Climate groups disappointed after Gov. Lamont drops electric vehicle mandates for good

Officials: Torrington recount finds Republican Joe Canino winner

Molinaro concedes NY-19 congressional race

Despite national losses, Democrats gain veto-proof majority in Connecticut

Judge dismisses voting rights lawsuits against Mount Pleasant and Newburgh

Exclusive: Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins announces run for county executive

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News 12 Staff

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I'm Mark Sudal. Welcome back to power and politics. Well, there are several new state leaders that have been just elected in our area. Let's begin in the State Senate 22nd district where Quinnipiac Professor Sujata Gad Car Wilcox defeated Republican Chris Carina. Now this was Marilyn Moore's old seat. The rest of these are all statehouse races in district 42 Democrat Savi Constantine scores a narrow victory over Wilton's Kim Healy district 69 which is Bridgewater Roxbury, Washington and parts of Southbury Republican. Jason Buxbaum is victorious over Ed Edelson district 117. That's Milford Orange and West Haven that goes to Milford's MJ Shannon district 131. That's Oxford Republican Arnold Jensen takes this seat rather handily over democrat, Ellen Fox two races in Stanford. Now to tell you about first is the house district 148 that goes to democrat Jonathan Jacobson, who also defeated incumbent Annabelle Figueroa in the state primary and in district 146 Eilish Collins Maine comes out on top. She also defeated incumbent David Michelle in the state primary and state representative elect Aish Collins Maine joins us. Now, welcome to you. Thank you, Mark. It's so nice to be here and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you this morning today. Well, as a first time candidate, you must be so proud to get to this point. Were you surprised at all? Um Thank you. I am very excited and I'm so grateful to the voters um because we had the opportunity to for to first run a primary and win that. Um We weren't surprised uh in the way that you might think because we had so much time to do voter engagement. We put together a great team. Um We developed a great strategy and we executed on that and won the primary. And so we've simply repeated that uh in the general election. So you, you're always wanting to make sure that you focus on execution, not the outcome. And um I was grateful that that was the case. Now, you are really a businesswoman who uh with very little political political experience, but you did help Mayor Caroline Simmons uh get elected. Why did you wanna run? Yeah, thank you. I um also managed a campaign two years ago for the 125. So that gave me the experience on the trail and to meet with a lot of people. I was very involved in the um charter revision um election and as, as a campaign manager for the Stanford for fair government pack, and that gave me a lot of exposure which led to my confidence to put my hat in the ring to be the candidate. Um, and then win the endorsement of the Democratic city committee for which I was so grateful. And as a, as a new candidate, of course, you know, this full well, you had to knock on a lot of doors. I did have to knock on a lot of doors. Thank you. Um, our district 146 is not only, um, the growth engine for our state is the fastest growing district in our state and it's a combination of neighborhoods as well as uh tall, rental, tall residential buildings. So it really did require um, some strategic planning to make sure that we hit all the voters in the south end and in the downtown in Harbor Point and in Japan. So I saw, you know, some of your social media, which was really good too and you said pretty much right off the bat. Ok. You know, no time to celebrate. We gotta get to work. What do you want to accomplish in the state legislature? Well, thank you so much for asking that. In fact, I was out walking this morning and ran into a group of parents at the bus stop and there was warm. Congratulations. And then that's exactly the question that was put to me. And I will tell you that it was an easy one to answer because I spent six months really talking to voters and it's really about what they've told. Me. And this is what I said to this woman. I said, it's about affordability and livability and education. And then she said, education that is a top of mind for me. And we instantly started talking about that. She'd been at a board meeting for a community organization the night before and she said, we've been talking about uh development and how important managed development is to our city. So we are gonna focus on the things that we uh learn from the voters throughout the campaign. Um And that's a perfect example of how I tend to be out and about in the community and engaging with neighbors, friends and constituents so that it can serve them best in the legislature. Now. Certainly, no surprise. And we've talked about this at nauseum with other uh candidates is affordable housing here in our state. And you certainly know that there's a shortage of housing even in Stanford. Talk about that. Yeah, that is the number one issue mark that came up uh in every voter conversation and I've spoken about this. Um We've written about it. We've put it on social media housing for every age and stage, um not simply affordable but workforce housing so that people can live and work in our city. Seniors who need housing and are on wait lists, young working professionals who are renting but would love to own a home across the board. Um Housing is definitely the number one affordability issue. And we wanna be able to keep people in the city who love to live here or who have lived here all their lives. Um And no matter what, um what demographic they are, do you think that was addressed enough before in the district or? You know, I think our Stanford delegation and our delegation has, is a very strong one and I think that they have done their level best and everybody knows that there's a crisis. Um, I think that there were some bills that came to life during the last legislative session that hopefully will be resurrected. Um, and, uh, I think that we are all ready to, uh tackle this challenge further. Uh, certainly electric rates are another big issue. Um, I know Republicans and Democrats have both, uh, been fighting to, to really get behind some of these numbers in these electric bills. Uh, some Republicans asking for a special session from the governor, which, which has not happened yet. But, but how, how do we tackle these electric rates? Well, we're gonna have to definitely sit down and tackle it because that is the second. And when it comes to affordability, utility bills and personal property taxes were two of the top things that came up. So we're gonna need to sit down in legislative session and talk about, um, what, you know, discern what exactly why these utility rates are so high and then see what we can do to address it. And then the economy as well, I imagine. Right. High, high grocery prices and things like that. Inflation. Um Absolutely. Um, the cost of living in general um uh is very much top of mind for everyone that I spoke with um in our city. All right. Well, it has been fantastic to have you on, you ran a great campaign and uh we wish you all the best here going into the, the new legislative year. Well, thank you. And I hope to be able to serve on the committees that best serve my constituents, things like um higher education and commerce and planning and development and transportation so that I can bring back meaningful policies and funding to our city. All right, we'll be right back.

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Representative Jim Himes is re elected to the US House defeating Republican challenger, Doctor Michael Goldstein and independent Benjamin Wesley. Big win for Democrats in the hotly contested fifth congressional district. Johanna Hayes defeats Republican challenger George Logan. This race was being watched around the country. Hayes will be the first candidate in 52 years to hold that seat for more than three terms. News 12 Connecticut's Mesa alter reports from Waterbury. Johanna Hayes, gratitude was on display outside her campaign headquarters Wednesday inside Hayes also expressed her appreciation to those who elected her to 1/4 term. Hayes beat challenger George Logan by over 20,000 votes. A rematch of the 2022 race. She won by a razor thin margin. I want to unburden you with ever having to say I only won by 2000 votes because that is no longer true. The race was a contentious one with the fifth congressional district attracting national attention and money because it could help determine who controls the US House. These political contests have gotten to the point that they have a visceral nature and this race really came down to the people in this district trusting me to continue this work. And I think that's, that's what was more satisfying about it. Hayes had hoped to also be celebrating Kamala Harris's election today is bittersweet. Um I am heartbroken by the outcome, but I asked for this job and I have work to do though Connecticut's congressional delegation remains all blue. Republicans will control the Senate and are on track to take the house. Hayes said that may change the strategy but not the mission. I've had legislation signed into law under President Trump and President Biden. I have worked with uh the majority in the house, a minority in the house and been able to get things done. So you pick and choose your battles. The former national teacher of the year said she'll use the skills she learned in the classroom to fight for her district politics is definitely different than teaching. But there are some through lines, you know, you have to listen to people. There is a part of their success that you're responsible for, which is much like the classroom. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about what the future looks like, but I remain confident I have faith in people. That's what being a teacher teaches you in Waterbury, Marisa Altern. He's 12 Connecticut, early Wednesday morning, George Logan posted to social media that he conceded. Logan thanked his team and the people of the district writing quote. It has been an extremely rewarding experience to meet you and your families and enjoy the vibrant communities that span our 41 towns. That's all our time. I'm Mark Sudal. Thanks for watching.

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