Harding Loses Senate Seat as Democrats Take 33–3 Majority

Stephen Harding, a Republican from Brookfield and the Senate minority leader, lost his seat in the 30th Senate District on Tuesday. Aaron Zimmer, a Democrat, defeated him 22,801 votes to 21,378 — 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent — in district totals from the Secretary of the State's unofficial reporting. Harding's total combines his Republican and Independent ballot lines. Both candidates are Brookfield residents, and Brookfield's Districts 1 and 2 vote in the 30th.

CT Mirror described Harding as "among the casualties Tuesday night" as Democrats flipped the chamber. Barring changes in recounts, Democrats gained eight Senate seats to win a 33–3 majority and picked up 14 House seats to reach a 116–35 majority. The only Republican victors in the Senate statewide were Eric Berthel of Watertown, Henri Martin of Bristol, and Rob Sampson of Wolcott. Sen. Paul Ciccarella of North Haven lost a close race that faces a recount.

Senate Democrats are set to vote Thursday for Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk as the next Senate president pro tem and Sen. Gary Winfield of New Haven as Duff's successor as majority leader.

In the 32nd Senate District, Eric Berthel, a Republican, leads Matt Knickerbocker, a Democrat, 25,632 votes to 22,562 — 53.2 percent to 46.8 percent. Brookfield's District 3 votes in the 32nd, and there Knickerbocker led Berthel, 769 votes to 688.

The 107th House District, which covers Brookfield and parts of Bethel and Newtown, is also close. Julie Kerton, a Democrat, leads Martin Foncello, a Republican, 5,560 votes to 5,310 — 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent. In Brookfield, Kerton led Foncello by 30 votes, 3,901 to 3,871.

In the probate race covering Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman, Marty Landgrebe, a Republican, leads Robin Mann, a Democrat, 13,951 votes to 13,488. In Brookfield, Mann led Landgrebe, 3,959 to 3,738.

The top of the ticket is settled. The Associated Press has called the governor's race for Ned Lamont, who won a third term with 739,286 votes statewide, 58.9 percent, to Ryan Fazio's 516,051. In Brookfield, Lamont won 4,018 votes to Fazio's 3,796, with all three precincts reporting.

In the 5th Congressional District, the Associated Press has called the race for Jahana Hayes, with 140,184 votes statewide, 58.1 percent, to Chris Shea's 101,289. In Brookfield, Hayes won 4,152 votes to Shea's 3,616.

For Secretary of the State, the Associated Press has called the race for Stephanie Thomas, with 776,225 votes statewide, 63.0 percent, to Peter Lumaj's 455,590. In Brookfield, Thomas won 4,209 votes to Lumaj's 3,545.

All results are unofficial until certified.