Exclusive: Fasano Will Not Seek 10th Term in Blow to Republicans, State.

State Senator Len Fasano (R-North Haven) will not seek a 10th term in November. The Senate Republican leader announced his decision in teleconferences with local party activists in his four-town district that includes Durham, East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford on Tuesday evening. Fasano also shared the news with his fellow Senate Republicans in a conference call.

Fasano defeated a Democratic incumbent in a 2002 upset. In his first term, Fasano witnessed the decline, fall, resignation, and criminal conviction of John G. Rowland, the disgraced Republican governor. Democrats struggled to mount serious challenges to Fasano every two years.

The Yale graduate made his mark as a student of public policy and state spending. He became leader of the Senate Republicans in 2015. In 2016, Senate Republicans won 18 seats, tying the Senate Democrats and leading to a historic bipartisan budget, sidelining departing unpopular incumbent Democratic Governor Daniel P. Malloy. Fasano’s intellectual heft and unusual network of allies often confounded the surly Malloy.

The New Haven lawyer’s interest in public policy and his ability to grasp and translate complex issues caused legislators of both parties to seek his support asa a partner in legislating. A longtime champion of children’s issues, Fasano was a critical legislator in exposing the dangerous shamble that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) became under then-Commissioner Joette Katz’s eight years of failure.

In 2015, Fasano emerged as a rare Republican with a comprehensive interest in urban issues. His persistence in attempting to create ties between the state’s cities and Republicans irritated some of his fellow party members. One prominent, malignant House Republican began referring to Fasano as “Leon” behind his back, though word of the racist taunt quickly circulated. Fasano’s influence was magnified by having allies in each caucus, unusual in age of political tribalism.

Fasano, a prodigious fundraiser, considered a bid for governor in 2018 but declined to make the race. Fasano is expected to remain active in public affairs after his term ends in January.