1988 Connecticut Senate election

Not to be confused with 1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut.

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.

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 Democrats retained their majority in the State Senate, having a 23-13 majority over the Republicans, although losing their supermajority.

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 26

Connecticut's 26th State Senate district election, 1988

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judith G. Freedman (incumbent)	34,877	74.88%
	Democratic	George F. Lenz	11,705	25.12%
Total votes			46,582	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 36

Connecticut's 36th State Senate district election, 1988

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Emil Benvenuto	25,621	66.16%
	Democratic	Peter Gasparino	13,105	33.84%
Total votes			38,726	100.00%
	Republican hold