Leone Wins 27th District State Senate Race [Update with Video]

In a special election marked by low turnout, Democrat Carlo Leone defeated Republican Tuesday in the 27th district State Senate race, keeping the seat in Democratic hands.

As of 12:04 a.m., figures from the Stamford and Darien registrars showed Leone receiving 4,517 votes (54.6 percent) to Kolenberg's 3,315 (45.1 percent). Leone claimed victory in a speech to supporters less than an hour after the polls had closed.

"This is a chance for us Democrats to really show what we're able to do. We are about the people, for the people," Leone told the crowd at Stamford Democratic headquarters on High Ridge Road. "And even though we sometimes differ on a couple things, we work through our issues so that we can really present what is right for the state and what is right for the country."

Leone carried his hometown of Stamford easily, earning — at last count — 4,294 votes (57 percent) to Kolenberg's 3,245 (43 percent). Kolenberg, meanwhile, won handily in Republican-dominated Darien, receiving 480 votes (68 percent) to Leone's 223 votes (32 percent). 

Green Party write-in candidate Rolf Maurer received 25 votes in total, only one of which came from Darien. Overall, a modest 18 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the election.

Leone has represented the 148th assembly district for the past eight years. He succeeds Sen. Andrew McDonald (D), to serve as general counsel for Gov. Dannel Malloy.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Leone, 47, works as a program manager for the Bridgeport-based non-profit WorkPlace Inc., which provides unemployed veterans free training in green technology.

The following is an excerpt from Leone's victory speech, delivered just before 9 p.m.:

"This is a chance for us Democrats to really show what we're able to do. We are about the people, for the people. And even though we sometimes differ on a couple things, we work through our issues so that we can really present what is right for the state and what is right for the country. And I'm proud to say that Connecticut has bucked the trend, and I think we're going off in a different direction and we have great new leadership and a great new mindset."

"A lot of people down in this neck of the woods really understand what we're trying to do here. And if we can duplicate what we've done in Stamford for the past number of years and do that up at the state capitol, I really do believe that in a couple of years, we're going to be on the right track, we're going to be sustainable, we're going to have a new model. And I couldn't be more excited to a be a part of that whole new process. We really have a chance to shine here, and as a group of elected officials, we are reflective of our community, and when I tell you how great a delegation that we have and how well we're respected because of all the talent that we brought to the table — they do look at us and they actually worry when we get together ... It's been nothing but a pleasure and I couldn't be more happy than to do it as you next state senator."

Results (last updated at 12:04 a.m.):

Turnout (last updated at 12:04 a.m.):