The special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of state Rep. Kevin Ryan, D-Montville, will be held Jan. 13.
Gov. Ned Lamont scheduled the election Friday, following a state law requiring the governor to issue a writ of special election within 10 days of a vacancy in the General Assembly. The election must be held exactly 46 days later.
Ryan, 73, who had cancer, died Sunday in hospice care. He represented portions of Ledyard, Montville and Norwich in the 139th House District.
It is one of two special elections scheduled in January. The other is Jan. 6 in the 25th House District of New Britain. Bobby Sanchez resigned that seat after winning an open race for mayor of New Britain.
Two candidates have opened campaigns in the 25th: Democrat Iris N. Sanchez and Republican Jamie B. Vaughan.
The General Assembly opens its annual 2026 session on Feb. 4. Democrats currently hold an advantage of 100 to 49 in the House, with two vacancies.
Mark Pazniokas is a reporter for the Connecticut Mirror. Copyright 2025 @ CT Mirror (ctmirror.org).