Fairfield RTM Member Rob Blanchard To Seek 28th District State Senate Seat

FAIRFIELD, CT — Rob Blanchard, a Democratic member of the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting, formally announced on Wednesday that he is running for the 28th State Senate District post being vacated by Republican Tony Hwang, who is not seeking re-election.

"As the dad of a toddler, I don’t just hear how tough things have gotten, I feel it too – every day," Blanchard wrote in a statement. "Childcare, housing, groceries, healthcare — it all adds up fast. I’ve had the same conversations with neighbors that I have at my own kitchen table: Can we afford childcare? How do we save for a home? How do you plan for college and retirement at the same time? We need leaders who actually live and relate to that pressure and are ready to do something about it. I get it, and I’ll get it done."

Blanchard ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2024, where he lost to Hwang. In addition to Fairfield, the 28th District also represents Bethel, Easton and Newtown.

He has served as a representative in District 6 on the RTM since 2023, and for his day job, Blanchard serves as the Director of Communications for Gov. Ned Lamont.

Blanchard said he and his wife, Samantha Norton, chose to move to the town where she and her family grew up, and are raising their young son just a few streets down from her childhood home.

"We chose this town because we wanted to give our son the same upbringing my wife had here - access to strong schools, great neighborhoods, and a real sense of community," Blanchard said. "But more and more, families are wondering if they can afford to stay. I want to make sure they can."

On the RTM, Blanchard serves as Deputy Majority Leader, and is focused on "careful budgeting, investments in local education, increased pedestrian safety, and improved local infrastructure."

"In the face of all that’s going on, we can’t just sit back and hope things get better," Blanchard said. "Every kid deserves pre-K, families need an affordable public healthcare option they can actually count on, and we have to hold utility companies accountable. That’s why I’m running and I'll get to work on day one on making life a little easier for people in Bethel, Easton, Fairfield, and Newtown.

"While Donald Trump has pushed unpredictable policies that raise costs and cut programs families rely on, I’ve seen firsthand in my work how that impacts parents, seniors, and small businesses trying to stay afloat. When that happens, we can’t wait around, we have to step up at the state level to protect people, fill those gaps, and make sure families still have access to the care, education, and support they need."

Blanchard's more than a decade's worth of experience in public service and state government will help him as a state senator, and he intends to focus "on practical ways to ease financial pressures — from expanding access to affordable childcare and healthcare to delivering more state support to help lower property taxes."