Democrat Wins In 40-Year GOP Stronghold Stratford House District Seat

For the first time in more than four decades, the 120th district, which includes most of Stratford, will be represented by a Democrat in Connecticut's House of Representatives.

Zak Failla

03/01/2018 4:30 a.m.

Democrat Phil Young topped Republican Bill Cabral in a special election on Tuesday to represent the 120th district, which has been held by the GOP for 44 years.

The seat became vacant when former representative Laura Hoydick was elected as the mayor of Stratford and she resigned the seat on Jan. 2.

Young unofficially narrowly topped Cabral with 1,615 votes to 1,552 votes, though less than 25 percent of voters in the 120th district made their way to the polls for the special election. Officials have said that a recount of the tight margin will not be required.

Young’s victory continues a trend that has been ongoing since President Donald Trump took over. Since Trump’s win in the 2016 presidential election, there have been 39 legislative seats that went from red to blue. Democrat Phil Spagnuolo also won a special election in New Hampshire on Tuesday.

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