2026 Patch Candidate Profiles: MD Rahman, State Senate

Candidate's Name:

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MD Rahman

What office are you seeking?

State Senate, 4th District

Age:

51

District:

4th Senate District

Party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

https://mdforsenate.com

Occupation:

Entrepreneur

Family:

my My wife Yelena and our three children, Anushka, Amelia, and Akash.

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No

Previous public office:

Appointed to the Governor's Hate Crime Advisory Council, member of the Manchester Charter Revision Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking this office because I want to continue giving back and serving my community. In the last four years, I'm proud of my record supporting the residents of Andover, Bolton, Glastonbury and Manchester, delivering important state funding and supporting policies improving life for residents. Additionally, given the current state of the federal government, we need to continue working to support and protect our state's services amid serious financial cuts. I'm confident I can meet that challenge and benefit our communities for another term.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

Affordability. Life is getting more expensive in our state and many of us are struggling. This issue bleeds into many others impacting us - health care, housing, the economy and workforce, and agriculture, just to name a few. We need to counter federal cuts in Medicaid, find new ways to introduce housing to our communities and support our residents, and farms, amid high costs of gas, food and everyday essentials. I will work with my colleagues to introduce more protections against federal cuts, find new ways to build housing - including turning unused properties into residences - and work to meet the demands of our residents.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?

This issue is borne by federal decision-making, but Connecticut legislators have options and opportunities to help. Options include using the state's Federal Cuts Response Fund to support homeowners and commuters, address potential price-gouging and review our current fuel procurement options, seeing if better ones exist. Heating oil is the biggest issue our residents face in regards to energy - that's where using the Response Fund would make the most sense. We also need to continue holding our utilities accountable for high costs and issues with service.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?

We need to adopt an all-hands-on-deck approach. This can include working to improve our municipal and school funding strategies to make sure towns and cities' property taxes don't continue to climb; using the Federal Cuts Response Fund to relieve some of the worst federal decisions in reducing health care and food assistance funding; and introducing new opportunities to spur housing creation in our state, as housing costs hold far too many communities back.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my four years as a State Senator, I'm proud of my record. As the Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, I have firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and have led the passage of numerous bills I am proud of, including studying ways to get rid of the state's motor vehicle tax, expanded blight ordinances, preserving greenways and open space; I have voted to support a number of policies directly benefitting our communities, such as budgets infusing funding back into our towns, expanding educational and job training programs including expanding the state's debt-free community college program, protecting reproductive rights and supporting common-sense firearm safety advances.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As an entrepreneur who came to our nation in search of a better future, I know the importance of the American Dream, and I want to see it preserved so our children and future generations can prosper. I will remain focused on working to serve all of my constituents and continue to support our communities with this goal in mind.