Former U.S. Rep. Emilio Daddario, who served in the U.S. Congress in the 1st District that covers Hartford and many surrounding towns, has died at 91.
Daddario, a Democrat, won a key election in 1958 by defeating U.S. Rep. Edwin May - the last Republican to hold the Democratic-dominated 1st District. Republicans thought they had their best chance in years to win the seat when Attorney Kevin O'Connor ran in 1998, but he was defeated by Democrat John B. Larson, who still holds the seat and went on to become one of the most powerful Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. O'Connor held a high-profile fundraiser that year at the Hartford Club with former United Technologies Corp. CEO Harry Gray and then-Gov. John G. Rowland, who was near the peak of his popularity at the time, in attendance.
It has now been more than 50 years since a Republican represented the district - after May won in the Eisenhower presidential election of 1956.
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-obit-emilio-daddario-0708-20100707,0,3326161.story