Mangini, Santanella Prevail In Enfield Democratic Primary Elections

ENFIELD, CT — A pair of Enfield Town Council members emerged victorious Tuesday in Democratic primary elections for seats in the state legislature.

In the 7th Senatorial District, longtime councilor Cynthia Mangini is set up for a second straight run at 16-term Republican incumbent John Kissel, after handily defeating Windsor Board of Education member Nathan Wolliston in the primary.

According to unofficial vote totals from the Associated Press (AP), Mangini received 1,647 votes, or 66 percent, nearly doubling the 849 votes earned by Wolliston. The AP called the race at 10:08 p.m.

Mangini challenged Kissel in 2022, but the Republican incumbent kept his seat with 57 percent of the vote.

The expansive 7th District includes Enfield, Suffield, Windsor Locks, East Granby and Somers, as well as parts of Windsor, Granby and Ellington.

State Rep. Thomas Arnone opted not to seek a fourth term in the 58th House District, creating a battle between town councilor John Santanella and former state Rep. David Alexander for the nomination.

It was no contest, as Santanella collected 696 votes, or 76.8 percent, to 210 for Alexander, according to the AP, which called the race at 10:25 p.m.

Santanella will face a fellow councilor, Republican Bob Hendrickson, in the general election on Nov. 5.