Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today swore in five of the six winners of House races this week, then hurried upstairs to administer the oath to two of the three new senators.

The Rev. Charlie Stallworth, who won a House seat in Bridgeport on Tuesday, is coming with a busload of parishoners and other supporters for his swearing in on Monday. Len Suzio of Meriden, who won a Senate seat, also will take the oath Monday.

The other five new state representatives took their turns in the Hall of the House, raising their right hands as Merrill administered the oath.

The House also lost a member today. Carlo Leone of Stamford resigned his House seat shortly before becoming a state senator. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has 10 days to set a day for a special election.

The new legislators are: Sens. Theresa Gerratana, D-New Britain; Len Suzio, R-Meriden; and Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford; and Reps. Joe Verrengia, D-West Hartford; Robert Sanchez, D-New Britain; Philip Miller, D-Essex; James Albis, D-East Haven; Noreen Kokoruda, R-Madison; and Charlie Stallworth, D-Bridgeport.

After Stallworth and Suzio take their oaths on Monday, Democrats will have a 22-14 advantage in the Senate and a 98-52 margin in the House.

Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

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