Mary Mushinsky
Mary Mushinsky (Democratic Party) is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing District 85. She assumed office in 1981. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Mushinsky (Democratic Party, Working Families Party, Independent Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut House of Representatives to represent District 85. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
On February 26, 2026, Mushinsky announced she would not run for re-election to the Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 in 2026.[1]
Biography
Mushinsky's professional experience includes working as the Executive Director of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association. She has previously been an organizer with the Connecticut Citizen Action Group from 1976-1980, and research assistant with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service from 1975-1976.
Mushinsky has also served as Director of the Ulbrick Boys and Girls Club, Wallingford Emergency Shelter, and Wallingford Land Trust.[2]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Mushinsky was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Mushinsky was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Mushinsky was assigned to the following committees:
- Energy and Technology Committee, Member
- Environment Committee, Member
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Member
2019-2020
Mushinsky was assigned to the following committees:
- Higher Education and Employment Committee
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- Environment Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Environment |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Higher Education and Employment Advancement |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Mushinsky served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Environment |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Program Review and Investigations, Ranking Member |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Mushinsky served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Environment |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Program Review and Investigations, Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Mushinsky served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Children |
| • Environment |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Program Review and Investigations, Ranking Member |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Mushinsky served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Children |
| • Environment |
| • Finance, Revenue, and Bonding |
| • Program Review and Investigations, 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
2026
Mary Mushinsky did not file to run for re-election.
2024
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Mary Mushinsky defeated Jerry Farrell in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mary Mushinsky (D / Working Families Party / Independent Party) | 55.6 | 6,378 |
| Jerry Farrell (R) | 44.4 | 5,093 | ||
| Total votes: 11,471 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mary Mushinsky advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jerry Farrell advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Mushinsky in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Mary Mushinsky defeated Kerry Lentz in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Mushinsky (D / Working Families Party) | 54.7 | 4,751 |
| Kerry Lentz (R) | 45.3 | 3,938 | ||
| Total votes: 8,689 | |||
| = 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 Mary Mushinsky advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Kerry Lentz advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
2020
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Mary Mushinsky defeated Weston Ulbrich in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Mushinsky (D / Working Families Party) | 52.8 | 6,255 |
 | Weston Ulbrich (R / Independent Party) | 47.2 | 5,586 | |
| Total votes: 11,841 | |||
| = 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 Mary Mushinsky advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Weston Ulbrich advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85.
2018
In addition to running as a Democratic Party candidate, Mushinsky cross-filed to also run with the Working Families Party in 2018.[3]
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85
Incumbent Mary Mushinsky defeated Don Crouch in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Mushinsky (D) | 55.7 | 5,100 |
 | Don Crouch (R) | 44.3 | 4,051 | |
| Total votes: 9,151 | |||
| = 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 Mary Mushinsky defeated Serge Mihaly in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 general election.[4]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 85 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Mary Mushinsky Incumbent |
57.49% | 5,646 | |
| Republican | Serge Mihaly | 42.51% | 4,174 | |
| Total Votes | 9,820 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Incumbent Mary Mushinsky ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 85 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Mary Mushinsky Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Serge Mihaly ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 85 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Serge Mihaly (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 Mary M. Mushinsky was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Frank P. Apuzzo was unopposed in the Republican primary. Mushinsky defeated Apuzzo in the general election.[5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mary M. Mushinsky Incumbent |
50.8% | 3,607 | |
| Republican | Frank P. Apuzzo | 41.6% | 2,955 | |
| Working Families | Mary M. Mushinsky Incumbent |
4.2% | 298 | |
| Independent | Frank P. Apuzzo | 3.4% | 243 | |
| Total Votes | 7,103 | |||
2012
Mushinsky ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 85. Mushinsky ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012. She defeated Gregory Bachand (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mary M. Mushinsky Incumbent |
62.2% | 6,082 | |
| Republican | Gregory N. Bachand | 37.8% | 3,700 | |
| Total Votes | 9,782 | |||
2010
Mushinsky ran for re-election to the 2nd District seat in 2010. She defeated Mike Vitali (R) in the November 2 general election.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 85 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mary Mushinsky (D)
|
3,894 | |||
| Mike Vitali (R) | 3,447 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mushinsky won re-election to the Connecticut House of Representatives from Connecticut's 85th District, defeating Michael Vitali (R). Mushinsky received 6,461 votes in the election while Vitali received 3,793 votes.[10]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 85 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mary Mushinsky (D and WF)
|
6,461 | |||
| Michael Vitali (R) | 3,793 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mary Mushinsky did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Mary Mushinsky did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Mary Mushinsky 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 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.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2014.
- 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.
In 2013, the Connecticut General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2012.
- 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.
- Yankee Institute — Each member of the Connecticut General Assembly receives a score from 0 to 10 based on how he or she voted on ten votes.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 |
Officeholder Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ “CT Mirror’’, “Mary Mushinsky, longest-serving member of CT House, to retire’, February 26, 2026
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Mushinsky Biography," accessed August 18, 2014
- ↑ 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 19, 2012
- ↑ CBS Connecticut, "2012 Primary Results," August 14, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 21, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "CT House official election results for 2008," November 5, 2008
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 85 1981-Present |
Succeeded by - |
