Kevin C. Kelly

Kevin C. Kelly is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Republican, he was a member of the Connecticut State Senate from 2011 to 2025, elected from the 21st District. He was the Senate Republican Minority Leader from 2021 to 2024.

Education Kelly earned a B.A. from Assumption College in 1982, an M.A. from Fairfield University in 1985, and a J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law in 1997.

Legal and political career Kelly was formerly a town attorney. Before opening his legal practice, Kelly spent 13 years as an investigator for the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

Since 2011, he has been a State Senator, representing part of the Naugatuck River Valley in the Connecticut Senate, including all of the town of Shelton and part of the towns of Monroe, Seymour, and Stratford.

In 2016, Kelly expressed support for Trump's presidential candidacy. In November 2020, the Senate Republican caucus elected Kelly to the post of Senate Minority Leader, replacing Len Fasano, who retired; Kelly appointed Paul Formica as his deputy. As of 2020, Kelly was the ranking member of the Senate committees on Aging, Insurance and Real Estate, and Children, and a member of the Regulation Review Committee.

In 2020, Kelly voted against a police reform and accountability bill.

He was re-elected in the 2024 Connecticut State Senate election. In January 2025, he resigned his seat to take up a state judicial appointment.

Personal life Kelly is married and has four children and five grandchildren.