State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, on Tuesday secured a fourth term representing the 18th Senate District, fending off a challenge from Stonington Board of Education Chairman Farouk Rajab, a Democrat.

Somers received 18,410 votes to Rajab’s 13,699, according to unofficial results not including absentee ballots.

The Senate district includes Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown.

Somers, who lives on the Groton side of Mystic, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2016.

“I want to thank the people of the 18th District for having the faith in me to send me again to represent them in Hartford,” Somers said.

She said she thinks the campaign showed how important it is to be an integral member of the community and to work hard for the people of the district. She said she looks forward to continuing to serve them in Hartford.

“I congratulate Senator Somers, said Rajab, who gathered with supporters at the Water Street Cafe in Stonington after the polls closed Tuesday night. ”I am proud of the campaign we ran because we set the example for our community and my children of how politics should be. It’s about what you can do and how you can serve your community. We will run for this seat again and we will win on what we can do and what we can do for our community.“

Rajab, a Pawcatuck resident and the general manager of the Providence Marriott Downtown who has served on the Stonington Board of Education since 2018.

Somers was elected to her first term in the General Assembly in 2016, winning against Democrat Timothy Bowles. She won reelection in 2018 and 2020 against Democrat Bob Statchen.

Somers served five terms on the Groton Town Council and was mayor from 2012-14. She also ran as lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley in 2014. In an interview with The Day, she said was proud of her record as a legislator included working on the budget and legislation to address the opioid crisis and calling for reform at the Whiting Forensic Hospital. She said helping constituents is the most rewarding part of her job.

In the legislature, she serves on the Public Health, Transportation and Appropriations committees. Somers is the founding partner of Hydrofera, a medical device manufacturer.

k.drelich@theday.com