Eric C. Berthel
Eric Berthel (Republican Party) is a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 32. He assumed office on March 3, 2017. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Berthel (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 32. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Berthel earned his B.A. in English from Manhattanville College and his M.S.Ed. in education from the University of Bridgeport. His professional experience includes working in the healthcare marketing and communications field. He is the vice chairman of the Board of Education for Watertown Public Schools and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Hartford Healthcare Federal Credit Union.[1]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Berthel was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- Banking Committee
- Education Committee
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
2023-2024
Berthel was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Ranking Member
- Banking Committee, Ranking Member
- Education Committee, Ranking Member
2021-2022
Berthel was assigned to the following committees:
- Human Services Committee, Vice Chair
- Banking Committee, Ranking Member
- Veterans' Affairs Committee, Member
- Education Committee, Ranking Member
2019-2020
Berthel 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 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking, Vice chair |
| • Insurance and Real Estate |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Berthel served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Public Health |
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 State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 32
Incumbent Eric Berthel defeated Jeff Desmarais in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 32 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eric Berthel (R) | 57.2 | 35,122 |
 | Jeff Desmarais (D)  | 42.8 | 26,256 | |
| Total votes: 61,378 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jeff Desmarais advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Eric Berthel advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Berthel in this election.
Pledges
Berthel signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 32
Incumbent Eric Berthel defeated Jeff Desmarais in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 32 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Berthel (R) | 58.9 | 28,432 |
| Jeff Desmarais (D) | 41.1 | 19,799 | |
| Total votes: 48,231 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jeff Desmarais advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Eric Berthel advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
2020
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 32
Incumbent Eric Berthel defeated Jeff Desmarais in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 32 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Berthel (R) | 58.2 | 33,050 |
| Jeff Desmarais (D) | 41.8 | 23,760 | |
| Total votes: 56,810 | |||
| = 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. Jeff Desmarais advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Eric Berthel advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 32.
2018
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 32
Incumbent Eric Berthel defeated Catherine De Carli in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 32 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Berthel (R) | 61.2 | 27,598 |
 | Catherine De Carli (D) | 38.8 | 17,501 | |
| Total votes: 45,099 | |||
| = 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 State Senate District 32 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.[2]
The seat was vacant following Robert Kane's (R) resignation to join the office of the Auditors of Public Accounts, a legislative agency that is responsible for auditing all state agencies in Connecticut.[3]
State Rep. Eric C. Berthel (R) defeated Greg Cava (D) in the special election.[4][5]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 32, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Greg Cava | 44.2% | 8,348 | |
| Republican |  Eric C. Berthel |
53.8% | 10,160 | |
| Unaffiliated | Dan Lynch | 1.9% | 365 | |
| Total Votes | 18,873 | |||
| 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 Eric C. Berthel ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 68 general election.[6]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 68 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Eric C. Berthel Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||
Incumbent Eric C. Berthel ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 68 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 68 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Eric C. Berthel 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. Joe Polletta was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Eric C. Berthel was unopposed in the Republican primary. Berthel defeated Polletta in the general election.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric C. Berthel |
52.6% | 4,670 | |
| Democratic | Joe Polletta | 40.1% | 3,566 | |
| Independent | Joe Polletta | 3.8% | 334 | |
| Working Families | Joe Polletta | 3.5% | 312 | |
| Total Votes | 8,882 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Eric Berthel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Eric Berthel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Eric Berthel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Berthel submitted the following statement to Ballotpedia regarding his political philosophy:[1]
| “ |
Reduce spending and taxes in Connecticut. Undo 40 years of bad policy and decisions due to single party rule. [9] |
” |
| —Eric C. Berthel, Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on September 24, 2014 | ||
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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2025.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut Citizens Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2024.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2023.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut Citizen Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Family Institute of Connecticut — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2021.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2020.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2019.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Yankee Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to limiting taxes and encouraging free market activity.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2018.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2017.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2016.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2015.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut State Senate District 32 |
Officeholder Connecticut State Senate District 32 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on September 24, 2014
- ↑ WTNH.com, "Special elections planned Feb. 28 for 3 legislative seats," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ CT News Junkie, "Coleman, Kane Resign Senate Seats," January 4, 2017
- ↑ News Times, "GOP’s Berthel narrowly holds on in District 32 special state Senate election," February 28, 2017
- ↑ The Waterbury Observer, "Lynch Launches An Outside Bid For Senate," 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
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Kane (R) |
Connecticut State Senate District 32 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 68 2015-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
