Politics & Government
Rock guitarist sings a political song
Brookfield's Aaron Zimmer runs for seat in sprawling state Senate District
By Scott Benjamin
BROOKFIELD – He never made the cover of the Rolling Stone, but will he get to sit in one of the 36 leather, mahogany chairs in the Senate Circle?
The last time the 30th District elected a Democrat the Reggie Bar had just hit the market.
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In 1978 they hadn’t started building Trump Tower.
Brookfield Democrat Aaron Zimmer says that the 30th state Senate District “may be light blue. The Republicans have over-performed year in and year out.”
Find out what's happening in Brookfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It has hamlets in the Northwest Corner of Litchfield County where more than 70 percent of the turnout will vote Democrat even with Nancy & Sluggo on the ticket.
But they resemble Nebraska’s “isolated farm towns”: Lots of square miles, not many voters.
Connecticut is the Pizza Capitol of the World with 1,376 establishments. Zimmer is running in a district with 18 municipalities, which stretch from somewhere near Mizza’s in the Lakeville to Pizzeria Bello in Brookfield.
However, he knows how to barnstorm.
Zimmer was recording and performing under his own name with a four-piece guitar-oriented band when he was 15 years old.
Did Jim and Shelly book him at Toad’s Place?
He said they mostly played small clubs in his native Nebraska and other points in the Midwest.
Zimmer played bass guitar, transitioned to lead guitar and sang as they performed American rock & roll.
Gov. Ned Lamont of Greenwich is seeking on November 3 to become the first Democrat to capture a third term as governor since Connecticut adopted four-year terms in 1950.
In 2019 at his first inaugural ball he had state Sen. George Logan, a Republican, perform a Jimi Hendrix tribute.
If Lamont and Zimmer both score historic victories in November, will the governor ask Zimmer to do a Huey Lewis tribute in January at the inaugural ball?
Zimmer is seeking Republican Steve Harding’s job.
Harding, also of Brookfield, is a Yankees fan. The Bronx Bombers have had 33 consecutive winning season the second longest stretch in Major League Baseball history.
Harding, 37, has an impressive 13-year win streak of seven consecutive elections – one for the Brookfield Board of Education, four for the state House seat in the 107th District and now two in the 30th state Senate District.
Zimmer concedes, “He is a charismatic guy that people like. This race is going to be very difficult.”
What did Zimmer learn from his concert gigs that would make him an effective senator?
He explained, “Being a person in front of people prepares you to talk to strangers, to connect with people that you didn’t know before.”
Zimmer motor-scootered through the 107th state House District two years ago, canvassing some homes multiple times
However, Brookfield Republican former First Selectman Marty Foncello was elected to a second term in the district, which includes all of Brookfield, the northern section of Newtown and the Stony Hill area in Bethel.
Zimmer attracted 47.6 percent of the votes – the best showing in a while in district that hasn’t elected a Democrat since Ella Grasso annexed her first term as governor
Why not run again in the 107th District?
Zimmer said if he is going to make the sacrifices associated with a legislative campaign he wanted “to be before as many people as possible.”
It is like: It would be an honor to play New Milford’s Merryall Community Art Center, but wouldn’t it be better to play before 1,775 fans waving light sticks at Torrington’s Warner Theater.
Zimmer will need to get more votes in the population centers – New Milford, Torrington, Winchester and Brookfield.
In 2024 against Democrat Justin Potter of Kent, Harding prevailed in New Milford – 8.365 votes to 6,629 – and in Brookfield with 5,143 ballots to Potter’s 3,269.
Thus, Harding’s combined pluralities for New Milford and Brookfield was 3,610 votes. He won the district by 5,096 votes, taking 53.6 percent of the ballots.
Zimmer explained, “To take the district you have to win or be competitive in both New Milford and Brookfield”
Zimmer commented that he plans to put the motor scooter in his car and travel through the towns – including New Milford – which has the most land of any of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities and 25 percent of the voters in the 30th District.
Two years ago Harding became the leader of the Republican caucus, which has regularly offered alternatives to Lamont’s platform with Harding often holding the megaphone before a scrum of reporters.
Brookfield Republican Selectman Karl Hinger said, “Steve is in a difficult position since the Democrats have a supermajority in the state Senate. But he has been effective in attracting attention for the Republican alternatives to the Democrats platform. He has done the best with what he has.”
In the gubernatorial derby: Zimmer hasn’t endorsed either Lamont or challenger Josh Elliott, a state representative from Hamden
Zimmer complained that the governor has “easily ignored” efforts by Brookfield elected officials and residents to stop the controversial expansion of the Iroquois natural gas facility near High Meadow Road.
On another issue, with energy costs rising, Lamont wants those making $200,000 or less, for example, to be eligible for up to a $200 rebate this fall.
Zimmer commented, “I don’t think it will accomplish anything.”
He did praise Lamont for increasing the state’s minimum wage and reducing income tax rates in 2023 for the middle- and lower-class residents.
However, Zimmer faulted the governor for not increasing taxes on those riding in chauffeured Lamborghinis.
He commented that there “are hedge fund billionaires that are not paying much in taxes.”
Zimmer added that Massachusetts enacted a wealth tax and now has more millionaires than before it became law.
In contrast, he said Elliott “has big, bold ideas, especially when it comes to tax fairness. It takes something extraordinary to challenge a popular governor who could be doing more for working people.”
Lamont has called for banning iPhones in the public schools so students will concentrate more on their studies.
Zimmer remarked, “I’m all for getting rid of a distraction like that. My trouble is: If the school district has a plan working for them, I’m troubled about having the state tell them what to do.”
Zimmer said he supports a Democratic Senate package that, according to reporting by Katy Golvala of CT Mirror, “would apply $200 million to address federal cuts to Medicaid and the expiration of assistance for ObamaCare health plans.”
Zimmer stated, “It makes insurance a little more affordable and I’ll support anything that helps people access care.“
Said Harding, “I would support having it addressed in the budget somehow. Frankly, it goes beyond $200 million. We have overspent on Medicaid funds in Connecticut. That has nothing to do with federal funding. We’ve exceeded the Medicaid line item by close to a billion dollars. We need to stop the hemorrhaging.”
Zimmer, outfitted in a sports jacket and crew neck sweater, asks the New Milford Democratic Town Committee members on a recent night to pull out their iPhones and text (203) 285-3631, which takes them to his campaign home page.
To qualify for the Citizens’ Election Program he needs to raise at least $20,000 in small contributions from 300 in-district residents.
He said if every Democratic Town Committee member in the 18 municipalities in the huge district he would have a CEP grant.
Voters at the “No Kings” rallies hurl criticisms of Republican President Donald Trump at the speed of the T-shirt cannon during the seventh inning stretch at Citi Field.
In New Milford, they’re held on the south corner of the Town Green on Saturdays.
New Milford Democratic Town Committee Chairman Joe Baker said, “If you go to the rallies there is a lot of motivation. I think that indicates there is potential for getting many more votes.”
Baker added, “People are upset when there is a war that hasn’t been expected and it hasn’t been articulated as to why we’re doing that. Even [high-profile podcaster]Joe Rogan is wondering what Trump is doing.”
Democratic State Central Committee member Audrey Blondin of Goshen said, “I couldn’t think of a better opportunity [for Democrats] to run than this time.”
Zimmer states on his campaign web site that he is partly in the race “to stop Trump.”
In an interview with Patch.com, he declared, “His administration effects every corner of our state.”
In a recent Facebook post, Zimmer stated that Trump “sucks.”
Is that an appropriate comment from a state Senate candidate?
Said Zimmer, “I am just a regular guy. I think what everyday people think. I don’t see the need to polish what people are thinking.”
However, Trump has garnered more presidential votes than anyone.
Commented Zimmer, “It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t suck.”
But isn’t being a state senator about a lot more than that?
For example, Harding has been praised by New Milford Republican Mayor Pete Bass for getting the state Department of Transportation to take steps to making Route 7 safer, particularly near the Willow Springs condominiums.
That doesn’t have much to do with Donald Trump.
Zimmer replied, stopping Trump “is a pillar of the campaign, but it’s not going to be the only thing we’re talking about. It will also be about taxes and health care.”
Hinger remarked, “From a policy standpoint I think what Aaron is doing is silly by trying to make the election about President Trump. I think he is trying to appeal to Democrat voters’ outrage and frustration with Trump in an attempt to win their votes.”
Zimmer acknowledged the Democrats shortcomings in defeating Trump.
“It was so obvious that Joe Biden should not be running,” he said of the Democratic former president who suspended his re-election campaign in July 2024 due to his deteriorating health.
Vice President Kamala Harris only had 107 days to mount a campaign.
Zimmer moved to Brookfield about five years ago during the pandemic, since he wanted to find a suburban home outside of New York City where he operated Leesta Vall. It started as a booking agency and then concentrated on direct-to-vinyl releases that captured live performances of such artists as Sondre Lerche and Matthew Mayfield.
Zimmer was elected in 2022 as Brookfield Democratic Town Committee chairman.
He now operates a vinyl record sales outlet from his home.
In 2023, under Zimmer’s direction the Brookfield Democrats opened a permanent headquarters at 499 Federal Road and former First Selectman Steve Dunn won back his old job and the party took majorities on the town boards.
Sherman Democrat Anne Weisberg, who is making a second bid for the state House seat in the 108th District, said, “Aaron really puts in the work. He doesn’t take anything for granted.”
On issues, Zimmer said that if Harding “wanted to bring the cost of living down, he would have supported” Lamont’s housing bill of last fall.
Ginny Monk, CT Mirror reported that the legislation “requires towns to create housing growth plans, changes minimum off-street parking requirements, expands fair rent commissions and incentivizes towns to take steps to allow more housing, among other measures.”
She added, “Its major goal is to make it easier to build more housing in Connecticut. Housing costs have gotten more expensive and homelessness has risen over the past several years. Experts say there hasn’t been enough housing built in Connecticut to meet the need, which has made these and other issues worse.”
Zimmer exclaimed, “In the greater picture, I support anything we can do to make more houses for people to live in.”
He said nationally, 27 is the average age for someone to no longer be living with their parents.
”The fight is about local control,” Zimmer commented. “I think the narrative about losing local control was misrepresented.”
Harding differed, saying, “He obviously hasn’t read the bill. You will have statewide zoning in the 30th District. Decisions that were made by towns exclusively are now going to be made by another entity. Going to have extreme overdevelopment.”
John Moritz and Lisa Hagen of CT Mirror have reported that in his 2025 State of the State address, Lamont called on the federal government to abolish the 1920 Wesley Jones Act – named after a Republican U.S. Sen. From Washington – since it drives up energy costs.
AI Overview states, “The Jones Act mandates that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on ships built, owned, and operated by U.S. citizens. This law often increases costs for importing energy resources like liquefied natural gas (LNG) to New England.”
Lamont has said, “We bring in very inexpensive natural gas from Pennsylvania, but that pipeline is at capacity, and we bring in LNG by foreign ships, which is more polluting and more expensive.”
Zimmer commented that repealing the Jones Act would “makes things cheaper for us. But the Jones Act also protects unions. I will side with labor every single time.”
If Zimmer only could speak in lyrics, which recording artist would he pick?
“Roger Waters.”
“I love Pink Floyd,” gushed Zimmer. “ ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ is my favorite record of all time.”
“I love the social commentary of” Waters’ lyrics, he explained.
His next choice is Bob Dylan, because, as Zimmer remarked, “It is not an easy thing to write political songs that resonate with everybody.”
Resources:
Aaron Zimmer interview, Patch.com, on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Aaron Zimmer interview, Patch.com, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Joe Baker interview, Patch.com, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Anne Weisberg interview, Patch.com, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
New Milford Democratic Town Committee meeting, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Audrey Blondin, phone interview, Patch.com, on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Karl Hinger, phone interview, Patch.com, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Stephen Harding, phone interview, Patch.com, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Senate Dems propose their own $200M 'CT option' health care bill
https://ctmirror.org/2025/06/06/jones-act-ned-lamont-joe-courtney/
https://ctmirror.org/2025/11/17/ct-housing-bill-special-session-what-to-know/
