Perillo Defeats Afriyie In Special Election For State Senate

STRATFORD, CT — Republican State Rep. Jason Perillo defeated Democrat Tony Afriyie in Tuesday’s special election to succeed former State Sen. Kevin Kelly in the 21st Senatorial District.

Kelly, who was re-elected this past November, resigned from his seat the day before the legislative session began and has been nominated by Gov. Ned Lamont to serve as a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court.

The 21st Senatorial District consists of portions of Monroe, Seymour, and Stratford, and all of Shelton.

Perillo, who was first elected to the state House in 2006, currently serves as the representative in the 113th House District.

“Congratulations to Sen-elect Perillo - a knowledgeable and experienced lawmaker who cares deeply about Connecticut and our future,” State Sen. Stephen Harding said in a statement on behalf of the CT Senate Republican Caucus. “Sen-elect Perillo and his campaign team worked tirelessly to get out the vote. He will be an invaluable addition to our Senate Republican Caucus.

“Among his goals are to repeal all income taxes on social security and pensions, as well as to eliminate the public benefit charge on electric bills.

“We welcome Sen-elect Perillo to the Senate Republican Caucus and thank him for his commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone in Connecticut.”

Afriyie, who currently serves on the Stratford Town Council, thanked everyone who supported his campaign, “who volunteered their time, and who believed in the vision we shared for a brighter future.”

“I’m grateful to my team, led by Karen Tracy and Kathleen Callahan, two women who have done unbelievable work to organize Democrats in Stratford,” Afriyie said in a statement. “This journey has been one of growth, learning, and connection, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve and listen to the concerns of so many in our community.

“While the outcome was not as we hoped, I am proud of the campaign we ran. We engaged in thoughtful conversations, raised important issues, and inspired so many people to get involved in the political process. We made this race tight and we won every single precinct in Stratford, and that's because voters are tired of politics as usual. So many people want to see a new generation of leaders who will bring real solutions to affordable housing, utility costs, investing in infrastructure and young people. I will continue to support our community in any way I can and remain committed to the causes and values that brought me to this race.

“As a Stratford resident and town councilor, I hope Representative Perillo serves us faithfully as State Senator.

“To my supporters and volunteers, this is not the end. This is the beginning of a continued fight for progress, fairness, and equality. I look forward to working alongside each of you in the future, and together we will continue to work toward a better tomorrow.

“Thank you again to everyone who believed in me and the ideas we fought for. We may not have won this election, but the movement we have started will continue to grow.”