Connecticut Republican Party | |
Headquarters: | 98 Washington Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06457 |
Chairperson: | Ben Proto |
Leader1 Title: | Senate leader |
Leader1 Name: | Stephen G. Harding |
Leader2 Title: | House leader |
Leader2 Name: | Vincent Candelora |
Membership Year: | 2023 |
Membership: | 500,845[1] |
Ideology: | Conservatism |
Colors: | Red |
Seats1 Title: | Seats in the U.S. Senate |
Seats2 Title: | Seats in the United States House of Representatives |
Seats3 Title: | Seats in the Connecticut State Senate |
Seats4 Title: | Seats in the Connecticut House of Representatives |
National: | Republican Party |
State: | Connecticut |
The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the national Republican Party.
Republicans control neither chamber of the state legislature, no constitutional state offices, none of the state's five seats in the U.S. House, and neither of its two U.S. Senate seats. The last Republican to represent the state in the U.S. House was Chris Shays, who lost his seat in 2008 to Jim Himes. The last Republican to represent the state in the U.S. Senate was Lowell Weicker, who lost his seat in 1988 to Joe Lieberman.
In Connecticut, there are Republican town committees in all 169 Connecticut municipalities.[2] The 169 Republican town committees are affiliates of the Connecticut Republican Party. Town committees have the ability to endorse candidates in primary elections for local office.[3]
Both of Connecticut's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 1988. Lowell Weicker was the last Republican to represent Connecticut in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1970, Weicker lost his bid for a fourth term in 1988 to Joe Lieberman.
All 5 of Connecticut's congressional districts have been held by Democrats since 2008. The last Republican to represent Connecticut in the House of Representatives was Chris Shays. First elected in a 1987 special election, Shays was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Jim Himes in 2008.
Connecticut has not elected any GOP candidates to statewide office since 2006, when Jodi Rell was elected to a full term as governor. First elected as lieutenant governor in 1994, Rell assumed the position of governor in 2004 following the resignation of John G. Rowland. In 2010, Rell opted not to seek re-election to a second term. Former U.S. Ambassador Thomas C. Foley ran as the Republican nominee in the 2010 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Dannel Malloy.