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1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut
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June 2026
June 2026
1990 United States House of Representatives elections
1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut Connecticut legislative no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut 1992 All 6 Connecticut seats to the United States House of Representatives 68.2%https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073065958&seq=813 Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1991 CT State Library Republican Party (United States) 3 3 545,751 52.64% 2.16% November 6, 1990 Democratic Party (US) 3 3 489,206 47.18% 2.08%
The 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut were held on November 6, 1990, to elect the six members of the U.S. House, one from each of the state's congressional districts, to represent Connecticut in the 102nd Congress. These elections coincided with a gubernatorial election and elections to the state legislature.
Republicans and Democrats retained the 3-3 split in the state's congressional delegation, with no seat changing hands.
Overview
United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 19901990 Statement of Vote https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/1990SOVpdf.pdf Connecticut Secretary of StateRegister and manual of the State of Connecticut 1991 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073065958&seq=739 CT State Library1990 Election Statistics - Page 7 https://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/Election-Statistics/ Office of the Clerk of the House of RepresentativesPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican 545,751 52.64% 3 0 Democratic 489,206 47.18% 3 0 Liberty 1,888 0.18% 0 0 Write-in candidates 47 0.00% 0 0 Totals 1,036,892 100.00% 6 —
Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Republican Republican Party (US) 52.64
Democratic Democratic Party (US) 47.18
House seats #ddd 600px 410px Republican Republican Party (US) 50.0
Democratic Democratic Party (US) 50.0
District 1
Connecticut's 1st congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 1st congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 1 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 1 1992 68.9% x150px Barbarakennelly.jpg Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic Party (United States) 126,566 71.40% File:3x4.svg James P. Garvey Republican Party (US) 50,690 28.60% U.S. Representative Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic Party (US) Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic Party (US)
Incumbent Democrat Barbara B. Kennelly, who was originally elected in 1981, faced 25 year-old Republican opponent James P. Garvey, a former aide to U.S. Representative Norman D. Shumway. Kennelly won re-election with 71.4% of the vote.
Results
1990 Connecticut's 1st congressional district election
Democratic Party (United States)
Barbara B. Kennelly (incumbent)
126,566
71.40%
Republican Party (United States)
James P. Garvey
50,690
28.60%
177,256
100.00%
Democratic Party (United States)
District 2
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 2nd congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 2 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 2 1992 69.6% x150px Repsamgejdenson.jpg Sam Gejdenson Democratic Party (US) 105,085 59.70% File:3x4.svg John M. Ragsdale Republican Party (US) 70,922 40.29% U.S. Representative Sam Gejdenson Democratic Party (US) Sam Gejdenson Democratic Party (US)
Incumbent Democrat Sam Gejdenson, originally elected in 1980, faced Republican nominee John M. Ragsdale, a real estate developer from Stonington. Gejdenson won re-election to a sixth term with 59.7% of the vote.
Republican primary
Nominee
John M. Ragsdale, Stonington real estate developer.
Defeated at convention
William B. Cutler, Stonington commercial real estate agent.
Convention
July 16 Republican convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % John M. Ragsdale 92 61.75% William B. Cutler 57 38.25% Inactive Ballots 1 ballot
General election
Results
1990 Connecticut's 2nd congressional district election
Democratic Party (US)
Sam Gejdenson (incumbent)
105,085
59.70%
Republican Party (US)
John M. Ragsdale
70,922
40.29%
8
0.01%
176,015
100.00%
Democratic Party (United States)
District 3
Connecticut's 3rd congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 3rd congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 3 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 3 1992 66.0% x150px File:Rosa DeLauro 109th pictorial photo.jpg Rosa DeLauro Democratic Party (United States) 90,772 52.10% Tom Scott Politician October2010.jpg Tom Scott Republican Party (United States) 83,440 47.90% U.S. Representative Bruce Morrison Democratic Party (United States) Rosa DeLauro Democratic Party (United States)
Incumbent Democratic congressman Bruce Morrison retired to run for governor. Rosa DeLauro, the then chief of staff to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, defeated Republican state senator Tom Scott with 52.1% to 47.9% of the vote.
Democratic primary
Nominee
Rosa DeLauro, chief of staff to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd.
Withdrew
Mike Lawlor, state representative from the 99th district.
Republican primary
Nominee
Tom Scott, state senator from the 14th district.
Eliminated in primary
Gerard B. Patton, former state representative from the 119th district (1979-1989) and nominee for this district in 1988.
Withdrew
J. Vincent Chase, state representative from the 120th district.
Convention
July 16 Republican convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Tom Scott 96 76.80% Gerard B. Patton 29 23.20% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots
Primary results
September 11, 1990 Republican primary
Republican Party (US) Tom Scott 7,500 72.46%
Republican Party (US) Gerard B. Patton 2,851 27.54%
10,351 100.00%
General election
Results
1990 Connecticut's 3rd congressional district election
Democratic Party (US)
Rosa DeLauro
90,772
52.10%
Republican Party (US)
Tom Scott
83,440
47.90%
174,212
100.00%
Democratic Party (United States)
District 4
Connecticut's 4th congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 4th congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4 1992 62.5% x150px File:Chris Shays official photo (cropped).jpg Chris Shays Republican Party (United States) 105,682 76.54% File:3x4.svg Al Smith Democratic Party (United States) 32,352 23.43% U.S. Representative Chris Shays Republican Party (United States) Chris Shays Republican Party (United States)
Incumbent Republican Chris Shays, originally elected in 1987, faced Darien lawyer and former Democratic town committee chairman Al Smith. Shays won re-election with 76.5% of the vote.
Democratic primary
Nominee
Al Smith, lawyer and former Darien Democratic town committee chairman.
Defeated at convention
John C. Loeser, former IBM executive from Stamford and candidate for this seat in 1988.
Convention
July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Al Smith 137 71.73% John Loeser 54 28.27% Inactive Ballots 13 ballots
General election
Results
1990 Connecticut's 4th congressional district election
Republican Party (US)
Chris Shays (incumbent)
105,682
76.54%
Democratic Party (US)
Al Smith
32,352
23.43%
34
0.03%
138,068
100.00%
Republican Party (United States)
District 5
Connecticut's 5th congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 5th congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 5 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 5 1992 70.6% x150px Gary A. Franks.jpg Gary Franks Republican Party (US) 93,912 51.71% Toby Moffett.jpg Toby Moffett Democratic Party (US) 85,803 47.25% U.S. Representative John G. Rowland Republican Party (US) Gary Franks Republican Party (US)
Incumbent Republican congressman John G. Rowland retired to run for governor. Republican nominee Gary Franks, a member of the Waterbury board of aldermen, defeated former Democratic U.S. Representative Toby Moffett. Franks became the first black Republican elected to congress since Oscar De Priest's re-election in 1932.
Republican primary
The July 18 Republican convention was held at the Colonial Tavern in Oxford. Entering the convention, Gary Franks appeared as the underdog candidate, having the least number of delegates on the first ballot. Of his 21 original supporters, 20 were from his home city of Waterbury. Throughout the convention, the Waterbury delegates would stick to Franks.
After three ballots, Brookfield state Senator Jamie McLaughlin dropped out after declining to 16 votes. After the sixth roll call with no clear front-runner, the Sarasin camp convinced the convention to adopt a rule which would eliminate the candidate with the lowest number of delegates on each succeeding ballot. On the seventh roll-call, Franks appeared to be in last place. Suddenly, Schlesinger convinced a number of his delegates to switch their votes to Franks in an effort to eliminate Sarasin, which succeeded. This move would backfire, however, as on the eighth ballot Schlesinger scored last place behind Franks and Watson. Schlesinger then urged his delegates to support Franks. On the ninth ballot Franks defeated Watson 80-62, with Watson subsequently endorsing him.
Nominee
Gary Franks, member of the Waterbury Board of Aldermen and nominee for state comptroller in 1986.
Defeated at convention
Steve Watson, former regional director for the RNC and special assistant to the Reagan administration from Danbury.
Alan Schlesinger, state representative from the 114th district.
Warren Sarasin, former state representative from the 105th district (1979-1985) and brother of Ronald Sarasin.
James McLaughlin, state Senator from the 32nd district.
Convention
July 18 Republican convention (142 delegates) Candidate 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9thFranks 21 21 21 24 28 29 35 47 80Watson 36 37 36 39 39 38 37 57 62Schlesinger 33 35 37 43 42 43 36 380Sarasin 30 30 32 36 33 33 3400McLaughlin 22 19 16000000Not Voting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Democratic primary
Previously, former congressman Toby Moffett had run for U.S. Senate in 1982 against Lowell Weicker and for governor in 1986 against William A. O'Neill, losing both times. In 1990 he moved from Branford to Newtown in order to run for Rowland's seat.
He was opposed in the Democratic primary by Michael Pacowta, the Mayor of Shelton. On the July 16 Democratic convention held at Danbury High School, Moffett won the Democratic endorsement for the district nomination, winning 127 (62%) of the 204 total delegates, with Pacowta obtaining 77 (37.7%), scoring above the 20% threshold needed to force a primary. On July 24 Pacowta stated he would not seek a primary against Moffett.Dems nominate Moffett in 5th District https://www.newspapers.com/image/1252545161 July 17, 1990 Connecticut Post David Gregorio
Nominee
Toby Moffett, former U.S. Representative from the 6th congressional district.
Defeated at convention
Michael Pacowta, Mayor of Shelton.
Convention
July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Toby Moffett 127 62.25% Michael Pacowta 77 37.75% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots
General election
Results
1990 Connecticut's 5th congressional district election
Republican Party (US)
Gary Franks
93,912
51.71%
Democratic Party (US)
Toby Moffett
85,803
47.25%
Liberty
William G. Hare
1,888
1.04%
5
0.00%
181,608
100.00%
Republican Party (United States)
District 6
Connecticut's 6th congressional district
1990 Connecticut's 6th congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 6 1988 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 6 1992 71.0% x150px File:Nancy Johnson2 (cropped).jpg Nancy Johnson Republican Party (United States) 141,105 74.37% File:3x4.svg Paul Kulas Democratic Party (United States) 48,628 25.63% U.S. Representative Nancy Johnson Republican Party (United States) Nancy Johnson Republican Party (United States)
Incumbent Republican Nancy Johnson defeated Democratic nominee Paul Kulas, the First Selectman of Suffield. She won re-election with 74.4% of the vote.
Democratic primary
Nominee
Paul Kulas, First Selectman of Suffield.
Defeated at convention
Harold D. Hansen, former state Senator from the 30th district (1975-1977) and candidate for this seat in 1986.
Convention
July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Paul Kulas 114 60.32% Harold D. Hansen 75 39.68% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots
General election
Results
1990 Connecticut's 6th congressional district election
Republican Party (United States)
Nancy L. Johnson (incumbent)
141,105
74.37%
Democratic Party (US)
Paul Kulas
48,628
25.63%
189,733
100.00%
Republican Party (United States)
References
Category:1990 Connecticut elections
Connecticut
1990