CT Patch Candidate Profile: Matt Blumenthal For State Representative

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 5 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and city.

Candidate’s Name

Matt Blumenthal

What office are you seeking?

State Representative

District

147th House District
Campaign website

What city or town do you live in?

Stamford

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

B.A., Harvard College, History & Literature (High Honors) J.D., Yale Law School

Occupation

I have been an attorney for roughly 8 years. I am a trial lawyer in private practice, representing victims of negligence and misconduct. Additionally, I have been a state legislator for roughly 5 years, first elected in 2018.

Family

My partner, Britta, is a law professor and lawyer.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No relatives currently work in state government. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is my father.

Previous public office, appointive or elective

I am the current State Representative for the 147th District. I have served in this office since 2019 (elected in 2018).

Age

38

Why are you seeking this office?

As a Marine Infantry Officer commanding a rifle platoon, I lived by a central credo: “officers eat last.” That principle—that leadership is a sacred duty—has been constant in my work. During law school, I helped an Afghan interpreter, threatened by the Taliban for his work with our troops, safely reach the U.S. My work helped pass a Connecticut statute that eased the veteran-unemployment crisis.

As a lawyer, I fight to ensure victims of negligence and misconduct receive justice. My Yale Law School training taught me that details matter: for good or for ill, the law has a tremendous impact on real people’s lives. I’ve taken all these lessons to the General Assembly. There, my attention to detail, teamwork, and uncompromising defense of our values have helped me be a leader on fighting gun violence, protecting women’s and LGBTQ rights, strengthening our democracy, bolstering our economy, and many more issues.

I have found this work tremendously rewarding and hope to have the opportunity to continue to win meaningful change for the people of Stamford and Connecticut.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

We must continue to ensure our state takes every measure to attack inflation, decrease the cost of living, and increase economic opportunities for middle-class individuals and working families across our state. Our last budgets have done just that: we passed the largest state-income tax cut in our state’s history, ended the tax on retirement income, cut property taxes on retirees, and delivered more than $290 million for a new Westhill High School and Roxbury Elementary School, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars more for Stamford school-construction projects over the next 25 years.

We also must continue to invest in our communities and adhere to the fiscally responsible measures we’ve put in place to pay down of our long-term obligations, which will save us more than $450 million per year over the next 25 years.

Another cost-of-living issue: energy prices. I have been a leader on imposing accountability, oversight, and transparency on our public utilities, including Eversource. Last year, I co-authored and helped lead passage of legislation reforming the Connecticut Siting Council, the body responsible for approving utility projects that are paid for (at a profit for the utilities) by ratepayers. For too long, the Siting Council had a reputation for being autocratic, imperious, inaccessible, unaccountable, and too friendly with the utilities. Our legislation took strong measure to increase the Council’s transparency, accountability, resources, and independence to ensure it serves the interests of our ratepayers and communities.

I also co-sponsored the 2020 Take Back Our Grid Act, which increased PURA’s oversight authorities and has led to multiple rate-hike denials. We have much more work to do on this subject. I will continue to fight to ensure that Eversource and other utilities are held accountable and properly serve our state's ratepayers.

There have been an alarming number of deaths on Connecticut's roadways. Is there anything from a legislative standpoint that can be done to address that?

Yes. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I am proud to have repeatedly supported legislation to make our roads safer for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Some specific examples include legislation to implement vision-zero initiatives and prevent wrong-way driving on our highways. I will continue to advocate for legislation and projects that improve safety on our roadways.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am the current House Chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee. I am also the co-founder and Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Reproductive Rights Caucus. In 2022, I co-authored and led passage of the Connecticut Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which protects residents, healthcare providers, and visiting patients from out-of-state lawsuits or prosecutions related to reproductive or gender-affirming health care that is legal in Connecticut. It was drafted and passed in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overruled Roe v. Wade. It has been called “the gold standard for pro-choice legislation in the post-Roe era,” as well as a “blueprint” and a “model for other . . . states that want to protect abortion access.”

Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have since enacted laws based on its provisions. In 2023, I co-authored and led passage of the state’s first legislation allowing early voting. I led passage of a resolution for a Constitutional amendment to allow absentee voting for all, which will go before the voters for approval in November 2024. In 2023, I also co-authored and helped lead passage of the John R. Lewis Connecticut Voting Rights Act. I also co-authored and led passage of the first significant reform strengthening our state’s Freedom of Information laws in 40 years. I have also authored and helped lead passage of bills including the state’s ban on ghost guns and 3D-printed guns, as well as helping pass laws ensuring safe storage of firearms.

Additionally, I helped author legislation to increase equity and reduce discrimination on juries, confront online harassment, stalking, and hate crimes, and update Connecticut’s Emergency Risk Protection Order (Red-Flag) law. I have also been a fierce voice fighting on behalf of ratepayers to increase accountability and transparency for public utilities. In doing so, I co-authored legislation to defend ratepayers and reform the Connecticut Siting Council, and cosponsored the Take Back Our Grid Act.

I have also supported laws to increase access to community college and training programs for workers in Connecticut and decrease student-loan debt. I have cosponsored vital legislation to protect our environment.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If elected, I will continue to work tirelessly to improve life in Stamford and Connecticut, including by increasing public safety, decreasing cost of living, and protecting our rights and values. Additionally, I will continue my constituent work, where I advocate for Stamford (and other CT) residents who need assistance with obtaining information, access to benefits, support from city or state agencies, or protection against wrongdoers. It's one of the most important (and fulfilling) parts of the job.