Your 2026 Democratic Candidates
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Early voting runs October 19 to November 1.
STATE SENATE, 18TH DISTRICT
Joe de la Cruz
Joe grew up in New London and lives in Groton, where he chairs the Economic Development Commission. He's a retired member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 40 who worked his way up to vice president of the Hillery Company, a contractor on Electric Boat projects. He served on Groton's Representative Town Meeting and Town Council, then six years as state representative for the 41st District, where he helped pass the minimum wage increase and paid family and medical leave.
Joe and his wife Tammy also started Community Speaks Out, which connects people struggling with addiction to treatment and recovery. The law he's proudest of from his time in Hartford funds sober living homes and holds them to high standards.
What Joe Will Work On
Keeping health insurance within reach. An estimated 100,000 people in Connecticut are set to lose Medicaid in January, and Joe would vote to fill that gap so the cost doesn't land on everyone else's hospital bills. Taking the public benefits charge off your electric bill and paying for it in the state budget instead. Holding off on new data centers until the state can show ratepayers won't pay for the new power lines.
joeforct.com
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 43RD DISTRICT
Bill Heughins
Stonington Voting Districts 2, 3, and 5
Bill has taught social studies in North Stonington since 1997, helping students understand history and what it takes to be an informed, engaged citizen. At Wheeler High School, he runs the Model UN club and co-coaches the debate team. Bill grew up in East Lyme, where his dad spent his whole career as a machinist at Electric Boat, and he was the first in his family to go to college. He earned degrees in history and economics from UConn and a master's in education from the University of New Haven. Bill and his wife, Marika, live in Pawcatuck with their dogs. They raised three daughters there, all of whom went through Stonington schools.
What Bill Will Work On
Fixing the state education funding formula so towns like ours don't lean so hard on property taxes. Fighting electric rate increases and making sure no family loses power in the middle of winter. More homes that young families can afford to buy, so people can build a life here on one good job, the way his dad did. Protecting your privacy from systems such as Flock license plate cameras that track everyone, not just people suspected of a crime.
billforct.com
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 41ST DISTRICT
Aundré Bumgardner
Stonington Voting Districts 1 and 4
Aundré grew up in Groton and lives in Mystic with his wife, Kayla, and their dog, Lola. He was first elected to the state House in 2014 at age 20, the youngest state representative in Connecticut history. He later worked in the State Treasurer's office and served on the Groton Town Council, where he chaired the Public Safety Committee. Now our state representative for Groton, Mystic, and Stonington, he is Vice Chair of the Environment Committee. He helped secure $500,000 to rebuild the North Pier at the Stonington Town Dock and $500,000 for Mystic Aquarium, along with funding for youth violence prevention in Groton and Stonington.
What Aundré Will Work On
Taking on high electric bills, including his push to break up the Eversource monopoly and to expand energy assistance to families who earn just a little too much to qualify now. Protecting our shoreline from rising seas and keeping polluters accountable. Modern schools and fair pay for teachers. A state student loan program to help families as federal student loan rules change.
aundreforct.com
Which state rep race is yours?
In Stonington, voting districts 1 and 4 are in the 41st House District, where Aundré Bumgardner is on the ballot. Districts 2, 3, and 5 are in the 43rd, where Bill Heughins is on the ballot. Joe de la Cruz's State Senate race is on every Stonington ballot.
Not sure of your voting district?
Town of Stonington House Districts
Open the official Stonington House Districts Map
43rd District: Bill Heughins
41st District: Aundré Bumgardner
U.S. CONGRESS, 2ND DISTRICT
Joe Courtney
Joe has represented eastern Connecticut in Congress since 2007. As the top Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees Navy shipbuilding, he has fought for steady submarine work at Electric Boat and better pay for its shipbuilders. This year he secured $850,000 to turn the Circus Lot in Pawcatuck into a community park with river access, walking paths, and a fishing area, and $1 million to restore the Wheeler Library in North Stonington. He’s now pushing for $2 million to repair the Stonington Harbor breakwater and fighting to bring down the health insurance premium hikes hitting Connecticut families. Before Congress, Joe was a public defender and served eight years in the state House.
JUDGE OF PROBATE
Beth Leamon
Beth was first elected Judge of Probate in 2020 and re-elected in 2022. Her court serves Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington, and Stonington, handling wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. Before that, she practiced estate and probate law for 18 years and clerked for Justice Richard Palmer on the Connecticut Supreme Court.
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS
Karen O'Keefe
Karen lives in Pawcatuck and was elected Stonington's Democratic Registrar of Voters in 2024. Along with her Republican counterpart, she keeps the town's voter list up to date and runs our elections, from early voting to Election Day at the polls. Before that, she was twice elected to Stonington's Board of Assessment Appeals, which hears residents' appeals of their property assessments.
Statewide Offices
GOVERNOR AND LT. GOVERNOR
Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz
ATTORNEY GENERAL
William Tong
williamtong.com
