Kevin C. Kelly is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Republican, he has been a member of the Connecticut State Senate since 2011, elected from the 21st District. He has been Senate Republican Minority Leader since 2021.

Education

Kelly earned a B.A. from

Assumption College Assumption College may refer to these educational institutions: Australia * Assumption College, Kilmore, Victoria * Assumption College, Warwick, Queensland Canada * Assumption University (Windsor, Ontario) (formerly Assumption College) * Assumpt ...

in 1982, an M.A. from

Fairfield University Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1942. In 2017, the university had about 4,100 full-time undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students, including full-time ...

in 1985, and a J.D. from

University of Connecticut School of Law The University of Connecticut School of Law (UConn Law) is the law school associated with the University of Connecticut and located in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. In ...

in 1997.John Burgeson
Kelly loses Stratford but prevails in the 21st
Associated Press (November 7, 2018).

Legal and political career

Kelly was formerly a town attorney. He has a law office, Kevin Kelly & Associates, in Stratford, specializing in elder law.Ethan Fry
Kevin Kelly: Republican, candidate for state Senate District 21
''CT Post'' (September 28, 2020). Before opening his legal practice, Kelly spent 13 years as an investigator for the Connecticut Department of Social Services. In 1992, Kelly ran for the Connecticut House of Representatives in the 121st district. However, he lost the election to

Terry Backer Terry Backer (August 3, 1954 – December 14, 2015), born Terrance Eddy Backer, was an American politician who served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1993 until his death in 2015. Early history Backer was born in Stamford ...

. Since 2011, he has been a

State Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

, representing part of the Naugatuck River Valley in the Connecticut Senate, including all of the town of Shelton and part of the towns of Monroe,

Seymour Seymour may refer to: Places Australia *Seymour, Victoria, a township *Electoral district of Seymour, a former electoral district in Victoria *Rural City of Seymour, a former local government area in Victoria *Seymour, Tasmania, a locality ...

, and Stratford. In 2010, Kelly defeated James Miron, a former mayor of Stratford. In 2012, Kelly ran unopposed for the seat. In 2014, Kelly won reelection, defeating Democrat Prez Palmer. In 2016, Kelly won a fourth term in the Senate, again defeating Palmer. In 2018, Kelly won a fifth term in the Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Monica Tujak Brill. He ran unopposed in 2020. In 2016, Kelly expressed support for Trump's presidential candidacy. In November 2020, the Senate Republican caucus elected Kelly to the post of Senate Minority Leader, replacing

Len Fasano Len Fasano (born May 15, 1958) is a Republican member of the Connecticut Senate, representing the 34th District since 2003. Fasano was sworn in as Senate Republican President Pro Tempore in January 2017. Under the new leadership role Senator Fasa ...

, who retired; Kelly appointed Paul Formica as his deputy. As of 2020, Kelly was the

ranking member In United States politics, a ranking member is the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. On many committees the ranking minority member, along with the Chair, serve as '' ex officio'' member ...

of the Senate committees on Aging, Insurance and Real Estate, and Children, and a member of the Regulation Review Committee. In the state Senate, Kelly has championed efforts to make pregnancy a "qualifying life event" for purposes of health insurance enrollment; the legislation was supported by the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children and Seniors. In 2020, Kelly voted against a police reform and accountability bill.Kevin Kelly
Op-Ed: Kelly talks opposition to police reform bill
''Shelton Herald'' (July 29, 2020).

Personal life

Kelly is married and has four children and five grandchildren.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Kevin C. 21st-century American politicians Assumption University (Worcester) alumni Republican Party Connecticut state senators Fairfield University alumni Living people University of Connecticut School of Law alumni Year of birth missing (living people)