GOP Flip: Connecticut Republicans Deliver First Flip in Country for Either Party in 2021
Ryan Fazio secures victory in a Connecticut Senate District Biden won by 25 points in 2020
Washington, DC —State Republicans tonight delivered the first flip of a state legislative seat in a special election by either party in 2021, as Republican Ryan Fazio defeated liberal Democrat Alex Gevanter in Connecticut’s state Senate District 36 – a district Joe Biden won by more than 25% in 2020. The victory adds to the success New England state Republicans had in April when they secured key holds in two highly contested races in Biden-won districts. It also ends the Democrat supermajority in Connecticut’s state Senate.
“After holding the line in two Biden-won districts in New England early this year, our momentum continues tonight with the first successful flip of the 2021-2022 election cycle,” said RSLC President Dee Duncan. “Congratulations to Ryan Fazio on running a strong campaign. His victory demonstrates that the people of Connecticut are sick and tired of the radical tax and spend agenda coming from Democrats in Hartford and in Washington, D.C. They’re looking for common-sense leaders who will champion conservative policies that will revive the economy, create jobs, reduce regulations, lower taxes, and keep families safe.
Tonight’s triumph for Fazio also builds on the Republican State Leadership Committee’s momentum from a historic 2020 election cycle during which it shocked political forecasters across the country by beating back over $500 million in Democrat state spending to retain all of its 59 Republican-controlled chambers as well as flip both legislative chambers in New Hampshire. It is also yet another blow to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), as they billed the race in an August fundraising email as a bellwether for the rest of the cycle, arguing that “if we lose districts like this, ALL of our gains since 2018 could be at risk.”
Duncan continued, “With Democrats controlling Washington, it’s more important than ever that we have strong Republican leadership in the states. Tonight’s result is further evidence that Republicans are on offense this cycle, and the RSLC has no intention of slowing down when it comes to winning the tough fights ahead of us. The RSLC will continue to support state Republicans to ensure wins like this so that we can grow the future of our party and stop socialism from spreading to the states.”
Fazio spent the closing stretch of the campaign drawing a clear contrast between his commitment to fiscal responsibility and Gevanter’s support for “a new gas tax.” Tonight’s results reinforce that state Democrats across the country, including in Virginia, will be held accountable at the ballot box this cycle for their disastrous record of raising energy costs while families continue to feel the harm of rising inflation.
###
