Patch Candidate Profile: State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, For 17th House District

Editor's Note: Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

AVON, CT — The 2026 election is heating up in Connecticut, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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Eyes are primarily focused on the Connecticut gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats are up for grabs as well.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate.

Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

State Sen. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, is being challenged for her 17th State House District seat by Canton Republican Andrew Ziemba.

The 17th House District includes Canton and part of Avon.

Candidate's Name:
Eleni Kavros DeGraw

What office are you seeking?
State Representative

Age:
51

District:
District 17 (Avon/Canton)

Party:
Democrat

Campaign website:
https://www.teameleni.com

Occupation:
State Representative full-time

Family:
Husband and three children

Does anyone in your family work in government?
no

Previous public office:
State Representative since 2021; no other previous office

Why are you seeking this office?
It's been an honor and a privilege to serve as District 17's State Representative for the last six years. While I have written and passed more than a dozen bills personally, each day when I speak with constituents, I am reminded of all the good work still left to do, ensuring that our children continue to have the funding for the excellent schools our families count on, protecting our residents from the cuts we've seen from the federal level, and continuing to pass the legislation that seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and families need most.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?
The number one issue facing Connecticut is affordability. I can't personally bring the cost of groceries down, but I can ensure that we pass free school lunch, which would save families $1,000 per school year per child in their family.

I've repeatedly run bills to reduce licensure fees, which benefits anyone in Connecticut who requires licensure for their jobs, and will do so again.

And, finally, we need a true public option that small businesses and non-profits are able to buy into, a bill I supported as a freshman whose time has finally come.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?
We all pay for the cost of high utilities, and I will continue to work toward removing what makes sense from the public benefits charge, promoting nuclear and clean energy, and encouraging Eversource to acknowledge that sometimes, instead of ratepayers being the ones to take a hit, shareholders have to share the burden.

It makes no sense that, at a time when Connecticut ratepayers struggle, every year, Eversource's profits increase by hundreds of millions of dollars. I've previously voted to remove their ability to charge ratepayers for their lobbyists' fees.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?
The number one issue facing Connecticut is affordability. I can't personally bring the cost of groceries down, but I can ensure that we pass free school lunch, which would save families $1,000 per school year per child in their family.

I've repeatedly run bills to reduce licensure fees, which benefits anyone in Connecticut who requires licensure for their jobs, and will do so again.

And, finally, we need a true public option that small businesses and non-profits are able to buy into, a bill I supported as a freshman whose time has finally come.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As a freshman legislator, I was immediately tapped for a leadership role as the Vice-Chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

As a Sophomore, I was appointed as the Chair of Planning, Development and have held that role for four years. Upon joining the Appropriations Committee last year, I was asked to co-chair the Subcommittee on Conservation and Development.

I have passed bills that I personally authored in every session that I have been in office, including a disability workforce pipeline, a municipal veteran's tax credit for disabled veterans, the Purple Alert to bring missing people with IDD back to their families faster, a model policy for survivors of sexual assault, transit-oriented housing, and a consumer protection bill related to the New Home Construction Guarantee Fund, among others.

I have brought tens of millions of dollars in bonding, legislative grants, ECS funding, and municipal aid back to District 17. And I am just getting started.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Transparency matters to me, which is why I answer my own emails and often hand out my cell phone number to voters because if you need help, I want you to be able to find me in a timely manner.

I believe the government cannot solve everything, but for what it can solve, we need to do our very best for the largest number of people we can.

My voting record is public, and on my campaign website, you can see the endorsements I have received and from whom.

There are also many news articles that help articulate my position on a variety of topics too numerous to include in a short survey.