The 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut were held on November 6, 1990, to elect the six members of the U.S. House, one from each of the state's congressional districts, to represent Connecticut in the 102nd Congress. These elections coincided with a gubernatorial election and elections to the state legislature.

Republicans and Democrats retained the 3-3 split in the state's congressional delegation, with no seat changing hands.

Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 1990PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican 545,751 52.64% 3 0 Democratic 489,206 47.18% 3 0 Liberty 1,888 0.18% 0 0 Write-in candidates 47 0.00% 0 0 Totals 1,036,892 100.00% 6 —

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Barbara B. Kennelly, who was originally elected in 1981, faced 25 year-old Republican opponent James P. Garvey, a former aide to U.S. Representative Norman D. Shumway. Kennelly won re-election with 71.4% of the vote.

Results

District 2

Incumbent Democrat Sam Gejdenson, originally elected in 1980, faced Republican nominee John M. Ragsdale, a real estate developer from Stonington. Gejdenson won re-election to a sixth term with 59.7% of the vote.

Republican primary Nominee John M. Ragsdale, Stonington real estate developer.

Defeated at convention William B. Cutler, Stonington commercial real estate agent.

Convention July 16 Republican convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % John M. Ragsdale 92 61.75% William B. Cutler 57 38.25% Inactive Ballots 1 ballot

General election Results

District 3

Incumbent Democratic congressman Bruce Morrison retired to run for governor. Rosa DeLauro, the then chief of staff to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, defeated Republican state senator Tom Scott with 52.1% to 47.9% of the vote.

Democratic primary Nominee Rosa DeLauro, chief of staff to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd.

Withdrew Mike Lawlor, state representative from the 99th district.

Republican primary Nominee Tom Scott, state senator from the 14th district.

Eliminated in primary Gerard B. Patton, former state representative from the 119th district (1979-1989) and nominee for this district in 1988.

Withdrew J. Vincent Chase, state representative from the 120th district.

Convention July 16 Republican convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Tom Scott 96 76.80% Gerard B. Patton 29 23.20% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots

Primary results

General election Results

District 4

Incumbent Republican Chris Shays, originally elected in 1987, faced Darien lawyer and former Democratic town committee chairman Al Smith. Shays won re-election with 76.5% of the vote.

Democratic primary Nominee Al Smith, lawyer and former Darien Democratic town committee chairman.

Defeated at convention John C. Loeser, former IBM executive from Stamford and candidate for this seat in 1988.

Convention July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Al Smith 137 71.73% John Loeser 54 28.27% Inactive Ballots 13 ballots

General election Results

District 5

Incumbent Republican congressman John G. Rowland retired to run for governor. Republican nominee Gary Franks, a member of the Waterbury board of aldermen, defeated former Democratic U.S. Representative Toby Moffett. Franks became the first black Republican elected to congress since Oscar De Priest's re-election in 1932.

Republican primary The July 18 Republican convention was held at the Colonial Tavern in Oxford. Entering the convention, Gary Franks appeared as the underdog candidate, having the least number of delegates on the first ballot. Of his 21 original supporters, 20 were from his home city of Waterbury. Throughout the convention, the Waterbury delegates would stick to Franks.

After three ballots, Brookfield state Senator Jamie McLaughlin dropped out after declining to 16 votes. After the sixth roll call with no clear front-runner, the Sarasin camp convinced the convention to adopt a rule which would eliminate the candidate with the lowest number of delegates on each succeeding ballot. On the seventh roll-call, Franks appeared to be in last place. Suddenly, Schlesinger convinced a number of his delegates to switch their votes to Franks in an effort to eliminate Sarasin, which succeeded. This move would backfire, however, as on the eighth ballot Schlesinger scored last place behind Franks and Watson. Schlesinger then urged his delegates to support Franks. On the ninth ballot Franks defeated Watson 80-62, with Watson subsequently endorsing him.

Nominee Gary Franks, member of the Waterbury Board of Aldermen and nominee for state comptroller in 1986.

Defeated at convention Steve Watson, former regional director for the RNC and special assistant to the Reagan administration from Danbury. Alan Schlesinger, state representative from the 114th district. Warren Sarasin, former state representative from the 105th district (1979-1985) and brother of Ronald Sarasin. James McLaughlin, state Senator from the 32nd district.

Convention July 18 Republican convention (142 delegates) Candidate 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9thFranks 21 21 21 24 28 29 35 47 80Watson 36 37 36 39 39 38 37 57 62Schlesinger 33 35 37 43 42 43 36 380Sarasin 30 30 32 36 33 33 3400McLaughlin 22 19 16000000Not Voting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Democratic primary Previously, former congressman Toby Moffett had run for U.S. Senate in 1982 against Lowell Weicker and for governor in 1986 against William A. O'Neill, losing both times. In 1990 he moved from Branford to Newtown in order to run for Rowland's seat.

He was opposed in the Democratic primary by Michael Pacowta, the Mayor of Shelton. On the July 16 Democratic convention held at Danbury High School, Moffett won the Democratic endorsement for the district nomination, winning 127 (62%) of the 204 total delegates, with Pacowta obtaining 77 (37.7%), scoring above the 20% threshold needed to force a primary. On July 24 Pacowta stated he would not seek a primary against Moffett.

Nominee Toby Moffett, former U.S. Representative from the 6th congressional district.

Defeated at convention Michael Pacowta, Mayor of Shelton.

Convention July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Toby Moffett 127 62.25% Michael Pacowta 77 37.75% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots

General election Results

District 6

Incumbent Republican Nancy Johnson defeated Democratic nominee Paul Kulas, the First Selectman of Suffield. She won re-election with 74.4% of the vote.

Democratic primary Nominee Paul Kulas, First Selectman of Suffield.

Defeated at convention Harold D. Hansen, former state Senator from the 30th district (1975-1977) and candidate for this seat in 1986.

Convention July 16 Democratic convention Candidate Round 1 Votes % Paul Kulas 114 60.32% Harold D. Hansen 75 39.68% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots

General election Results

References