# Connecticut's 65th House of Representatives district

The sixty-fifth Connecticut House of Representatives district elects one member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Its current representative is Republican Joseph Canino. The district consists of part of the city of Torrington. It is one of the most electorally volatile districts in the state, having changed hands between parties four times since 2000.

## List of representatives

| Representative | Party | Years | District home | Note |
| Addo Bonetti | Democratic | 1973–1979 | Torrington | Did not seek reelection |
| John A. Miscikoski | Democratic | 1979–1985 | Torrington | Defeated for reelection |
| George P. Avitable | Republican | 1985–1993 | Torrington | Did not seek reelection |
| Brian Mattiello | Republican | 1993–2001 | Torrington | Did not seek reelection |
| John S. Kovaleski | Democratic | 2001–2003 | Torrington | Defeated for reelection |
| Anne Ruwet | Republican | 2003–2009 | Torrington | Defeated for reelection |
| Michelle Cook | Democratic | 2009–2025 | Torrington | Defeated for reelection |
| Joseph Canino | Republican | 2025–present | Torrington | |

## Recent elections

State Election 2010: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Michelle Cook | 3,285 | 50.3 | −1.2 |
| | Republican | Wendy A. Traub | 3,066 | 47.0 | +3.2 |
| | Working Families | Michelle Cook | 178 | 2.7 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 397 | 6.1 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,529 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | -3.2 | |
State Election 2008: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Michelle Cook | 4,535 | 51.5 | +2.0 |
| | Republican | Anne Ruwet | 3,853 | 43.8 | −6.7 |
| | Working Families | Michelle Cook | 410 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,092 | 12.4 | +11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,798 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +6.7 | |
State Election 2006: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Anne Ruwet | 3,245 | 50.5 | −2.0 |
| | Democratic | Paul E. Cavagnero | 3,183 | 49.5 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 1.0 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,428 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -2.0 | |
State Election 2004: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Anne Ruwet | 4,555 | 52.5 | +2.5 |
| | Democratic | Paul E. Cavagnero | 4,113 | 47.5 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 442 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,668 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +2.5 | |
State Election 2002: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Anne Ruwet | 3,236 | 50.0001 | +9.2 |
| | Democratic | John S. Kovaleski | 3,235 | 49.9999 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | .0002 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,471 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | +6.0 | |
State Election 2000: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John S. Kovaleski | 3,691 | 47.3 | +47.3 |
| | Republican | Patricia L. Dupret | 3,184 | 40.8 | −59.2 |
| | Green | Thomas P. Ethier | 923 | 11.8 | +11.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | 5.2 | −94.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,798 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +53.3 | |
State Election 1998: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brian Mattiello | 4,789 | 100.0 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,789 | 100.0 | +0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,789 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +0.0 | |
State Election 1996: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brian Mattiello | 5,875 | 100.0 | +32.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,875 | 100.0 | +65.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,875 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +32.7 | |
State Election 1994: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brian Mattiello | 4,944 | 67.3 | +18.0 |
| | Democratic | Stephanie M. Weaver | 1,736 | 23.6 | −2.8 |
| | A Connecticut Party (1990) | Stephanie M. Weaver | 665 | 9.1 | −15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,543 | 34.6 | +11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,345 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +18.0 | |
State Election 1992: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brian Mattiello | 4,691 | 49.3 | −6.6 |
| | Democratic | Robert J. Ingoldsby | 2,515 | 26.4 | −17.7 |
| | A Connecticut Party (1990) | Jonathan Hutchinson | 2,304 | 24.2 | +24.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,176 | 22.9 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,510 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -6.6 | |
State Election 1990: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | George P. Avitabile | 3,966 | 55.9 | −0.3 |
| | Democratic | John T. Miscikoski | 3,132 | 44.1 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 834 | 11.7 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,098 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
State Election 1988: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | George P. Avitabile | 4,744 | 56.2 | +3.6 |
| | Democratic | Gerald R. Reis | 3,691 | 43.8 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,053 | 12.5 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,435 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
State Election 1986: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | George P. Avitabile | 3,680 | 52.6 | −2.2 |
| | Democratic | John A. Miscikoski | 3,313 | 47.4 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 5.2 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,993 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -2.2 | |
State Election 1984: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | George P. Avitabile | 5,285 | 54.8 | +12.0 |
| | Democratic | John A. Miscikoski | 4,366 | 45.2 | −12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 919 | 9.5 | −5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,651 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | +12.0 | |
State Election 1982: House District 65 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John A. Miscikoski | 4,735 | 57.2 |
| | Republican | Thomas F. Teti | 3,538 | 42.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,197 | 14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,273 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |