BRIDGEPORT — State Rep. Charlie Stallworth was projected to retain his state House seat Tuesday and two other Democratic House members were leading their races.
The Associated Press projected Stallworth would beat Republican challenger Lee Grisby.
State Reps. Andre Baker and Jack Hennessy were both holding leads over their challengers.
But as of about 11 p.m., no results were available for seats held by Democratic state Reps. Stephen Stafstrom, Chris Rosario and Antonio Felipe.
The process of counting machine votes and mail-in ballots is expected to continue through Wednesday.
Democrats hold a commanding 10-to-1 advantage over Republicans in voter registration in the state’s largest city and have controlled its legislative delegation for years.
District 124
Baker was holding a lead over Republican challenger Jasmin Sanchez and Independent Wilfredo Martinez, according to unofficial results posted by the AP.
A father of two sons, Baker was first elected to the House in 2014 and again won elections in 2016 and 2018.
Baker is the owner of Baker-Isaac Funeral Services in Bridgeport and Baker Funeral Services in South Norwalk. He moved to Bridgeport in 1994 and was elected to the Democratic Town Committee in 2003, the start of his political career.
Sanchez unsuccessfully ran for the 139th District in 2017 and 2019.
District 126
Stallworth, who was projected by the AP to win his race against Grisby, has represented Bridgeport at the state Capitol for the last decade. He is a senior pastor at the East End Baptist Church.
Stallworth ran on a pledge to make this his last term representing voters in Hartford. He listed the state’s ongoing battle against COVID, social justice reform — particularly police accountability — and improving education as top legislative priorities.
District 127
Hennessy, a Democrat, held a lead over Peter Perillo, a Republican, and Robert Keeley, a long-time Democrat running as a petitioning candidate.
Hennessy, a retired FedEx employee first elected in 2004, pledged to fight for more education dollars and funding to spark city development. Hennessy said flooding issues in his North End district continue to be a major concern.
Perillo ran unsuccessfully for Bridgeport City Council three years ago. His top legislative priorities are improving public safety and combating gang violence; better funding for education and lowering taxes, or at least holding the line on taxes.
Perillo is a hotel general manager in Milford.
Keeley is a former Democratic state representative who served for 25 years until losing the party primary in 2008. Keeley has since tried unsuccessfully to win a City Council seat and his old job in the state Legislature.
Keeley petitioned his way onto the November ballot, pledging to bring more state dollars back to Bridgeport and pursue construction of a municipal athletic center.
District 128
Rosario, a Democrat, faced Republican challenger Ethan Book and Wanda Simmons, a Democrat running as a petitioning candidate.
As of late Tuesday, no results were available for the race.
First elected in 2014, Rosario ran on a promise to make sure students and small businesses have the resources necessary to battle through the coronavirus. He also pledged to take care of senior residents and people of color who have been “devastated” by the pandemic.
Rosario previously worked for the City of Bridgeport overseeing anti-blight programs. He has a part-time civilian position in the Shelton Police Department.
Book has run unsuccessfully for City Council, mayor and the state Legislature. His candidacy this year marked his fourth challenge of Rosario.
Book is the owner of the New England Limousine Service of Fairfield. He ran on a fiscal responsibility platform and said he believes Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s anti-COVID-19 measures curtail “individual liberties” and have often been “over-broad and not consistently designed.”
Simmons, a long-time activist, ran on a platform to reform education for communities of color, pursue legislation to recall “unscrupulous politicians” and addressing racial inequalities.
District 129
Stafstrom, a Democrat, was challenged by Republican Helene Kouassi and Independent Robert Halstead.
As of late Tuesday, results were not available for the race.
Stafstrom, the House judiciary committee chair, first won his seat during a special election in February 2015, defeating Republican Enrique Torres and three other candidates, including Keeley and Halstead.
A Black Rock resident and attorney, Stafstrom is married with two young daughters.
Stafstrom has said his legislative priorities include rebuilding the economy, getting people back to work, securing investments in the city and schools and reforming the property tax structure.
Halstead ran on legalizing recreational marijuana, placing tolls on highways and addressing zoning laws that promote racial segregation.
Republican Kouassi is a first-time candidate for state representative in Bridgeport. Her platform included eliminating taxes on fixed incomes, law enforcement reform and encouraging job creation.
Kouassi is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Hope Health Care.
District 130
Felipe, a Democrat, faced Republican challenger Terrence Sullivan.
As of late Tuesday, no results were available for the race.
Felipe won his seat in 2019 following the sudden death of then-state Rep. Ezequiel Santiago. Felipe works as a consultant for Carmichael Group, a limited liability corporation that, according to state records, is managed by his father.
Carmichael Group has done political work and also database management for nonprofits.
Sullivan in 2018 was defeated for the House seat by the late Ezequiel Santiago.
bcummings@ctpost.com