1984 Connecticut Senate election
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November 6, 1984
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All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate 19 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results: Democratic hold Democratic gain Republican hold Republican gain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Connecticut |
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The 1984 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1984 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.
Mainly with the help of Reagan's coattails, as he had won Connecticut by twenty-one points on the same ballot, the Republicans took control of the Senate, managing to secure a two-thirds supermajority over the Democrats, although failing to secure a supermajority in the state house.[1][2][3]
Retirements
Three incumbents did not seek re-election.[4]
Democrats
- District 18: Mary A. Martin retired.[5]
- District 20: Richard F. Schneller retired.[6]
Republican
- District 32: William "Bill" F. Rogers III retired.
Special elections
Two special elections occurred between 1982 and the general election in 1984. One was held on May 2, 1983 for Democratic Senator Audrey P. Beck's seat of the 29th district after she committed suicide on March 12, 1983.[7][8] Five-term Democratic state representative Kevin P. Johnston managed to beat Republican lawyer and former Windham selectman candidate Dennis Gamache 57% to 43%, holding the seat Democratic.[9]
Another was held for the 27th district after Democratic Senator Thom Serrani resigned when he was elected Mayor of Stamford.[10] On February 21, 1984, Democrat state representative Anthony Truglia beat Republican former state rep. Marie Hawe, 63% to 37%.[11]
Incumbents defeated
Ten incumbents were defeated in general elections.[12]
In general election
Independents
- District 2: Wilber G. Smith lost re-election to Democrat Frank D. Barrows after he had switched from Democratic to Independent.
Democrats
- District 9: A. Cynthia Matthews lost re-election to Richard B. Johnston.
- District 12: Regina R. Smith lost re-election to Richard S. Eaton.
- District 15: Robert G. Dorr lost re-election to Thomas F. Upson.
- District 16: William J. Sullivan lost re-election to Joseph Markley.
- District 17: Eugene A. Skowronski lost re-election to John F. Consoli.
- District 19: James J. Murphy Jr. lost re-election to Eric R. Benson.
- District 22: Howard T. Owens Jr. lost re-election to Lee Scarpetti.
- District 24: Wayne A. Baker lost re-election to Robert T. Miller.
- District 35: Michael J. Skelley lost re-election to James D. Giulietti.
Results
District 2
Incumbent Democrat Wilber G. Smith had many past quarrels with the Hartford Democratic Party leadership, challenging its city council with his own "Neighborhood Slate" for election in 1983. Many in the party viewed Smith as "divisive", and sought to nominate Frank D. Barrows, a relatively unknown party organizer who was deemed as more "cooperative" with the party. Hartford mayor Thirman Milner, who Smith was a close advisor to, supported the incumbent Senator.[13][14]
The Democratic convention on July 24 ended up being a dramatic defeat for Smith, who received only four (or 8.5%) votes out of the total 47 delegates voting, failing to meet the 10 vote (or 20%) threshold to force a primary. The vote was a clear sign of the delegates' irritation with Smith, with Barrows receiving 32 (or 68%) of the total delegate vote, winning the nomination outright. Soon after, Smith announced his campaign for re-election as an independent.
| Democratic convention, July 24[15] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |||
| Votes | % | |||
| Frank D. Barrows | 32 | 68.08% | ||
| Renelle Staton | 6 | 12.77% | ||
| Bernard Crowley | 5 | 10.64% | ||
| Wilber G. Smith | 4 | 8.51% | ||
| Inactive Ballots | 0 ballots | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank D. Barrows | 13,568 | 48.31% | |
| Republican | Mark J. Fernandez | 8,283 | 29.49% | |
| Petitioning Candidate | Wilber G. Smith (incumbent) | 6,235 | 22.20% | |
| Total votes | 28,086 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Independent | ||||
References
- ↑ "Republicans take over state House and Senate". The Day. November 7, 1984.
- ↑ "1984 Statement of Vote". Connecticut Secretary of State. November 6, 1984.
- ↑ Richard L. Madden (November 7, 1984). "CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE SHIFTS TO G.O.P. CONTROL". New York Times.
- ↑ "3 Legislators To Retire From General Assembly". The Norwalk Hour. May 16, 1984.
- ↑ Thomas Farragher (May 14, 1984). "Mrs. Martin officially announces retirement". The Day.
- ↑ Judd Everhart (March 22, 1984). "Schneller to leave State Senate". The Norwalk Hour.
- ↑ "Senator Audrey P. Beck Of Connecticut Is Dead". New York Times. March 12, 1983.
- ↑ "Weicker's Success and Efforts Bouying GOP in Today's Elections". The Norwalk Hour. May 2, 1983.
- ↑ "GOP Picks Up the Most Muninciple Leader Posts". The Norwalk Hour. May 3, 1983.
- ↑ Richard L. Madden (November 9, 1983). "A DEMOCRAT IS ELECTED THE NEW MAYOR OF STAMFORD". New York Times.
- ↑ "Truglia Wins Senate Race". The Norwalk Hour. February 22, 1984.
- ↑ "Office of the Secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
- ↑ Steve Grant (July 26, 1984). "Barrows' Nomination Ends Search for 'Team Player'". Hartford Courant – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Charles F.J. Morse (July 16, 1984). "Senator Gets Unexpected Assistance". Hartford Courant – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Michele Jacklin; Charles F.J. Morse (July 25, 1984). "Smith Fails To Win Party Endorsement". Hartford Courant – via Newspapers.com.