6th House For Hartford, West Hartford May Have a Candidate

HARTFORD/WEST HARTFORD, CT — With a special election upcoming next month for the 6th House District in the state legislature, a prominent Hartford firefighter is mulling a run for office.

Hartford firefighter and Hartford Firefighters Local 760 Union President Lieutenant Jason Diaz Friday announced he is exploring a run for the Connecticut General Assembly, seeking the Democratic nomination.

Diaz, who live in the South End of Hartford, pointed to his lifetime of service to the city and community as his desire to look at running for public office.

While he hasn't formally committed to running for the 6th House seat, a campaign representative Friday confirmed the seat vacated earlier this month by Democrat Edwin Nunez is on his list.

In addition to a portion of Hartford, the 6th House also serves a single voting precinct in neighboring West Hartford, a new addition to the district spawned by recent redistricting.

Nunez ran unopposed in 2022 and easily was re-elected, but he resigned just before being sworn in for a new term, presumably, to take a professor's post in the Connecticut State Colleges and University system.

Diaz said he has what it takes to serve if he's chosen to run and he wins. It is not known if the GOP has a hopeful lined up for the 6th House.

A special election is slated for Feb. 28, as deemed by Gov. Ned Lamont earlier this week.

"I am proud and honored to have served our community and the city of Hartford as a whole my entire working life. I am a father, husband and homeowner and put my life on the line for the city of Hartford," said Diaz in a statement.

"The South End and our state deserve leaders who know their issues and, has not just seen, but lived their struggle. We need a leader who will not just speak up, but show up for Connecticut’s working families."

The "Diaz for CT" exploratory committee has already been assembled and Diaz has secured a key endorsement already.

He was endorsed by the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of Connecticut (UPFFA).

Said UPPFA President Peter Brown, “I am pleased to announce that the executive board of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association has unanimously endorsed Jason Diaz for a position in the CT General Assembly. Jason has a long history of fighting for both union firefighters and working families throughout his career and we are honored to support him.”

From Jan. 17: 'Hartford, West Hartford Voters To Elect New Representative'