State Senator Julie Kushner Announces 2024 Re-Election Bid

**News Release Submitted by Julie Kushner Campaign**

Feb. 2, 2024

State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who was first elected in 2018 and has since been re-elected twice, announced today that she will seek re-election for State Senate. Kushner also announced that in just over two weeks she has received more than enough grassroots small-dollar contributions from people living in Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield to qualify for Connecticut’s Citizen’s Election Program.

“I’ve been working hard and getting things done for the people of the 24th Senate District,” Senator Kushner said. “Whether it’s passing a balanced budget and providing $600 million in tax cuts, delivering more funding for our public schools, capping the cost of insulin, or protecting abortion rights, I’m proud of how we’re making Connecticut a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I've been especially proud of passing Connecticut's Paid Family and Medical Leave program -- in just two years, 93,000 Connecticut workers have benefited. And this year, I’m proud that we finally delivered benefits to firefighters who contract cancer. Firefighters and their families have earned these benefits.”

“This year, I will introduce a bill that ensures that every worker in Connecticut gets paid sick days. Our workers need to be able to take care of themselves and their families when they are ill without worrying whether they will be able to pay the rent,” Senator Kushner added. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done for the residents of the 24th Senate District to improve our lives. Together, we can continue to improve life for people in our communities, and for working families across Connecticut."

The Citizen’s Election Program is a state-sponsored campaign finance program designed to free candidates from the influence of special interest contributions. Candidates for State Senate who receive contributions from at least 300 residents of their district in contributions as low as $5, raising a minimum of $17,300, qualify to participate in the program. With an outpouring of grassroots support in Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield, Senator Kushner met that goal in just over two weeks.

Senator Kushner is Senate Chair of the Labor & Public Employees Committee, Vice-Chair of the Children’s and Public Health committees, and a member of the Appropriations and Education committees. Born in Iowa, Senator Kushner grew up in Nebraska and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. She moved to Danbury in 1993 with her husband and their three children, all of whom attended Danbury public schools. Senator Kushner has been active in American labor unions for over 40 years, achieving pay increases, improving health care, and securing childcare benefits for tens of thousands of working Americans.