Kissel defeats Jarmoc, wins 11th consecutive term in state Senate

Republican state Sen. John Kissel defeated Karen Jarmoc in the District 7 state Senate race on Nov. 6. Photo contributed. - Contributed Photo

The 2010 District 7 state Senate race between incumbent Republican John Kissel and Democrat Karen Jarmoc was extremely close, with the incumbent retaining his seat by less than 1,000 votes. Their 2012 rematch proved to be even closer, but in the end Kissel held off his challenger and won his 11th consecutive term by 509 votes, the final tally being 22,181-21,672.

“I have to tell you it’s very humbling to be re-elected, and I will work as hard as humanly possible to continue to earn their support and their trust,” Kissel said. “I think that people know the job that I do, they know that I love the job that I do, and I vote my conscience. I try to find out what the constituents support, as far as legislation, and I think they respect that. It is difficult to continue to win, it is a two-to-one Democratic registration [in the district], but we’ve continued to be successful for over two decades.”

Kissel’s victory over Jarmoc was the only Republican victory in Enfield and one of the only GOP wins in the region. Kissel credited  a great deal of his success to the help of his sons, Nathaniel and Tristan, as well as sign waves, literature drops, knocking on doors, asking people for their vote, and a positive commercial that focused on his track record and accomplishments while in office. He also believes that endorsements from groups such as AFSME Local 391 – Connecticut State Prison Employees, the Enfield Teachers Association, Connecticut Education Association, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses aided his campaign.

Kissel led the polls in East Granby, earning 55 percent of the vote, as well as 57 percent in Granby, 58 percent in Somers, and 53 percent in Suffield. Jarmoc carried Enfield, garnering 54 percent of the vote, as well as Windsor and Windsor Locks, with 55 and 53 percent, respectively.

“I was really proud of the race we ran, I have no regrets. I had the most amazing people helping me do this, but we just came up short,” Jarmoc said. “I wish him well.”