12,388 48.4%
Total votes 25,600 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 25

Connecticut's 25th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrew J Santaniello 13,678 51.3%
Democratic Andrew A. Glickson 12,965 48.7%
Total votes 26,643 100.0%
Republican hold

District 26

Connecticut's 26th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John G. Matthews (incumbent) 21,924 67.4%
Democratic Eugene E. Cederbaum 10,602 32.6%
Total votes 32,526 100.00%
Republican hold

District 27

Connecticut's 27th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thom Serrani (incumbent) 16,652 64.5%
Republican Mac Marshman 9,166 35.5%
Total votes 25,818 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 28

Connecticut's 28th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Fred H. Lovegrove Jr. 18,291 53.4%
Democratic Patricia O'Hearne 15,980 46.6%
Total votes 34,271 100.0%
Republican hold

District 29

Connecticut's 29th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Audrey P. Beck (incumbent) 18,291 68.6%
Republican Glenn A. Shiffer Jr. 8,375 31.4%
Total votes 26,666 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 30

Connecticut's 30th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican M. Adela Eads (incumbent) 18,422 55.0%
Democratic Bill Willis 15,096 45.0%
Total votes 33,518 100.0%
Republican hold

District 31

Connecticut's 31st State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steven C. Casey (incumbent) 21,814 74.7%
Republican Joseph A. Shelto Jr. 7,400 25.3%
Total votes 29,214 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 32

Connecticut's 32nd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William F. Rogers III (incumbent) 18,059 60.2%
Democratic Robert J. Allan 11,927 39.8%
Total votes 29,986 100.0%
Republican hold

District 33

Connecticut's 33rd State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenneth T. Hampton 16,663 50.7%
Democratic Frederick R. Knous (incumbent) 16,195 49.3%
Total votes 32,858 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 34

Connecticut's 34th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Philip S. Robertson (incumbent) 18,424 57.1%
Democratic Carmen Romano 13,828 42.9%
Total votes 32,252 100.0%
Republican hold

District 35

Connecticut's 35th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael J. Skelley (incumbent) 15,083 55.9%
Republican Isham L. Martin Jr. 11,902 44.1%
Total votes 26,985 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 36

Connecticut's 36th State Senate district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael L. Morano (incumbent) 19,661 64.8%
Democratic Peter Gasparino 10,680 35.2%
Total votes 30,341 100.00%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "Democrats Hold State Senate, Post Gains in House". The Norwalk Hour. November 3, 1982.
  2. ^ "Willis, Leonhardt quit Sixth Congressional race". Record-Journal. May 8, 1982.
  3. ^ "Post Drops Out of GOP Contest". The Norwalk Hour. July 17, 1982.
  4. ^ "DiBella Sweeps Special Election". The Norwalk Hour. February 18, 1981.
  5. ^ "1982 General Election". electionhistory.ct.gov. 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
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