
State Rep. Kara Rochelle, front and center wearing purple shirt, celebrates her victory Tuesday at her campaign headquarters on Main Street in Ansonia.
ANSONIA-DERBY — State Rep. Kara Rochelle won a third term to represent Ansonia and Derby in Hartford, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.
Unofficial results shared by Rochelle’s campaign show her beating her opponent, Josh Shuart, 3,305 to 2,987. Rochelle is a Democrat who lives in Ansonia. Shuart, a college professor, lives in Ansonia and is president of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen. Updated numbers from the state Wednesday morning has Rochelle winning 3,371 to 3,022.
“We knew it was going to be closer (than previous elections),” Rochelle told The Valley Indy during an election night livestream. ​“It’s the midterms, and the pendulum swings back and forth.”
Click the play button above to watch Tuesday’s livestream, which features appearances by former Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, former Seymour Democratic Town Committee Chairman Stephan Behuniak, Derby Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea and Ansonia Democratic Town Committee Chairman John Feddern.
Rochelle was first elected to represent the people of the 104th District in November 2018, running for the seat vacated by Linda Gentile, a Democrat from Ansonia.
“Mostly I just want to thank voters and everyone who has entrusted me to continue working for them in the community. I care very much about the residents of this community and what we’re building for Ansonia and Derby and the lower Valley,” Rochelle said.
This was Shuart’s first attempt at statewide office. He said he enjoyed the campaign and meeting people.
“I was hoping that I could take my unique skill set and translate it into making some positive change for the two communities,” Shuart said.

Unofficial results from the Secretary of State's website Wednesday morning.
DERBY ROAD BOND
Voters in Derby approved the borrowing of $3 million to mill and pave roads. The question was approved on the Derby ballot by a 1,904 to 1,414 vote, according to the head moderator’s return submitted by the city to the Secretary of State’s Office. See the image below.

OTHER RACES
Democrat Mary Welander defeated Woodbridge Republican Daniel Cowan to earn her second term representing District 114 in the state House of Representatives.
That district includes Derby, Hamden, Orange and Woodbridge.
Welander thanked voters in a Tweet at 11:24 p.m. Tuesday.

State Sen. Kevin Kelly, a Republican, won his seventh term in Hartford on Tuesday by defeating Democratic challenger Christopher Green. Click here for a story. Kelly’s 21st District includes Shelton and parts of Seymour.

State Sen. Jorge Cabrera, D‑Hamden, whose district includes Ansonia and Derby, among others, declared victory in his contest Tuesday night over challenger Kathy Hoyt, The New Haven Register reported.
State Sen. Eric Berthel, a Republican whose 32nd District includes parts of Seymour, also won re-election, according to The Connecticut Post and The Republican-American of Waterbury.
State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, a Republican, was re-elected. The Democrats did not field an opponent to challenge her.
In the race for Connecticut governor, incumbent Ned Lamont, a Democrat, declared victory. The Associated Press also called the race for Lamont. His Republican opponent Bob Stefanowski did not concede defeat, saying he wanted to wait for all the votes to arrive before making a statement. Click here for a story.
In Shelton, incumbent state Reps. Jason Perillo and Ben McGorty were re-elected to the state House. Both men are Republicans. Click here for a story.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D‑New Haven, was re-elected, as was U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D‑Greenwich, whose race was called by The Associated Press just minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday night.