Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Kevin Witkos
Kevin Witkos (Republican Party) was a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 8. He assumed office in 2009. He left office on January 4, 2023.
Witkos (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 8. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Witkos was Vice Chair of the Canton Board of Education. He served in the Connecticut State House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008. Witkos served as State Senator for Connecticut State Senate District 8 from 2009-2023.
Biography
Witkos attended the Connecticut State Police Academy in 1989 and earned his AS from Tunxis Community College in 1996 and his B.A. in General Studies from the University of Connecticut in 2007. He went on to attend the New England Institute for Law Enforcement Management at the University of Massachusetts in 2002. His professional experience includes working as Chief of the Canton Volunteer Fire Department and Police Officer for the Town of Canton.
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.
2021-2022
Witkos was assigned to the following committees:
- General Law Committee, Ranking Member
- Higher Education and Employment Committee, Vice Chair
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Member
2019-2020
Witkos was assigned to the following committees:
- General Law Committee, Ranking Member
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Ranking Member
- Legislative Management Committee
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations, Vice chair |
| • General Law, Co-chair |
| • Legislative Management, Vice chair |
| • Public Safety and Security, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Witkos served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • General Law, Ranking Member |
| • Higher Education and Employment Advancement, Ranking Member |
| • Legislative Management |
| • Regulations Review |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Witkos served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • General Law, Ranking Member |
| • Internship, Ranking Member |
| • Public Safety and Security |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Witkos served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Energy and Technology, Ranking Member |
| • General Law |
| • Internship, Co-Chair |
| • Public Safety and Security |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Witkos served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Energy and Technology, Ranking Member |
| • General Law |
| • Public Health |
Issues
Political positions
State budget 2010
| Witkos discusses the 2010 state budget. |
Witkos criticized using tuition money to balance the state budget. A bill passed in Connecticut's General Assembly removes $10 million from Connecticut State University's general fund, which was built partially through student fees, to balance the state budget. This means CSU students lost $337 and University of Connecticut students lost $1,163. Total increase in tuition costs for 2010 came to $950 for CSU students and $1,180 for UConn students.[1]
Presidential preference
2012
Kevin Witkos endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.[2]
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
2022
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022
Kevin Witkos did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 8
Incumbent Kevin Witkos defeated Melissa E. Osborne and Keith McConnell in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Witkos (R) | 51.5 | 29,694 |
 | Melissa E. Osborne (D) | 46.5 | 26,811 | |
| Keith McConnell (Independent Party) | 1.9 | 1,111 | ||
| Total votes: 57,616 | |||
 = 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. Melissa E. Osborne advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 8.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kevin Witkos advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 8.
2018
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2018
In addition to running as a Republican Party candidate, Witkos cross-filed to also run with the Independent Party in 2018.[3]
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 8
Incumbent Kevin Witkos defeated Melissa E. Osborne in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Witkos (R) | 56.8 | 26,418 |
| Melissa E. Osborne (D) | 43.2 | 20,091 | |
| Total votes: 46,509 | |||
| = 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 Kevin Witkos defeated David Pena in the Connecticut State Senate District 8 general election.[4]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kevin Witkos Incumbent |
64.34% | 32,839 | |
| Democratic | David Pena | 35.66% | 18,204 | |
| Total Votes | 51,043 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
David Pena ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 8 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | David Pena (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Kevin Witkos ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 8 Republican primary.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Kevin Witkos Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Connecticut State Senate 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. Melissa E. Osborne was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Kevin D. Witkos was unopposed in the Republican primary. Witkos defeated Osborne in the general election.[5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Witkos Incumbent |
59.3% | 22,364 | |
| Democratic | Melissa E. Osborne | 36.7% | 13,843 | |
| Independent | Kevin Witkos Incumbent | 4% | 1,508 | |
| Total Votes | 37,715 | |||
2012
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2012
Witkos ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut State Senate District 8. Witkos ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012. He defeated Daniel J. Seger (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Witkos Incumbent |
60% | 28,498 | |
| Democratic | Daniel Seger | 40% | 18,974 | |
| Total Votes | 47,472 | |||
2010
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2010
Witkos ran for re-election to the 8th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Donald J. O'Brien (D) in the November 2 general election.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 1 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kevin Witkos (R)
|
26,417 | |||
| Donald J. O'Brien (D) | 14,026 | |||
2008
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, Witkos won election to the 8th District Seat in the Connecticut State Senate, defeating Arthur House (D).[10]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 8 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kevin Witkos (R)
|
26,853 | |||
| Arthur House (D) | 21,440 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kevin Witkos 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.
2023
In 2023, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from January 4 to June 7.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from February 9 to May 4.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Connecticut State Legislature was in session from January 6 to June 9.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 9 through June 5.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 7 to May 9.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 7 through June 3.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 5 to May 7.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from January 9 to June 5. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 8 to May 9.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Witkos and his wife, Esther, have two children.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut State Senate District 8 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Raisinghale.com, "State budget interview," July 16, 2010
- ↑ Mitt Romney for President, "Mitt Romney Announces Connecticut Campaign Team," September 29, 2011
- ↑ 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, "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, "Candidate List," accessed June 18, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results for 2012," August 14, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012" accessed November 17, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results," November 4, 2008
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut State Senate District 8 2009-2023 |
Succeeded by Lisa Seminara (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 17 2003-2008 |
Succeeded by - |
