Harding seeks third term in Connecticut’s largest state Senate district

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD – Stephen Harding, who in just more than two years became the most powerful Republican in the state Senate, has pledged to seek a third term and will formally launch his re-election campaign soon in New Milford, the town with the most land in Connecticut and one of the biggest voting blocs in an 18-municipality district that stretches from the shadows of the Danbury Fair Mall to the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains.

Harding of Brookfield was elected in the 30th state Senate District four years ago, succeeding Litchfield Republican Craig Miner. The Republicans have captured the seat, which has residents from Brookfield to North Canaan, in every election since 1980. Geographically it is the largest state Senate district in Connecticut.

Harding, an attorney, was elected by the GOP Senate caucus as its leader in February 2024 and has been an advocate for lower electricity rates.

He told Patch.com last April that he agrees with Wall Street Journal economics commentator Greg Ip that economic growth now depends more on electricity than oil.

Harding remarked, “The biggest concern among my constituents are the electricity costs. We’re losing folks who are on fixed incomes.”

During the 2025 session the Republican Senate caucus held several news conferences to address issues on affordability, lower taxes and indicate its differences with Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Greenwich), who is seeking a third term this year.

The Republicans were even with the Democrats out of the 2016 election – with each side holding 18 of the 36 state Senate seats. The GOP currently has 11 seats in the upper chamber.

Harding, who is married and has a son and daughter, also has worked with New Milford Mayor Pete Bass to initiate traffic studies to address hazards along Route 7 in New Milford, where due to rising volume it has become difficult to execute a left-hand turn in some sections. That has led to a series of vehicle crashes on the highway, which was expanded with additional lanes about 20 years ago.

Bass has praised Harding's constituent service, noting that, among other things, the senator is on the phone with him at least twice a month and frequently attends events in town.

He was elected in 2013, at age 26, to the Brookfield Board of Education and reached the General Assembly two years later, annexing the seat in the 107th state House District after Republican David Scribner of Brookfield, who had been in office nearly 16 years, resigned.

Harding, an avid Yankees fan, will formally kick off his re-election drive on Thursday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Housatonic River Brewery at 30 Kent Road in New Milford.

He defeated Democrat Justin Potter, an affordable housing advocate, of Kent in 2024 to garner a second term. No Democrats have yet entered the 2026 race.