Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 is represented by William Heffernan III (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Connecticut state representatives represented an average of 23,896 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 23,719 residents.
About the office
Members of the Connecticut House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[1] Connecticut legislators assume office the Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next succeeding their election.[2]
Qualifications
Article III, Section 4 of the Connecticut Constitution states: "The house of representatives shall consist of not less than one hundred twenty-five and not more than two hundred twenty-five members, each of whom shall have attained the age of twenty-one years and be an elector residing in the assembly district from which he is elected."[3]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $43,600/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Connecticut General Assembly, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happens. All special elections must be held no later than 46 days after a governor's declaration. If the vacancy occurs between the 125th day and the 49th day before the day of the regular election, the special election will be held on the same day as the general election. If a vacancy occurs after the 49th day before the general election but before the Wednesday following the first Monday of January of the next-succeeding year, the governor shall not call a special election unless the vacant position is that of a member-elect.[5]
See sources: Connecticut Gen. Stat. § 9-215
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
The Connecticut Reapportionment Commission voted 8-0 in favor of new maps for the state's 151 House districts and 36 Senate districts on November 18 and November 23, 2021, respectively.[6][7] The commission, made up of four Democratic lawmakers, four Republican lawmakers, and a ninth member selected by the commissioners, took over the redistricting process after the previous Reapportionment Committee failed to meet its Sept. 15 deadline to select maps and win two-thirds approval from both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly.[8] Census data was not delivered until Sept. 16. Unlike the committee, maps prepared by the Reapportionment Commission did not need to win approval from the General Assembly.[9] This map took effect for Connecticut's 2022 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Connecticut work? In Connecticut, the state legislature is primarily responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. Maps must be approved by a two-thirds vote in each chamber. If the state legislature is unable to approve new maps, a backup commission is convened to draw congressional and state legislative district boundaries. The commission consists of nine members. The four legislative leaders (i.e., the majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the legislature) appoint two members each. The ninth member is selected by the eight previously selected commissioners.[10][11]
The Connecticut Constitution requires that all districts, whether congressional or state legislative, be contiguous. In addition, state House districts must "not divide towns except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements."[12]
Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
until January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
starting January 4, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2026
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2026
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
2024
Regular election
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
Incumbent William Heffernan III won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | William Heffernan III (D) | 100.0 | 5,705 |
| Total votes: 5,705 | |||
 = 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. Incumbent William Heffernan III advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115.
Special election
A special election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 was called for January 23, 2024. Candidates running for special elections in Connecticut are nominated through party conventions. The deadline for nomination by political parties was December 18, 2023.[13]The deadline for write-in candidates was January 9, 2024.[14]
The seat became vacant when Dorinda Keenan Borer resigned after she was elected mayor of West Haven, Connecticut.[15]
General election
Special general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
William Heffernan III defeated Silvana Apicella, Edward O'Brien, and Victor Borras in the special general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 on January 23, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | William Heffernan III (D) | 54.2 | 1,007 |
| Silvana Apicella (R) | 22.1 | 410 | ||
| Edward O'Brien (Independent) | 21.0 | 390 | ||
| Victor Borras (Independent) (Write-in) | 2.8 | 52 | ||
| Total votes: 1,859 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
Incumbent Dorinda Keenan Borer won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dorinda Keenan Borer (D) | 100.0 | 4,006 |
| Total votes: 4,006 | |||
| = 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. Incumbent Dorinda Keenan Borer advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115.
2020
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
Incumbent Dorinda Keenan Borer won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dorinda Keenan Borer (D / Working Families Party) | 100.0 | 7,303 |
| Total votes: 7,303 | |||
| = 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. Incumbent Dorinda Keenan Borer advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115.
2018
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115
Incumbent Dorinda Keenan Borer defeated Lynne Schlosser in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dorinda Keenan Borer (D) | 71.8 | 5,140 |
| Lynne Schlosser (R) | 28.2 | 2,016 | ||
| Total votes: 7,156 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2017
A special election for the position of Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 was called for February 28, 2017. The filing deadline for political parties to nominate their candidates to run in this election was January 23, 2017.[16]
The seat was vacant following Stephen Dargan's (D) resignation to take a job on Connecticut's Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Dorinda Keenan Borer (D) defeated Edward Granfield (R) in the special election.[17][18]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 115, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Dorinda Keenan Borer |
64.4% | 1,973 | |
| Republican | Edward Granfield | 35.6% | 1,093 | |
| Total Votes | 3,066 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of State | ||||
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 Stephen Dargan defeated Bart Chadderton in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 general election.[19]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 115 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Stephen Dargan Incumbent |
70.82% | 5,798 | |
| Republican | Bart Chadderton | 29.18% | 2,389 | |
| Total Votes | 8,187 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Incumbent Stephen Dargan ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 115 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Stephen Dargan Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Bart Chadderton ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 115 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Bart Chadderton (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 Stephen D. Dargan was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[20][21]
2012
Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2012. A total of 151 seats were up for election in 2012. Incumbent [Stephen Dargan]] defeated Joseph Palmucci, Sr. (R) in the general election. Both candidates ran unopposed in the August 14 primary elections.[22] [23]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen D. Dargan Incumbent |
78.1% | 5,846 | |
| Republican | Joseph Palmucci, Sr. | 21.9% | 1,639 | |
| Total Votes | 7,485 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 raised a total of $271,030. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $13,552 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Connecticut House of Representatives District 115 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $71,328 | 5 | $14,266 |
| 2022 | $12,633 | 1 | $12,633 |
| 2020 | $14,837 | 1 | $14,837 |
| 2018 | $40,969 | 2 | $20,485 |
| 2016 | $33,340 | 2 | $16,670 |
| 2014 | $2,350 | 1 | $2,350 |
| 2012 | $7,590 | 1 | $7,590 |
| 2010 | $1,835 | 1 | $1,835 |
| 2008 | $3,310 | 1 | $3,310 |
| 2006 | $23,208 | 2 | $11,604 |
| 2004 | $17,694 | 1 | $17,694 |
| 2002 | $19,006 | 1 | $19,006 |
| 2000 | $22,930 | 1 | $22,930 |
| Total | $271,030 | 20 | $13,552 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Length of terms of Connecticut State Senators," accessed December 16, 2013
- ↑ Connecticut Constitution, "Article Three, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Constitution of the State of Connecticut - Article 3, Section 4," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Connecticut General Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 9-215(a), Connecticut General Statutes)
- ↑ News 12 Connecticut, "CT Reapportionment Commission unanimously votes to approve new statewide house district map," Nov. 18, 2021
- ↑ CT News Junkie, "Redistricting Commission Tweaks Senate Map," Nov. 23, 2021
- ↑ The ninth member only votes in the event of a tie.
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed Oct. 12, 2021
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Connecticut," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Connecticut Constitution, "Article XXVI, Section 2.b," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Who draws the lines?" accessed March 25, 2015
- ↑ Shelton Herald, "Special election set to fill Borer's CT House seat in 115th District," December 8, 2023
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, "Special election calendar West Haven 2024," accessed December 13, 2023
- ↑ Hartford Courant, "CT state rep submits resignation in anticipation of becoming West Haven mayor," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ WTNH.com, "Special elections planned Feb. 28 for 3 legislative seats," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ CT Mirror, "Borer keeps 115th House seat in Democratic hands," February 28, 2017
- ↑ New Haven Register, "Candidates for 115th District in West Haven earn respective party endorsements," accessed January 23, 2017
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 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
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2012 General Election," October 29, 2013
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2012 General Primary," October 29, 2013
