Connecticut Democrats elect new chairman

Nancy DiNardo, the outgoing chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, shown with her successor, Nick Balletto, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the state party headquarters in Hartford. Contributed photo.

Nancy DiNardo, the outgoing chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, shown with her successor, Nick Balletto, right, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the state party headquarters in Hartford. Contributed photo.

The changing of the guard is now official for the Connecticut Democrats, who have a power monopoly in Hartford and haven’t lost a statewide election since 2006.

Nick Balletto, the party’s No. 2 leader and a tax accountant from Guilford, will assume the reins as Democratic boss on Feb. 1 from longtime chairwoman Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull.

The Democratic State Central Committee announced the succession plan Thursday night after electing Balletto as chairman.

From 1996 to 2002, Balletto led the Democratic Party in the urban stronghold of New Haven, where he was previously an alderman.

DiNardo, who has presided over the party for a decade of dominance that has seen five Republican bosses come and go, will take over Balletto’s post as the vice chair.

Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1 on Connecticut’s voter rolls and are the second largest bloc of the electorate after unaffiliated voters.

Neil Vigdor