Harp resigns from Senate, starting countdown to special election

Toni Harp, the newly inaugurated Democratic mayor of New Haven, resigned Tuesday from the state Senate, forcing a special election to choose a successor within the next 56 days.

By law, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has 10 days to issue a writ of special election. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill must then schedule an election within 46 days of Malloy’s action.

The 2014 session of the General Assembly convenes Feb. 5.

Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield is the only candidate publicly committed to seeking Harp’s seat, according to the New Haven Independent, though others mentioned as possible candidates include two other state representatives, Toni Walker and Juan Candelaria.

“We get started tomorrow,” Holder-Winfield said in a Tweet late Tuesday afternoon.

Harp represented the 10th Senate District for 21 years. It includes West Haven and part of New Haven.