Candidate Profile: Brandi Mandato, 34th State Senate District

NORTH HAVEN, CT — The 2026 election is heating up in Connecticut, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Eyes are primarily focused on the Connecticut gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats are up for grabs as well.

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There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate. Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Brandi Mandato, 45, of North Haven, is running for election to the 34th state senate district, representing Durham, East Haven, North Branford, North Haven and Wallingford.

Party:

Democratic, Working Families Party

Campaign website:

https://www.mandatofor34.com/

Occupation:

Senior Director, Workforce and Economic Justice

Family:

I'm Gigi and Josephine's mom and Steve's wife. I'm the oldest in a family of 8 and generations of my family live here in District 34.

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No.

Previous public office:

Economic Development Commissioner (North Haven), Constable (North Haven)

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running because I believe government should work for all of us- not the powerful few. As a working mom, public school parent, economic development commissioner, and lifelong workforce and education advocate, I've spent my career helping people overcome barriers and build a better future. I've seen what's possible when we center the people most affected by the decisions we make.

I'm seeking this office because I believe Connecticut can do more to make life affordable, strengthen our public schools and workforce, protect access to healthcare, support working families, and build safer, stronger communities. I want to bring a practical, people-centered approach to the State Senate and make sure the voices of working families are heard in Hartford.

I'm not running because I think government has all the answers. I'm running because I know that when we listen to people, bring them together, and focus on solutions, we can make government work better for all of us.

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

Connecticut's number one issue is our inequitable tax structure. Working people and small businesses are carrying the biggest burden while large corporations benefit the most from public investments that make our economy possible, from our schools and transportation infrastructure to our workforce and public services.

We need to rethink who pays, who benefits, and how we invest in our state. I will fight to reform Connecticut's tax code so that the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations pay their fair share, while providing meaningful tax relief to working families and small businesses. We should be investing in the things that make Connecticut stronger, but we should not be asking the people who can least afford it to shoulder the greatest share of that investment.

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

Connecticut families and small businesses should not have to choose between paying their electric bill and paying for other necessities. We need to address the underlying structure of our energy market, including the monopoly power of utilities like Eversource and United Illuminating.

I support giving municipalities and regional entities more flexibility to own and operate electric utilities, expanding access to affordable locally generated power, and making it easier for communities to pursue alternatives to investor-owned utilities. Wallingford has demonstrated that municipal ownership can work in Connecticut, and we should make it easier for other communities to explore that model.

We also need greater transparency and accountability around utility costs and ensure that corporate profits are not driving up bills for working families. Lowering energy costs is about more than finding temporary relief on a monthly bill. It means changing a system that too often puts the interests of utility shareholders ahead of the people who depend on these essential services.

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

Affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Connecticut families, and it touches nearly every part of our lives. Working people are earning more but too often falling further behind as the costs of housing, childcare, healthcare, utilities, groceries, and transportation continue to rise.

We need to address both sides of the equation: putting more money back in people's pockets and bringing down the cost of the things families cannot afford to live without. That means reforming Connecticut's tax code to provide meaningful relief for working families and small businesses while asking the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations to contribute their fair share. It means fully funding public education, expanding access to affordable childcare and paid family leave, protecting affordable housing, tackling healthcare and medical debt, and addressing the high cost of energy.

I also believe we have to look at the systems driving these costs. When monopolies, corporate consolidation, or outdated policies leave Connecticut families with fewer choices and higher prices, we should be willing to challenge the status quo.

Affordability isn't about one program or one tax cut. It's about building an economy where working families can afford to live, raise their children, and build a future here in Connecticut.

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

For the past 25 years, I have worked at the intersection of workforce development, economic mobility, education, and public policy. I am a nationally recognized expert in workforce development and economic mobility, and in my current role, I work with state coalitions, policymakers, employers, and community leaders across the country to advance policies that remove barriers to economic opportunity.

In my current work, I help lead policy and systems-change efforts focused on creating economic opportunity for people who have historically been excluded from the workforce. I work directly with state and federal policymakers and coalitions to develop policy, build partnerships, and turn good ideas into lasting systems change.

What I bring to the State Senate is not simply policy knowledge, but a track record of bringing people together, navigating complex systems, managing significant resources, and delivering results. I know how policy decisions affect people on the ground because I have spent my career working alongside the people those policies are supposed to serve. I would bring that same practical, collaborative, and results-oriented approach to representing the people of the 34th District.

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

I want voters to know that I'm running because I believe government should work for all of us, not just those with the most money, power, or access.

I'm a working mom, a wife, a public school parent, and someone who grew up in a working-class family. I've spent my career advocating for people who are too often left out of economic opportunity, and I've seen firsthand what happens when we design policies with people instead of for them.

I'm not a career politician. I'm a policy and systems-change leader who has spent 25 years working with communities, employers, educators, policymakers, and state coalitions to solve complex problems and create economic opportunity. I'm bringing that experience home to Connecticut.

As your State Senator, I'll fight for an economy where working families can get ahead, where corporations and the wealthiest among us pay their fair share, where public education is fully funded, where healthcare and housing are affordable, and where our utilities work for the people who rely on them.

Most importantly, I'll listen. I believe democracy works best when people have a real voice in the decisions that affect their lives. I'm running to bring that voice to Hartford and to build a Connecticut where opportunity, prosperity, and a better future are truly for all of us.