Pemberton makes CT political history as a tribal member wins 139th House seat

Larry Pemberton Jr., of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, won Connecticut’s 139th House District in a special election, becoming the first publicly recognized CT tribal member elected to the General Assembly. He led with about 64% in Ledyard, Montville and Norwich, defeating Republican Brandon Sabbag (28%) and write-in Mark Adams (7%) as turnout reached about 20%. The victory keeps Democrats’ 102-49 supermajority intact. Sabbag’s campaign faced a criminal-record disclosure, and Adams is pursuing a ballot-access lawsuit that could force a new election if successful.