Welander Declares Victory In 114th State House District Race

ORANGE, CT — Mary Welander, a Democrat and Orange Board of Education member, declared victory Wednesday in the state's 114th House District race in which she defeated Republican Dan DeBarba, 7,364 to 6,588.

The two were vying for the post most recently held by Republican Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who decided not to seek re-election. Welander, who lives with her family in Orange, successfully flipped the seat from Republican to Democratic for the first time in 22 years.

"I would like to thank everyone who took the time to be part of a campaign that I am incredibly proud of," Welander said in a statement. "This was always a difficult race made even more so by the conditions surrounding it, so I would also like to thank my opponent, Dan DeBarba, for stepping up to run for office. It is a challenging but important part of civic action, and I wish him and his family the best."

The 114th House District represents Orange, Woodbridge and Derby. In addition to serving on the Orange Board of Education, Welander also is co-president of the Race Brook School PTA, and volunteers for Girl Scouts. She is also a statewide ambassador for the Sandy Hook Promise Organization in the battle to end gun violence.

"I am truly humbled by the support and trust shown by voters yesterday, and I am even more determined to work for all of the residents and families of Derby, Orange, and Woodbridge as we face the challenges ahead," Welander said. "While we are proud and excited by these results, I recognize that we are still in the middle of a global pandemic. I take my new role and responsibilities very seriously and will continue to make the needs of all of the residents of the 114th district a priority. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues or concerns you may have (203-881-6207)."