CT 34th Senate District Election: Cicarella Defeats Capone

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Republican Paul Cicarella has won the race to replace longtime state Senator Len Fasano in the 34th District, which represents East Haven, Wallingford and parts of Durham and North Haven.

Fasano, the Senate Republican leader, announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election to a 10th term.

Cicarella defeated Democrat April Capone, a former East Haven mayor.

Capone conceded the race late Tuesday night and expressed gratitude that each campaign "remained focused on the issues facing residents of the 34th district, and extended gratitude to the state and town election officials, and poll workers, who worked tirelessly to deliver accurate results in a year with unprecedented Absentee Ballot turnout," according to a news release.

"Our nation has endured four years of divisive, vitriolic politics, and Connecticut voters are tired of it," Capone said in a statement. "From the beginning of this campaign, I was committed to focusing on the issues instead of resorting to personal attacks, and I'm so glad that Paul and I were able to maintain that principle until the very end of this race.

"I am proud to have worked tirelessly for the voters of the 34th district every day for the past six months, and respect the results reported tonight. I know that our town election officials worked diligently to provide timely and accurate counts, and I want to join the rest of the district in congratulating Senator-Elect Cicarella."

Cicarella, who owns a private investigative firm with multiple offices throughout the state, led Capone 26,988 to 21,724, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of the State’s office.

Capone, a small business owner and Manager of Yale New Haven Health's Center for Living Organ Donors, said she remains committed to fighting for affordable and accessible healthcare, tax equity for working families, and building a strong post-COVID economy for Connecticut.

Leading up to the election, Cicarella said the most important challenge facing Connecticut is affordability.

“We need to make our state an affordable place to live,” Cicarella told Patch. “We cannot continue to allow the state to lose tomorrow's leaders and talent because the state is too expensive to live, work and raise a family in. Now more than ever we need a new generation of leadership to help rebuild our state's economy and get people back to work.

“I love the state of Connecticut and the local community. I grew up here and I am raising my family here. I chose to operate and invest in a small business here. I want my children to have the same opportunities as I did and grow up to love this state and be as proud of this region as much as I am. We need to address the real-life challenges that working and middle-class families face every day and provide a place to call home and be proud of. We need to create opportunity here in Connecticut for young professionals to live and work. We need to support law enforcement and keep our communities safe. We must keep our promises to those most in need and create opportunity for all families, workers, and job creators to succeed.”

Stay on top of all the returns from across Connecticut and our five congressional districts by checking these stories throughout the night.

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Capone listed her top priorities as economic growth, financial recovery, support for families, health security and education initiatives, according to her website.

“I understand the struggles that families face each day,” Capone said in a post on the site. “I am proud of my record fighting to make people's lives better and I am ready to continue the fight for you as your State Senator.”