- Share on WeChat
-
| Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 | ||
| Current incumbent | Pat Wilson Pheanious  | |
Connecticut’s fifty-third state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Pat Wilson Pheanious.
Connecticut state legislators represent an average of 23,670 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 22,553 residents.
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.
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."
| State legislators | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $28,000/year | No per diem is paid. |
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.
This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.
The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.
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.
Pat Wilson Pheanious (D) defeated incumbent Samuel Belsito (R) in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Pat Wilson Pheanious (D) |
52.3
|
5,876 |
|
|
Samuel Belsito (R) |
47.7
|
5,369 | |
|
|
Total votes: 11,245 |
The primary elections were canceled.
The primary elections were canceled.
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 Samuel Belsito defeated Susan Eastwood in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 general election.Connecticut House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Samuel Belsito Incumbent |
50.19% | 6,385 | |
| Democratic | Susan Eastwood | 49.81% | 6,337 | |
| Total Votes | 12,722 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Connecticut House of Representatives, District 53 Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Susan Eastwood (unopposed) |
Connecticut House of Representatives, District 53 Republican Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel Belsito Incumbent (unopposed) |
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. Rick Field was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Sam Belsito was unopposed in the Republican primary. Belsito defeated Field in the general election.
Connecticut House of Representatives District 53, General Election, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Belsito Incumbent |
51% | 4,647 | |
| Democratic | Rick Field | 44.8% | 4,088 | |
| Independent | Sam Belsito Incumbent |
4.2% | 384 | |
| Total Votes | 9,119 | |||
Belsito won election in the special election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 53. The seat was vacant following Rep. Bryan Hurlburt's (D) resignation on April 16, 2013 to take a position in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Services Bureau.. Belsito defeated Anthony J. Horn (D) in the special election which took place on June 11.
Connecticut House of Representatives, District 53, Special Election, 2013
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel Belsito |
58.5% | 1,910 | |
| Democratic | Anthony J. Horn | 41.5% | 1,356 | |
| Total Votes | 3,266 | |||
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 raised a total of $357,719. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $22,357 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Connecticut House of Representatives District 53
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $38,653 | 2 | $19,327 |
| 2014 | $14,185 | 2 | $7,093 |
| 2012 | $65,854 | 2 | $32,927 |
| 2010 | $65,571 | 2 | $32,786 |
| 2008 | $61,820 | 2 | $30,910 |
| 2006 | $72,955 | 3 | $24,318 |
| 2004 | $8,678 | 1 | $8,678 |
| 2002 | $12,345 | 1 | $12,345 |
| 2000 | $17,658 | 1 | $17,658 |
| Total | $357,719 | 16 | $22,357 |
