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Incumbent state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-12, casts her ballot, surrounded by her family, at Guilford’s Calvin Leete School Tuesday.
Incumbent state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-12, votes at Guilford’s Calvin Leete School Tuesday.
Republican Paul Crisci,, running for the 12th District state Senate seat, with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski at Branford’s Indian Neck School.
Republican Paul Crisci,, running for the 12th District state Senate seat, votes at Branford’s Indian Neck School Tuesday.
SHORELINE — State Sen. Christine Cohen has won reelection to her third term to represent the 12th District, beating Branford’s Paul Crisci.
The unofficial totals are Cohen 25,762 to Crisci’s 20,850. These do not include absentee ballots.
“I really think that this election shows that the people of our district are confident in the direction we are headed,” Cohen said via text message after the votes were tallied.
“I look forward to continuing our work moving Connecticut forward by combatting climate change, safeguarding reproductive freedom and growing our economy and helping working families while maintaining fiscal responsibility,” she wrote.
The 12th District encompasses Guilford, Madison, Branford, Killingworth and parts of Durham, East Haven, Middlefield and North Branford.
It is a very important year for the state legislature, said Cohen.
“I think we’re seeing a lot going on, on the federal level, and I’m hearing more and more on the doors about people’s concerns about women’s health care, women’s reproductive freedom, as well as gun safety,” she said, right after she cast her vote.
“We do really great work here in Connecticut and I think it’s more important than ever that we continue to protect those rights, right here at the state level,” she said.
Cohen serves as chair of the Environment Committee and vice chair of the Commerce Committee, where she worked to provide relief for small businesses in the wake of COVID-19.
She supports voting reforms that will allow voters to vote early and a proposal, if passed again by the next legislature in 2023, will give voters the opportunity to decide whether they want to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.
Asked what his top three concerns were, before ducking into the polls to vote, Crisci said, “I’m running on everything.”
“When you’re a senator you really have to handle all of the things that go on,” he said.
He zeroed in on police accountability; schools working closely with parents in their children’s education; and the economy.
“I think we need to get our money in order,” he said. “I just don’t agree with this surplus.”
“If we’re going to depend on tax receipts, those things change,” he said. “We have to get fiscally responsible where in good times we’re better and in bad times we’re good.”
Cohen said she was ready to get back to work.
“I will continue listening and learning from constituents about what matters most to them and work with our delegation to deliver results,” she said.
