Rick Lopes

Rick Lopes
Member of the Connecticut State Senate
from the 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2021
Preceded byGennaro Bizzarro
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 24th district
In office
January 13, 2012 – January 2021
Preceded byTim O'Brien
Succeeded byEmmanuel Sanchez
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceNew Britain, Connecticut
EducationUniversity of Connecticut (BA, MSW)

Rick Lopes is an American politician who has represented the 6th District in the Connecticut State Senate since 2021. Lopes formerly represented the 24th District of the Connecticut House of Representatives Member-elect of the Connecticut State Senate. Lopes ran for the 6th District seat in the Connecticut State Senate during the 2020 election. Lopes won the election against Republican Incumbent Gennaro Bizzarro. Lopes began his two-year term in the Connecticut State Senate on January 3, 2021 and will seek re-election in 2026.

Early career

Rick Lopes has owned and managed a property management business serving West Hartford, New Britain, and Hartford, Connecticut. Rick Lopes graduated from University of Connecticut with a Bachelor's degree in Literature, as well as a second Bachelor's degree in Sociology. In 2003 he earned a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Connecticut.[1]

Political career

Lopes won a special election in 2012 against Republican candidate Peter Steele. Steele and Lopes would go head to head in the 2012 General election as well. With Lopes being victorious.[2] Lopes would win re-election in the 2014 election as well. Defeating Republican Gennaro Bizzarro. Lopes would win the 2016 and 2018 elections. Defeating Republicans James Sanders and Sharan Beloin-Saavedra respectively.[3] In 2019, Rick Lopes ran against Republican State Senator Gennaro Bizzarro in a special election after Senator Terry Gerratana resigned for a position in Governor Lamont's administration where Lopes lost. However, Lopes would ultimately win the seat in a 2020 general election and help add to the Democratic majority in the Connecticut State Senate.[4]

Electoral history

2020

Rick Lopes defeated Republican Incumbent Gennaro Bizzarro. Bizzarro has represented the 6th District since 2019.

2020 Connecticut State Senate election, District 6[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Lopes 19,621 53.04
Republican Gennaro Bizzarro (incumbent) 16,372 44.26
Working Families Rick Lopes 1,000 2.70
Total votes 36,993 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

2022

Rick Lopes defeated Republican Challenger Tremell Collins. Collins has previously ran two other campaigns in 2018 and 2017, losing both.

2022 Connecticut State Senate election, District 6[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Lopes (incumbent) 13,174 53.91
Republican Tremell Collins 10,666 43.64
Working Families Rick Lopes 597 2.43
Total votes 24,437 100.00

2024

Rick Lopes defeated Republican Challenger Tremell Collins. Collins has previously ran three other campaigns in 2022, 2018 and 2017, losing all.

2024 Connecticut State Senate election, District 6[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Lopes (incumbent) 20.160 58.4
Republican Tremell Collins 14.337 41.6
Working Families Rick Lopes
Total votes 34,497 100.00

References

  1. ^ Connecticut House Dems. "Biography-Rick Lopes". housedems.ct.gov. Connecticut House Democrats. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  2. ^ Ballotpedia. "2012 Connecticut Special elections". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Ballotpedia. "Rick Lopes". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Ballotpedia. "2020 Connecticut State Senate election". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Public Reporting". Connecticut Elections Management System. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Public Reporting". Connecticut Elections Management System. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Public Reporting". Connecticut Elections Management System. Retrieved November 8, 2024.