Special elections set for state Senate, House seats

HARTFORD – Gov. Ned Lamont on Jan. 10 announced he has scheduled special elections for two vacancies in the Connecticut General Assembly to be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

The two seats – the 21st Senatorial District representing portions of Monroe, Seymour, and Stratford, and all of Shelton and the 40^th Assembly District that includes portions of Groton and New London – were recently held by Republican Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly and Democrat Christine Conley, former deputy majority leader, respectively. Both are reportedly in line to be selected state judges.

Both seats became vacant effective Jan. 7, upon the resignations of the incumbent officeholders.

Kelly, who had been Senate minority leader since 2021, served in the Senate from 2011-2025 elected in the 21^st District. An attorney who specialized in elder law, Kelly spent 13 years as an investigator for the state Department of Social Services.

Conley, who served in the state House of Representatives from 2017-2025, had been the deputy majority leader since 2021 and assistant Democratic whip from 2019-2021.

Under state law, the governor is required to issue a writ of special election within 10 days of a seat in the General Assembly becoming vacant, and a special election must be held 46 days after the writ is issued. The governor issued the writs for both districts Jan. 10.