1988 Connecticut Senate election

1988 Connecticut State Senate election

November 8, 1988

All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate
19 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Cornelius O'Leary Reginald Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 7th 8th
Last election 25 11
Seats won 23 13
Seat change 2 2
Popular vote 680,626 611,751
Percentage 52.51% 47.20%
Swing 3.56% 3.27%

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 1988 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1988 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 retained their majority in the State Senate, having a 23-13 majority over the Republicans, although losing their supermajority.[1][2]

Retirements

Two incumbents did not seek re-election.

Democrats

  1. District 27: Anthony Truglia retired.

Republicans

  1. District 36: Michael L. Morano retired.

Incumbents defeated

Two incumbents, both Democrats, were defeated in general elections.

In general election

Democrats

  1. District 16: Donald M. Rinaldi lost re-election to Stephen Somma.
  2. District 22: Howard T. Owens Jr. lost re-election to Lee Scarpetti.

Results

Senate seats
Democratic
63.89%
Republican
36.11%
Popular vote
Democratic
52.51%
Republican
47.20%

District 1

Connecticut's 1st State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William A. DiBella (incumbent) 17,744 73.37%
Republican Patrick L. Kennedy 6,440 26.63%
Total votes 24,184 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 2

Connecticut's 2nd State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank D. Barrows (incumbent) 17,011 72.8%
Republican Donald A. Jepsen 6,371 27.2%
Total votes 23,382 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 3

Connecticut's 3rd State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John B. Larson (incumbent) 27,793 72.2%
Republican Joseph F. Roberts 10,678 27.8%
Total votes 38,471 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 4

Connecticut's 4th State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael P. Meotti (incumbent) 26,363 57.3%
Republican Carl A. Zinsser 19,649 42.7%
Total votes 46,012 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 5

Connecticut's 5th State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin Sullivan (incumbent) 31,821 64.6%
Republican Robert W. Cornell 17,063 34.6%
Libertarian Alfred F. Neves 375 0.8%
Total votes 49,259 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 6

Connecticut's 6th State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph H. Harper Jr. (incumbent) 19,394 70.0%
Republican Mary Lou Sanders 8,324 30.0%
Total votes 27,718 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 7

Connecticut's 7th State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cornelius P. O'Leary (incumbent) 24,888 66.1%
Republican H. James Anderson 12,740 33.9%
Total votes 37,628 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 8

Connecticut's 8th State Senate district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Reginald J. Smith (incumbent) 27,819 61.8%
Democratic Dwight Schweitzer 17,189 38.2%
Total votes 45,008 100.0%
Republican hold

District 9

District 10

District 11

District 12

District 13

District 14

District 15

District 16

District 17

District 18

District 19

District 20

District 21

District 22

District 23

District 24

District 25

District 26

District 27

District 28

District 29

District 30

District 31

District 32

District 33

District 34

District 35

District 36

References

  1. ^ "Office of the secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
  2. ^ "Vote for State Senators, November 8, 1988, Senatorial Districts". Connecticut State Library.