Conn. Senate GOP leader Kelly ousted by caucus
First-term senator from Brookfield will serve as new leader
In a stunning move, Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly abruptly resigned Friday as the caucus leader and has been replaced by a first-term senator.
Sen. Stephen Harding of Brookfield, who previously served for eight years in the state House of Representatives, will serve as the new leader.
The news was broken online by Hartford Courant columnist Kevin F. Rennie in his daily blog. He reported that the change happened three weeks after Kelly had fired John Healey, the caucus chief of staff who had previously worked for seven years for House Republicans and then as chief of staff for New Britain mayor Erin Stewart. Kelly had sought support from the caucus Friday and did not gain sufficient backing.
“I have been incredibly honored to serve as the leader of this caucus and will work collaboratively with Sen. Harding going forward,” Kelly said Friday in a statement. “Our caucus is made up of hard-working individuals who love our state and are ready to fight for it. Together we continue to stand up for policies that make our state more affordable for all people by reducing tax burdens on poor, workingand middle-class families, creating opportunities in education and jobs, and increasing health care access and affordability. Sen. Harding is extremely knowledgeable and cares deeply about the people of Connecticut. He will be an excellent Senate Republican leader.”
The Senate Republican caucus has had internal squabbles with various factions of conservatives and moderates through the years, dating back to when Sen. Kevin Witkos of Canton was seeking to move up from deputy to caucus leader. Kelly narrowly won that tight contest against Witkos and was named leader in 2020. Despite being a freshman senator, Harding received the nod Friday as an honest broker whom the fractured caucus could agree on.
The news rocked insiders because caucus leadership changes have been essentially non-existent during a legislative session over the past 30 years. The session started last week with Gov. Ned Lamont’s State of the State Address.
As caucus leader, Harding will be thrust into a high-profile position that had been held in the past by longtime leaders like Len Fasano of North Haven and John McKinney of Fairfield. Despite being in the minority, he will play a key role in behind-the-scenes negotiations on various issues at the Capitol.
“I am honored to have been chosen by our caucus to succeed Sen. Kelly as caucus leader,” Harding said in a statement. “Sen. Kelly has served our caucus tirelessly for more than three years. As leader, I will make sure our caucus remains unified and focused on standing up for all people, offering solutions and showing a better path forward. From strengthening public safety, environmental, education, and health care policies to preserving fiscal discipline, we will work to give residents the stability and predictability they deserve. I thank Sen. Kelly for his leadership and look forward to the challenges ahead.”
An attorney, Harding represents the 30th District that was once held by longtime Senate Republican leader M. Adela Eads. Harding won four elections in the House before winning election to the Senate in 2002.
The wide-ranging district in the state’s northwestern corner covers Bethlehem, Brookfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Fairfield, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winchester.