Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, a lawmaker for 45 years and the top Senate leader for a decade, filed papers Wednesday that make him a candidate for reelection at age 77.
It most likely will not be clear until the approach of the nominating conventions in spring whether the filing represents a definitive commitment to another term or an effort to postpone a free-for-all for an open race in a district dominated by Democrats.
Looney, one of the two longest-serving members of the General Assembly, has no worries about support from the city’s Democratic Town Committee.
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“Marty Looney is and has always been the fiercest advocate for his district and the progressive policies he has championed. The New Haven DTC stands by him,” the committee’s chair, Vincent Mauro Jr., said in a text.
Looney could not reached for comment, but he told the New Haven Independent’s Paul Bass last month that a filing was imminent: “At this point, I’m going to open my campaign committee next week, as I usually do.”
Looney was elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and to the Senate in 1992. His 11th Senate District includes portions of New Haven and Hamden. He was elected as president pro tem in January 2015.
He underwent a successful kidney transplant in December 2016.
His predecessor as president pro tem, Donald E. Williams Jr. of Brooklyn, assumed the post in July 2004 after the resignation of Gov. John G. Rowland triggered constitutionally mandated successions: Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell as governor and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan as lieutenant governor.
Williams surprised his caucus in February 2014 by announcing he would not seek reelection that fall.
Looney was majority leader during Williams’ tenure as president pro tem. Sen Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, has been majority leader for the entirety of Looney’s time as president pro tem.
House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, recently filed for reelection and confirmed he also will be seeking an unprecedented fourth term as speaker in January 2027.
Mark Pazniokas is a reporter for the Connecticut Mirror. Copyright 2025 @ CT Mirror (ctmirror.org).