The 32nd state Senate District now includes part of Bethel, and serves towns including Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Roxbury, Southbury, Washington, and Woodbury.  The race today features a 2020 match up of Republican incumbent Eric Berthel and Democratic challenger Jeff Desmarais.  Berthel is seeking a 3rd full term, having been selected in a special election in 2017, and re-elected in 2018 and 2020.  Desmarais was a Watertown Town Council member and has served on the Watertown Public Buildings Commission, the Charter Revision Commission and is the chairperson of the Watertown/Oakville Democratic Town Committee. Berthel says affordability is the biggest issue facing the state ranging from high electric rates and taxes to looming budget deficits.  Desmarais supports a middle class tax cut says the state should be able to find ways help municipalities.  On health care, Desmarais supports a public option health care plan. Berthel voted against a bill approved this past session protecting abortion providers and patients from extradition to states that have banned abortion because of the expanded scope of practice for medical professionals who are not trained in performing abortions.  Desmarais supports the law.  Berthel has said he supports requiring private health insurance companies to pay for metabolic and bariatric surgery procedures.