Independent Party of Connecticut Endorses East Haven State Rep. Joe Zullo

From East Haven State Rep. Joe Zullo:

EAST HAVEN, CT —East Haven State Representative Joe Zullo (R, 99) announced today that the State's third-largest political party, the Independent Party of Connecticut, has endorsed his candidacy for re-election as State Representative in East Haven, securing an appearance for the incumbent representative on both the "Republican" and "Independent Party of Connecticut" lines in the November 3rd election.

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"I'm proud to be cross-endorsed by the Independent Party and I enthusiastically embrace their twin goals of common-sense governance and bipartisan teamwork. We live in times that feel more divisive than ever and I am proud to stand with a party based in common sense and seeking to turn down the temperature and get to work to improve the lives of the people of Connecticut."

Records indicate that Zullo collected 147 signatures from East Haven residents to qualify for consideration for the Independent Party endorsement, well-exceeding the 97 signature-threshold needed to qualify. Collecting the signatures, while necessary, does not guarantee endorsement though. Members of the Independent Party met recently to consider and make nominations, including in districts like East Haven in which the nomination was sought by both major-party candidates running.

Zullo added, "My legislative record is one of common sense and bipartisanship. No single party has a monopoly on the solutions that will improve the lives of our State's residents and I have been, and always will be, committed to working with colleagues of all mindsets to craft solutions to lower energy bills and make our State safer and more affordable."

Zullo, who was elected in a special election in February of 2019, won re-election to his first full term in the 2020 election cycle, taking 58.5% of the vote by a margin of 6,775 to 4,795. In unopposed contests in 2022 and 2024, Zullo garnered 5,450 and 7,840 votes, leading all vote-getters in the 99th assembly district, and outpacing the top of each ticket.

With just around 28,800 enrolled members, the Independent Party of Connecticut is the third-largest political party in Connecticut and the largest of Connecticut's "minor" political parties. Its membership is nearly eleven times (11x) that of the fourth-largest minor party, the Libertarian Party, and nearly ninety-three (93x) times as large as the next party, the Working Families Party. As of approximately August 1, 2026 in East Haven, between the two minor parties that traditionally cross-endorse candidates, there were two-hundred and thirty-six (236) members of the Independent Party and five (5) members of the Working Families Party.

Zullo explained, "Our State's minor parties, large and small, serve a vital role in providing alternative pathways for candidates seeking office. I remain committed to reducing procedural and other advantages enjoyed by incumbents, expanding transparency and accountability in our State government, and better leveling the 'playing field' to make it easier for people to run for public office."

Zullo concluded, "Thank you to everyone who signed my Independent Party petition and to everyone who helped collect signatures. I am excited to have received the endorsement of the Independent Party of Connecticut and promise that if re-elected, I will continue to work across the aisle to craft solutions to make our State a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family, and retire in."

For additional information, visit www.joezullo.com.