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Cara Pavalock-D'Amato
2015 - Present
2027
10
Cara Pavalock-D'Amato (Republican Party) is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing District 77. She assumed office on January 7, 2015. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Pavalock-D'Amato (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut House of Representatives to represent District 77. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Representative Pavalock-D'Amato attended St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Providence College. She then earned her law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami. After graduation, Pavaock-D'Amato moved to Washington D.C. to attend Georgetown University Law Center where she received a Master’s of Law degree (LLM) in Taxation. After her time in D.C., she returned to Bristol and became a solo practitioner in family law, bankruptcy, and foreclosure defense.
Representative Pavalock-D'Amato was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 2014, representing District 77. She was re-elected in 2016 and 2018. In the 2019 session she was appointed to serve as Ranking Member of the Insurance Committee, and served as a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Education Committee, and the Screening Committee.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Pavalock-D'Amato was assigned to the following committees:
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Ranking Member
- Judiciary Committee
2021-2022
Pavalock-D'Amato was assigned to the following committees:
- Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Ranking Member
- Judiciary Committee, Member
- Appropriations Committee, Member
2019-2020
Pavalock-D'Amato was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Environment |
| • Insurance and Real Estate |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Pavalock served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Aging |
| • Commerce |
| • Program Review and Investigations |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato defeated Mary Rydingsward in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cara Pavalock-D'Amato (R) | 69.2 | 6,669 |
| Mary Rydingsward (Working Families Party / Independent Party) | 30.8 | 2,966 | ||
| Total votes: 9,635 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pavalock-D'Amato in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato defeated Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cara Pavalock-D'Amato (R / Independent Party) | 50.5 | 5,015 |
 | Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller (D / Working Families Party) | 49.5 | 4,916 | |
| Total votes: 9,931 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77.
2020
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato defeated Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cara Pavalock-D'Amato (R / Independent Party) | 52.9 | 6,509 |
| Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller (D) | 47.1 | 5,788 | |
| Total votes: 12,297 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77.
2018
In addition to running as a Republican Party candidate, Pavalock-D'Amato cross-filed to also run with the Independent Party in 2018.[2]
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Cara Pavalock-D'Amato defeated Kevin Fuller in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cara Pavalock-D'Amato (R) | 52.7 | 4,901 |
| Kevin Fuller (D) | 47.3 | 4,396 | ||
| Total votes: 9,297 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Cara Christine Pavalock defeated Laura Bartok in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 general election.[3]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 77 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Cara Christine Pavalock Incumbent |
52.80% | 5,782 | |
| Democratic | Laura Bartok | 47.20% | 5,169 | |
| Total Votes | 10,951 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Laura Bartok defeated Christy Matthews in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 77 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Laura Bartok |
81.77% | 704 | |
| Democratic | Christy Matthews | 18.23% | 157 | |
| Total Votes | 861 | |||
Incumbent Cara Christine Pavalock ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 77 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Cara Christine Pavalock Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014. Incumbent Christopher A. Wright was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Cara Christine Pavalock was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pavalock defeated Wright in the general election.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cara Christine Pavalock |
48.3% | 3,778 | |
| Democratic | Christopher A. Wright | 47.9% | 3,747 | |
| Independent | Cara Christine Pavalock |
3.9% | 305 | |
| Total Votes | 7,830 | |||
2012
Pavalock ran in the 2012 election for Florida House of Representatives District 98. Pavalock ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012, and was defeated by Katie Edwards (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Katie Edwards |
67.1% | 45,300 | |
| Republican | Cara Christine Pavalock | 32.9% | 22,240 | |
| Total Votes | 67,540 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cara Pavalock-D'Amato did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Cara Pavalock-D'Amato did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Cara Pavalock-D'Amato did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Pavalock's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[9]
Spending
- Excerpt: "The next generation will be saddled with massive debt and a diminished future unless we change our course in Hartford. As your Representative I will restore fiscal responsibility to our government and stop runaway spending by helping to create more jobs."
Unfunded State Mandates
- Excerpt: "I know it’s hard to understand how this issue affects our everyday lives. Essentially an Unfunded State Mandate occurs when the state government passes a law that requires our town to do something and doesn’t pay for it. The cost is passed onto the city and its taxpayers."
Liberties & Freedoms
- Excerpt: "I want to promote common sense laws that protect our right to bear arms, educate our children and empower us to make our own decisions regarding our lives."
Transportation
- Excerpt: "The Governor claims to have a surplus despite having pothole ridden roads. As your Representative I want to increase public transportation through rail – No more buses to nowhere!"
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Connecticut scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from February 7 to May 8.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from January 4 to June 7.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from February 9 to May 4.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from January 6 to June 9.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from February 5 to May 6. The legislature held a special session from July 21 to July 27.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 9 through June 5.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 7 to May 9.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 4 through June 7. The legislature held a veto session on July 24. The legislature held its first special session on July 31. The legislature held its second special session from September 14 to September 16. The legislature held another special session on October 3. State lawmakers held their fourth special session from October 25 to October 26. The legislature met again in special session from November 14 to November 15.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 3 through May 4. The Legislature held a special session from May 12-13 to pass the state budget.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 7 through June 3.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 |
Officeholder Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, “State Representative Pavalock-D’Amato” accessed October 14, 2019
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2018 List of Candidates," accessed October 29, 2018
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Primary election candidate list," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official primary and general election results," accessed November 26, 2014
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed June 14, 2012
- ↑ pavalockfor77.com, "Issues," accessed October 17, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 77 2015-Present |
Succeeded by - |
