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Connecticut, State House, District 121

Connecticut House of Representatives District 121
Current incumbentJoe Gresko Democratic Party

Connecticut’s hundred-and-twenty-first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Joe Gresko.

Connecticut state legislators represent an average of 23,670 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 22,553 residents.

About the office

Members of the Connecticut House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Connecticut legislators assume office the Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next succeeding their election.

Qualifications

Article III, Section 4 of the Connecticut Constitution states: "The house of representatives shall consist of not less than one hundred twenty-five and not more than two hundred twenty-five members, each of whom shall be an elector residing in the assembly district from which he is elected. Each assembly district shall be contiguous as to territory and shall elect no more than one representative. For the purpose of forming assembly districts no town shall be divided except for the purpose of forming assembly districts wholly within the town."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$28,000/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happened. All special elections must be held no later than 46 days after a governor's declaration. If the vacancy happened with less than 125 days left before the general election, the special election must be held on the same day as the general election. No election can be called by the governor if the vacancy happened with less than 49 days left before the general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is June 9, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 121

Incumbent Joe Gresko (D) defeated Robert Mitchell (R) in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Joe Gresko (D)
70.3
5,376

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Robert Mitchell (R)
29.7
2,274

Total votes: 7,650
Democratic primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

Republican primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

2016

General election

Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

Incumbent Joe Gresko ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 general election.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 121 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Joe Gresko Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State

Incumbent Joe Gresko ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 Democratic primary.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 121 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Joe Gresko Incumbent (unopposed)
Jason Santi ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 Republican primary.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 121 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jason Santi (unopposed)

Special election

A special election for the position of Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 was called for February 2. The filing deadline to run in this election was December 28.

The seat was vacant following the death of Terry Backer (D) on December 14, 2015, from brain cancer.

Joe Gresko (D) defeated Susan Barksdale (R) in the special election.

2014

Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014. Incumbent Terry Backer was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Richard Fredete was unopposed in the Republican primary. Backer defeated Fredete in the general election.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 121 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Backer Incumbent 71.5% 3,893
Republican Richard Fredete 28.5% 1,552
Total Votes 5,445

2012

Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2012. A total of 151 seats were up for election in 2012. Incumbent Terry Backer defeated Joe Crudo (R) in the general election. Both candidates ran unopposed in the August 14 primary elections.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 121, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Backer Incumbent 72.6% 5,919
Republican Joe Crudo 27.4% 2,231
Total Votes 8,150

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Connecticut House of Representatives District 121 raised a total of $358,199. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $23,880 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Connecticut House of Representatives District 121

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $33,355 1 $33,355
2014 $66,448 2 $33,224
2012 $64,000 2 $32,000
2010 $62,389 2 $31,195
2008 $31,907 1 $31,907
2006 $19,555 2 $9,778
2004 $21,779 1 $21,779
2002 $43,091 2 $21,546
2000 $15,675 2 $7,838
Total $358,199 15 $23,880