WILTON–Republican delegates have selected Westport RTM Member Alma Sarelli as the party’s candidate for Connecticut’s 26th State Senate seat. The seat is currently held by Democratic state Sen. Ceci Maher, who is not seeking re-election.

The 26th District encompasses all of Westport, Redding, Weston and Wilton as well as parts of Darien, New Canaan, Ridgefield and Stamford. 

Who Sarelli defeated in her quest for the nomination is unclear. Westport Journal has emailed, texted and / or phoned her campaign manager, Nicholas Marini, the Chairman of the Westport Republican Town Committee, Patrizia Zucaro, RTM member Jimmy Izzo and the Chairman of the Connecticut Republican party, Ben Proto. None of them have answered the question: “Who did Sarelli run against?”

“I am honored and humbled by this nomination,” Sarelli said in a statement. “The residents of the 26th District deserve a strong, dedicated voice in Hartford, someone who will listen, lead, and deliver results every day. That is exactly what I intend to do.”

Sarelli previously ran for Connecticut’s 136th House District in 2022, where she lost to Jonathan Steinberg, 7,294 to 3,276.

Sarelli said her campaign will focus on issues including affordability, education, public safety, special education funding, parental rights and local control over planning and zoning decisions. She has served on several RTM committees related to education, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and public safety.

“Decisions affecting our towns should be made by locally elected officials, not transferred by state politicians to bureaucrats in Hartford,” Sarelli said.

Sarelli will face Weston First Selectwoman Sam Nestor, the Democratic party candidate, in November.