The results of the first major election heading into the 2022 midterms surprised everyone inside Washington, D.C.
And it could spell disaster for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party.
Republican Ryan Fazio has won a special election for a Fairfield County state Senate seat that had been held by the Democrats since 2018.
The special election led to a Republican victory… in a district that President Joe Biden won by 25 points in the 2020 election.
Fazio defeated Democrat Alexis Gevanter and petitioning candidate John Blankley in Tuesday’s election in the 36th District, which includes Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. All three candidates live in Greenwich.
Fazio, 31, an investment analyst, will succeed Democrat Alex Kasser, who announced in June that she was resigning from office. Kasser, the first Democrat elected to the seat since 1930, cited her high-profile and contentious divorce, saying she was no longer able to adequately do her job.
Fazio will serve out the remainder of Kasser’s term, which runs through the end of 2022.
Democrats will continue to hold a large advantage in the Senate, 23 to 13.
Unofficial results showed Fazio winning about 52% of the vote in Greenwich — a stunning turnaround from the 2020 election.
“Today the voters of Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan sent a message loud and clear to the state Capitol in Connecticut that a change is going to come,” Fazio told supporters Tuesday night, Hearst Connecticut Media reported.
Local Republican leadership was thrilled with the results — and if the momentum carries to the next nationwide election, could spell disaster for Democrats.
“After holding the line in two Biden-won districts in New England early this year, our momentum continues tonight with the first successful flip of the 2021-2022 election cycle,” said Connecticut Republican State Leadership Committee President Dee Duncan.
“Congratulations to Ryan Fazio on running a strong campaign. His victory demonstrates that the people of Connecticut are sick and tired of the radical tax and spend agenda coming from Democrats in Hartford and in Washington, D.C.”
“They’re looking for common-sense leaders who will champion conservative policies that will revive the economy, create jobs, reduce regulations, lower taxes, and keep families safe,” Duncan continued. “With Democrats controlling Washington, it’s more important than ever that we have strong Republican leadership in the states.”
“Tonight’s result is further evidence that Republicans are on offense this cycle, and the RSLC has no intention of slowing down when it comes to winning the tough fights ahead of us,” he said. “The RSLC will continue to support state Republicans to ensure wins like this so that we can grow the future of our party and stop socialism from spreading to the states.”
Fazio posted the following to social media —
Thank you.
I am grateful beyond words to this community for the trust they have placed in me. I will work hard every day to validate it as your state senator.
Now the real work begins: It’s time to bring a positive change to our state gov’t and a brighter future for CT. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nbucZJroQl
— Ryan Fazio (@ryanfazio) August 18, 2021