Our guide to politics and government has entries on 200 elected officials, and is expanding to include top appointed officials in state government. Click on the categories below to learn more about every member of the General Assembly, the state's congressional delegation and its statewide constitutional officers.
U.S. Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Reps. John B. Larson of the 1st District, Joe Courtney of the 2nd, Rosa L. DeLauro of the 3rd, Jim Himes of the 4th, and Chris Murphy of the 5th comprise the state delegation.
All are Democrats, except Lieberman, who was re-elected as an independent in 2006. Republicans held three of the five House seats until wins by Courtney and Murphy in 2006. Himes completed the sweep in 2008. Blumenthal was elected in November 2010 to replace the retiring Sen. Chris Dodd.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are the first Democrats in 20 years to hold the state's top two offices. Three more of the statewide constitutional officers are new as well: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Comptroller Kevin Lembo and Attorney General George Jepsen. Treasurer Denise L. Nappier is the only statewide official who sought re-election in 2010. Their terms are four years.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in the Senate, 22 to 14. Democrats won 23 of 36 Senate seats in the 2010 election, but started the 2011 legislative session with three seats vacant: Two members took jobs in the Malloy Administration and the third resigned unexpectedly while pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of double-billing for legislative travel. Democrats won two of the three seats in special elections.
The Senate leaders are President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr. of Brooklyn, Majority Leader Martin M. Looney of New Haven and Minority Leader John P. McKinney of Fairfield. Senate terms are two years.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in the House, 99 to 52. After winning 100 of 151 seats in November, Democrats began the 2011 legislative session with six vacancies in the House. Democrats won five and of those seats in February, with the GOP picking up one seat.
The House leaders are Speaker Christopher G. Donovan of Meriden, Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey of Hamden and Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. of Norwalk. House terms are two years.
The top appointed official in the Malloy Administration is his chief of staff, Mark Ojakian. The governor also appoints the heads of 23 major agencies.
"This is an investment worthy of being made."
Gov. Malloy to charter school students who had been bused to the Capitol Tuesday evening to thank him for proposing an increase in funds for charters.
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Top donors to the CT congressional delegation
1. United Technologies, $197,500
2. Sempra Energy, $133,100
3. General Electric, $121,775
4. Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, $106,510
5. Goldman Sachs, $99,500
Source: Maplight
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