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Leaving office January 1, 2027.Lost re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.
John Kissel
Photo: Liam Enea, CC BY-SA 2.0
RepublicanIn office until January 1, 2027

John Kissel

Connecticut State Senator, District 7 since 1994. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 19 elections between 1990 and 2024, winning 17.

Connecticut State Senator, District 7Born 1959

Official websiteWikipedia

In office
32 yrs
Since 1994
Bills became law
41
59 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
1.3%
Chamber median 1.5%
With party
90%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
−10.9
Lost 2026
Elections
20
1990–2026

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Judiciary · ranking member
  • Legislative Regulation Review · ranking republican member
  • Finance, Revenue and Bonding
  • General Law

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 59 sponsored · 41 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
HB 5323 AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
Advisory bodies · Became law Jun 2026
HB 5259 AN ACT CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
Boards of education · Became law Jun 2026
SB 475 AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS.
Abandoned property · Became law Jun 2026
SB 138 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Audits · Became law Jun 2026
SB 247 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.
Auditors of public accounts · Became law Jun 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Kissel sits in the Connecticut State Senate

Kissel is closer to the center than 82% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianKisselMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Jason Perillo, Tony Hwang, Paul Cicarella

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:47 PM ET

With Kissel’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans90%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Connecticut State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Kissel’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillKisselRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
May 6, 2026SB 477: AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE TO FILE FOR CERTAIN GRAND LIST EXEMPTIONS, A MUNICIPAL…NoNoYesPassed 26–9
May 6, 2026HB 5340: AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION.YesNoYesPassed 27–9
May 5, 2026HB 5581: AN ACT AMENDING A PRIOR CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND TO THE TOWN OF ROCKY HILL.NoNoYesPassed 27–9
May 4, 2026HB 5468: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF PARENT-MANAGED LEARNING.NoNoYesPassed 22–14
May 2, 2026SB 1: AN ACT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027, MAKING…YesNoYesPassed 30–6

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Kissel was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026Connecticut State Senate, District 7LostD+10.9D+3.7−7.2
2024Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+8.8D+3.7+12.5
2022Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+14.0D+7.2+21.2
2020Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+8.0——
2018Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+8.7——
2016Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+21.8——
2014Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+39.1——
2014Connecticut State Senate, District 7 (primary)Won———
2012Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+1.2——
2010Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+2.9——
2008Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+9.8——
2006Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+5.4——
2004Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+1.6——
2002Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+25.1——
2000Connecticut State Senate, District 7Won———
1998Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+36.3——
1996Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+17.2——
1994Connecticut State Senate, District 7WonR+9.4——
1992Connecticut State Senate, District 7LostD+14.5——
1990Connecticut House of Representatives, District 59LostD+32.0——

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Connecticut Secretary of the State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$152.1K
Spent
$147.1K
Cash
$5K

Source: Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission filings through Oct 27, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

Committee to Re-Elect Senator John Kissel
State		Active

Source: Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission filings through Oct 27, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Seats Kissel has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Kissel has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Connecticut Secretary of the State (unofficial)

How we know Kissel

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET