CT Patch Candidate Profile: Kadeem Roberts For State Representative

NORWALK, CT — Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026, is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Connecticut.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.

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Candidate's Name:

Kadeem Roberts

What office are you seeking?

State Representative 137th District

Age:

35

District:

137th

Party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1QJNUzoSF2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Occupation:

Outreach and Advancement Director

Family:

Does anyone in your family work in government?

My sister is the Assistant Attorney General.

Previous public office:

Norwalk common council 2019-2021 Youngest African American in the citys history.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for State Representative because I believe public service is about being present, listening to residents, and delivering meaningful results for the community you call home. I was born and raised in Norwalk, attended Norwalk Public Schools, and have dedicated my career to education, youth, and community service. The 137th District is not simply a district I represent it is home.

My commitment to public service began before I ever went to Hartford. In 2019, I was elected to the Norwalk Common Council as the youngest African American in the history of the city, where I had the opportunity to work directly with residents and address issues affecting our neighborhoods. That experience taught me the importance of listening to constituents, understanding the challenges they face, and working collaboratively to find solutions. I brought that same commitment with me when I was elected State Representative. I am qualified to represent the 137th District because I understand our community from both a personal and professional perspective. I earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Virginia Union University and a master's degree in Public Administration, with a concentration in Local and State Government, from Fairfield University. My background in education has shaped my belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and that families, educators, and communities need the resources to thrive.

As a State Representative, I have continued to advocate for issues that matter to Norwalk families, including education, housing, children and working families. I currently serve as Assistant Majority Leader and on the Housing, Education, and Judiciary Committees, giving me the opportunity to advocate for the people of the 137th District while helping shape policy at the state level. I am running because I believe Norwalk deserves a representative who is accessible, hardworking, and invested in the community. My goal is to continue building on the work we have started expanding opportunities for our children and young people, supporting working families, protecting access to quality education, addressing housing affordability, and making sure the voices of our residents are heard in Hartford. My Motto has always been, "If you dream it, live it." That belief reflects my journey in public service. I want every young person, family, and resident in the 137th District to know that their dreams are possible and that their representative is working to help create the opportunities necessary to achieve them. I am running because I believe in Norwalk, I believe in the people of the 137th District.

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

Housing and homelessness are also critical priorities for me. As Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, I have seen firsthand how difficult it has become for working families, seniors, young people, and individuals experiencing homelessness to find safe and affordable housing. I also founded Connecticut's first End Homelessness Caucus, bringing legislators and advocates together to elevate homelessness as a statewide priority and identify meaningful solutions. I will continue working to increase affordable housing opportunities, strengthen resources for people experiencing homelessness, and make sure Connecticut families are not priced out of the communities they call home.

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

Connecticut families are being asked to pay too much for electricity, and I don't believe working families should have to choose between keeping the lights on, buying groceries, or paying the rent.

I will fight to lower electric bills, hold utility companies accountable, and put ratepayers not utility profits at the center of our energy policy.

We have already seen that action can make a difference. In 2026, PURA approved rate adjustments that lowered residential electric rates, while changes to public-benefit charges and supply rates contributed to significant reductions in average residential bills. But temporary reductions are not enough. We need a long-term strategy that makes energy more affordable and predictable.

That means demanding greater scrutiny of utility costs and profits, fighting unnecessary charges, and making sure Connecticut ratepayers are not paying for unjustified expenses. The state has already challenged a transmission incentive that officials estimate could save Connecticut ratepayers $4.5 million annually if removed.

I also support expanding energy efficiency, weatherization, solar, battery storage, and other programs that can help families permanently reduce their energy consumption and monthly bills. Connecticut is already expanding efficiency programs designed specifically to reduce demand and help customers save money. Most importantly, I will fight for working families, seniors, renters, and small businesses who are struggling with these costs. We cannot continue asking Connecticut residents to simply absorb higher bills while corporations and utilities make decisions that affect their wallets. Energy affordability is economic security. I will fight for lower bills, stronger consumer protections, greater utility accountability, and an energy system that works for the people of Connecticut not just the companies that operate it.

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 as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, I know that housing affordability is at the center of that conversation. You cannot talk about making Connecticut more affordable without talking about the cost of housing. When families are spending an unsustainable share of their income on rent or a mortgage, it affects everything else from groceries and childcare to transportation and energy. That is why I am proud of the work we did with House Bill 8002, the Housing Growth Act, which I co-sponsored. This was a major step toward addressing Connecticut's housing shortage while giving people more opportunities to rent, buy, and remain in their communities. The legislation became Public Act 25-1. HB 8002 takes a comprehensive approach to affordability.

For working families trying to become homeowners, we created a First-Time Homebuyer Savings Program, allowing individuals and employers to contribute to tax-benefited savings accounts for down payments and other home purchase expenses. We also expanded the CHFA Smart Rate program to help eligible first-time buyers with student debt access reduced mortgage interest rates.

For renters, the bill expanded protections and assistance. It allows direct rental assistance programs for households eligible for state rental assistance or waiting for federal Section 8 assistance. It also expands Fair Rent Commission requirements to municipalities with populations of 15,000 or more and prohibits the use of algorithmic rent-setting systems that artificially influence residential rents. But we also have to address the supply side of the problem. If we don't build enough housing, housing will continue to be expensive. HB 8002 supports the development of middle housing including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage clusters, and townhomes and creates incentives for municipalities to plan for additional housing. It also creates tools for infrastructure investments such as water, sewer, roads, sidewalks, and transit that are necessary to support new housing.

And affordability has to mean more than simply building luxury apartments. We need housing that is affordable to teachers, nurses, seniors, young professionals, working families, and people who are struggling to stay housed. HB 8002 includes programs to preserve existing homes as affordable housing through deed restrictions and supports the development of affordable housing connected to construction workforce opportunities. For me, this is personal. I believe everyone should have a fair opportunity to live in Connecticut, raise their family here, and build a future here without housing costs pushing them out.

As Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, I will continue fighting for policies that build more housing, protect renters, expand homeownership opportunities, preserve affordable housing, and invest in the infrastructure communities need to grow. Affordability cannot just be a campaign slogan. It has to be measured by whether Connecticut families can actually afford to live here. That's the standard I will continue to fight for.

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

The best evidence that I can handle this job is my record. I have not just shown up and voted I have helped lead, create, and pass legislation that addresses some of the most difficult issues facing Connecticut families.

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is SB 1542, legislation I helped lead that addressed the way Connecticut handles the arrest and handcuffing of young children. It was a bill that pushed Connecticut to rethink how we treat children within our justice system.

I also founded Connecticut's first End Homelessness Caucus, bringing legislators together around one of the most urgent issues facing our state. My work on homelessness has received recognition beyond Connecticut, and I have continued to champion legislation focused on preventing homelessness, expanding housing opportunities, and helping people move from homelessness into stability. As Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, I have also helped shape major housing policy. I was a co-sponsor of HB 8002, the Housing Growth Act, which became Public Act 25-1. The legislation created a first-time homebuyer savings program, established new housing-growth planning tools, addressed regional housing needs, created a Council on Housing Development, and included programs designed to expand housing opportunities and affordable housing.

I have also fought for criminal justice reform, including my work on SB 503. I believe our justice system has to be accountable, fair, and focused on both public safety and meaningful opportunities for people to rebuild their lives. SB 503 received a joint favorable vote from the Judiciary Committee, and I was one of its co-sponsors.

And my work doesn't stop with housing and homelessness. I have supported efforts to make Connecticut more affordable for families, including the push for universal school meals, because a child's ability to learn should never depend on whether their family can afford lunch. Connecticut has continued advancing legislation to expand free school meals, including proposals covering breakfast and lunch for students. These accomplishments represent the kind of legislator I am: I identify a problem, bring people together, build legislation, and fight to get something done. I know what it means to come from a community where government decisions have a direct impact on whether families have a roof over their heads, whether children have what they need in school, and whether people get a fair opportunity to succeed. I am not running on promises alone. I am running on a record of getting to work and delivering results. And I believe that record demonstrates that I am prepared to take on the challenges ahead.

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

There is something I want voters to know about me that cannot be captured by a list of bills or titles: this is not just a job for me. This is my life. I have been a public servant in my heart for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I understood the importance of giving back, helping others, and being there for my community. Long before I ever held elected office, I was finding ways to serve, mentor, advocate, and create opportunities for people around me.

I did not enter public service because I wanted a title. I entered it because I believe deeply in the responsibility that comes with being in a position to help someone else. Today, whether I am fighting for affordable housing, working to end homelessness, advocating for children and families, fighting for criminal justice reform, or helping someone in my community who simply needs someone to listen, I see it all as part of the same mission: serving people.

My positions are rooted in a simple belief that government should work for the people who too often feel like it doesn't work for them. I know what it means to face obstacles, and I know what it means when someone believes in you enough to help you overcome them. I want to be that person for others.

I am proud of the legislation I have helped pass and the recognition my work has received, but what matters most to me is the person who gets to stay housed, the family that gets a little more breathing room, the child who gets an opportunity they may not have otherwise had, and the person who feels like their voice finally matters. Public service is not something I turn on when the cameras are on. It is who I am. I will continue to show up, continue to fight, and continue to give back because I don't see serving my community as a job. I see it as my life's work.