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Heather Somers
2017 - Present
2027
8
Heather Somers (Republican Party) is a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 18. She assumed office in 2017. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Somers (Republican Party, Independent Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 18. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Somers was born in Groton, Conn., where she later served as mayor and five-term town councilor.[1]
She earned her bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Connecticut. Her experience as a businesswoman includes co-founding a Windham County biotech manufacturer and serving as Vice President of International Sales and Marketing for a Illinois-based Medical Device Company.[1]
Education
- B.A. in economics - University of Connecticut
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
Somers was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- Commerce Committee
- Public Health Committee, Ranking Member
2021-2022
Somers was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Member
- Public Health Committee, Member
- Transportation Committee, Ranking Member
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, Member
2019-2020
Somers was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- Commerce Committee
- Public Health Committee, Ranking Member
- Planning and Development Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Education, Vice chair |
| • Environment, Vice chair |
| • Higher Education and Employment Advancement, Vice chair |
| • Public Health, Co-chair |
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 18
Incumbent Heather Somers defeated Andrew Parrella in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 18 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Heather Somers (R / Independent Party) | 59.0 | 29,124 |
 | Andrew Parrella (D)  | 41.0 | 20,217 | |
| Total votes: 49,341 | |||
| = 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. Andrew Parrella advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Heather Somers advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Somers in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 18
Incumbent Heather Somers defeated Farouk Rajab in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 18 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Somers (R / Independent Party) | 56.3 | 20,915 |
| Farouk Rajab (D / Working Families Party) | 43.7 | 16,249 | ||
| Total votes: 37,164 | |||
| = 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. Farouk Rajab advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Heather Somers advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
2020
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 18
Incumbent Heather Somers defeated Robert Statchen in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 18 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Somers (R) | 52.4 | 26,377 |
 | Robert Statchen (D / Working Families Party / Independent Party) | 47.6 | 23,942 | |
| Total votes: 50,319 | |||
| = 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. Robert Statchen advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Heather Somers advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 18.
2018
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2018
In addition to running as a Republican Party candidate, Somers cross-filed to also run with the Independent Party in 2018.[2]
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 18
Incumbent Heather Somers defeated Robert Statchen in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 18 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Somers (R) | 54.7 | 20,887 |
| Robert Statchen (D) | 45.3 | 17,276 | |
| Total votes: 38,163 | |||
| = 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
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Connecticut State Senate 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 Andrew Maynard (D) did not seek re-election.
Heather Somers defeated Timothy Bowles in the Connecticut State Senate District 18 general election.[3]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 18 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Heather Somers |
57.34% | 24,795 | |
| Democratic | Timothy Bowles | 42.66% | 18,447 | |
| Total Votes | 43,242 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Timothy Bowles ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 18 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 18 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Timothy Bowles (unopposed) | |
Heather Somers ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 18 Republican primary.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Heather Somers (unopposed) | |
This candidate ran in one of Ballotpedia's races to watch in 2016. Read more »
2014
Somers ran for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.[4][5] Somers secured the Republican nomination in the primary on August 12. Her running mate on the general election ballot was Tom Foley. Foley and Somers faced the Democratic/Working Families ticket of incumbents Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman and unaffiliated ticket of Joe Visconti and Chester Harris.[6] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
Primary election
| Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Heather Somers |
34.5% | 26,980 | ||
| Penny Bacchiochi | 33.6% | 26,311 | ||
| David Walker | 31.9% | 25,014 | ||
| Total Votes | 78,305 | |||
| Election results via Connecticut Secretary of State. | ||||
General election
| Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Dan Malloy/Nancy Wyman Incumbent |
50.7% | 554,314 | |
| Republican | Tom Foley/Heather Somers | 48.2% | 526,295 | |
| Independent | Joe Visconti/Chester Harris | 1% | 11,456 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 708 | |
| Total Votes | 1,092,773 | |||
| Election results via Connecticut Secretary of State | ||||
Race background
Close race ratings in Connecticut
On March 28, 2014, Democratic incumbent Gov. Dan Malloy formally announced his bid for re-election to a second term. He again teamed up with 2010 running mate and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman for the 2014 race.[7] As the campaign season progressed, the Daily Kos labeled the race a toss-up. The rating was assigned in consideration of a series of polls showing Malloy behind or rivaling Republican nominee Tom Foley in potential general election match-ups.[8][9] The Cook Political Report, meanwhile, consistently rated Connecticut as "Lean D," meaning the race was competitive, but the Democrats had an advantage.[10]
Rematch of 2010 campaign
Malloy won the governorship in November 2010 following a general election campaign against Republican Tom Foley, a businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland under former President George W. Bush. The contest ended over a week after the general election took place. There were several reversed calls on the outcome of the race before Malloy was announced as the winner.[11] At the May 2014 state Republican convention, delegates endorsed Foley for the second gubernatorial cycle in a row. Fellow GOP candidate and state Sen. John McKinney also garnered enough delegate support to remain eligible for the nomination, preventing Foley from running unopposed in the August 12 primary.[12]
Lieutenant gubernatorial primaries
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman (D) was first elected in 2010 and sought re-election in 2014 alongside Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy. Wyman and Malloy were uncontested in their respective primaries on August 12 and ran together in the general election.
The outcome of the August 12 Republican primary for Connecticut lieutenant governor remained unknown until Wednesday afternoon after election day, when state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi conceded the race to Groton Town Council Member and former Mayor Heather Somers.[6][13][14] With 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial results provided by the Connecticut Secretary of State showed Somers defeating Bacchiochi by about 780 votes. Third-place finisher David Walker took 32 percent of the vote, about 1,000 votes behind Bacchiochi.[15]
Under Connecticut election law, an automatic recount is triggered if the margin separating the highest vote-getters falls within 0.5 percent of the total number of ballots cast; for Somers and Bacchiochi, that meant a difference of 1,000 votes. Bacchiochi did not want to order a recount, however, stating it would only waste time.[6] Delegates of the Connecticut Republican Party had voted to back Bacchiochi for lieutenant governor at their convention in May.[16]
Somers went on to share the ticket with GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley in the general election battle against Democratic incumbents Gov. Dan Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and the unaffiliated ticket of Joe Visconti and Chester Harris.[17]
Independent candidates
One independent candidate, Joe Visconti, appeared on the general election ballot along with Malloy and Foley. Former state Rep. and career political operative Jonathan Pelto also petitioned to run as an independent but failed to collect the minimum 7,500 signatures required to qualify for the race.[18] Pelto backed Malloy's 2010 gubernatorial campaign before breaking with the governor during his first term over his policies on education and taxes. Pelto's 2014 bid gained media attention in August when his candidate petition was signed by Ralph Nader. Nader's involvement in the Connecticut gubernatorial race raised concerns for Malloy and Democratic strategists, who accused Pelto of running in order to impact the election's outcome, not to win office.[19]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Heather Somers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Heather Somers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Heather Somers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Somers and her husband, Mark, have three children and reside in Groton. The family has three pet pigs.[1]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut State Senate District 18 |
Officeholder Connecticut State Senate District 18 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedabout - ↑ 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
- ↑ Heather Somers for Lieutenant Governor 2014 Official campaign website, "Homepage," accessed April 28, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedltgov14 - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Eyewitness News 3, "Bacchiochi concedes GOP race for lt. governor to Somers," August 13, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut News Junkie, "Malloy Makes Re-election Bid Official," March 28, 2014
- ↑ The Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections gubernatorial race ratings (2013-14)," accessed August 11, 2014
- ↑ Only in Bridgeport, "Latest Polls Show Challenging Reelection For Malloy," July 28, 2014
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 Governors Race Ratings," June 26, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedhour - ↑ The Wilton Daily Voice, "Wilton Republicans Head To Polls Tuesday To Pick Gubernatorial Candidate," August 11, 2014
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Connecticut - Summary Vote Results," August 13, 2014
- ↑ NBC Connecticut, "Race results: Connecticut Primary Election," August 13, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 13, 2014
- ↑ Washington Times, "Lieutenant governor GOP primary too close to call," August 12, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Candidate List, 2014 General Election," accessed October 13, 2014
- ↑ theday.com, "Petition process not easy, but works," September 7, 2014
- ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Nader Signed Pelto's Petition To Get On Ballot," August 6, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Andrew Maynard (D) |
Connecticut State Senate District 18 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Mayor of Groton Connecticut |
Succeeded by - |
