By Anne White
In the recent Connecticut state elections, Republicans Ryan Fazio and Tom O’Dea won their races in the 36th Senate District and 125th House District, respectively, with strong support in New Canaan. Democratic incumbents Ceci Maher, Lucy Dathan and newly elected Savet Constantine also celebrated victories.
In the closely watched 36 Senate District race, covering Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan, Fazio defeated Democratic challenger Nick Simmons with a total of 28,779 votes (51.7%) to Simmons’ 26,884 votes (48.3%), according to Stamford Advocate data. Fazio led decisively in Greenwich, receiving approximately 1500 more votes, and in New Canaan, where he earned 1300 more votes. However, Simmons saw stronger support in Stamford, where he led by about 900 votes.
Fazio, who won by just 89 votes in 2022, increased his margin to 1,895 votes this year after Simmons ran the most expensive campaign in the history of the 36 Senate District.
Simmons, in a concession call to Fazio, offered congratulations and released a statement of gratitude to his supporters. “While this wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, I am deeply grateful to all of our supporters for their passion and hard work throughout this campaign,” Simmons said. “These races are not about us as candidates, but about you and what we can do to make your lives better.” He also encouraged supporters to remain civically active, adding, “The antidote to anxiety is action.”
Speaking at headquarters on election night, Fazio thanked his team and supporters, acknowledging their role in his re-election. “We all feel like winners, and it’s most of all because of those who have dedicated so much and have been willing to support us through these many months of hard work connecting with our wonderful communities,” Fazio stated, emphasizing the value of local support.
“Our campaigns have always been premised on a love of community and a brighter vision for the future of our entire state. That’s what we ran on and that’s what we will continue to work for,” Fazio continued, noting the shared values driving his campaign. He spoke to the commitment required by his role, saying, “Representing my home district is the honor of a lifetime, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel deeply that honor and the responsibility to do the best job I can.” He added, “Campaigns are not won on the trail; they’re won, especially for incumbents, by serving the community earnestly over a long period of time.”
The 142nd House District race, covering portions of New Canaan and Norwalk, saw Lucy Dathan re-elected unopposed, which she believes is a testament to voter confidence. “Running unopposed was very humbling and encouraging, as I think it reflects the trust and confidence that voters have had in me,” Dathan remarked in an interview with the Sentinel. She highlighted her dedication to constituent engagement, noting her commitment to door-to-door outreach in recent years. “Listening to our constituents is a vital part of representing our community,” she said, adding that the feedback she received while campaigning reinforced her priorities for the upcoming term.
In New Canaan, voter turnout was marked by high early voting and absentee ballot numbers, as documented in local precinct data. Early voting alone accounted for 5,511 ballots, while absentee voting added another 1,205, indicating a broad engagement among New Canaan residents. In-person turnout remained steady throughout Election Day, peaking between 7-8 a.m. and again from noon to 2 p.m., showing that residents made an effort to participate despite varying schedules and commitments.
Savet Constantine, elected to represent a district spanning parts of Wilton, New Canaan, and Ridgefield, emphasized the shared values she observed throughout her campaign in an interview with the Sentinel. “We all share so many of the same values, mainly education, our towns, the economy, and the environment,” Constantine stated, underscoring her goal to work collaboratively with local boards to advance community priorities. She expressed excitement about beginning her term in Hartford, stating, “I am very ready to go up to Hartford and work hard to represent us and make sure that we can get things done.”
In the 26th Senate District, which includes parts of Darien, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton, Democratic incumbent Ceci Maher declared victory over Republican challenger Kami Evans. Maher secured 34,562 votes, while Evans received 21,571 votes. Maher expressed her dedication to continuing her work on children’s issues, environmental protection, and women’s rights.
In the 125th House District, Tom O’Dea celebrated re-election with a message of appreciation for his team, his family, and the community. “It has been the honor of a lifetime serving the 125th District… I truly love working for the district in Hartford to make it and the state a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” O’Dea said. He acknowledged his opponent, Jason Bennett, for running a campaign centered on issues important to the community. O’Dea’s district experienced substantial in-person turnout, particularly in the later morning and early afternoon hours, further reflecting the engaged voter base in New Canaan.
The election results across the region highlight a substantial turnout across absentee, early, and in-person voting.
As representatives from New Canaan and surrounding areas prepare to head to Hartford, they emphasized a shared dedication to listening to their constituents and advancing policies that reflect the needs and values of their districts.
