CT Patch Candidate Profile: Dominique Johnson 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.

Candidate's Name:

Dominique Johnson

What office are you seeking?

State Representative, 143rd District

Age:

49

District:

143

Party:

Democratic

Campaign website:

https://dominiquejohnson.org

Occupation:

State Legislator

Family:

I proudly live in the Cranbury neighborhood of Norwalk with my partner Billie and our rescue dog Rey.

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No.

Previous public office:

State Representative, 143rd District, 2023-present; Norwalk City Council at-large member, 2020-2022.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for re-election to continue leading with purpose and delivering for our families and future generations so we can live with the safety, support, and opportunities we deserve. I have spent four years working to protect the future for our District’s children, promote coalition building, and improve the quality of life across the 143rd House District in Norwalk and Westport. And over the next two years, I will be continuing this fight as an effective coalition builder who works to bring people together to better meet our local district needs, including bringing back state resources to Norwalk and Westport, securing key funding for local non-profits, schools and education programs, and regional infrastructure upgrades.

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

I will continue to focus on advocating for greater affordability, increased access to more affordable child care and quality early education and literacy programs, and protections for our seniors and veterans. My north star remains working to secure the future by ensuring local children inherit a safe, healthy, and prosperous community where hard work is rewarded. Prioritizing local economic stability by investing in workforce development, child care access, and stabilizing our housing and utilities costs remains a focus for me so we can strengthen our communities. Affordability is deeply intertwined with everyday quality of life and cost of living. And continuing to address increasing operational funding needs in our school districts must be a focus for us in the State House. For example, updating the state special education funding formulas to protect local school districts from volatile budget deficits, especially as the Federal government fails on its responsibility to fund special education in our state, is increasingly crucial. Updating this formula ensures that vulnerable students receive their federally protected services while stabilizing municipal tax burdens and protecting classroom resources for all children.

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

I view stabilizing Connecticut's high energy costs and securing an independent, clean energy supply as absolute priorities for the quality of life of working- and middle-class families. I approach the state's energy crisis by bridging the gap between immediate ratepayer relief and long-term infrastructure changes. Connecticut's electricity rates are driven by a heavy dependence on natural gas, infrastructure investments, and legacy power procurement contracts. To increase supply and lower costs, I have advocated for comprehensive energy legislation targeting regional wholesale pricing, expanding localized renewable alternatives, and maximizing the benefits of the state's fixed-price nuclear contracts. I supported recent legislative actions and state energy policy updates—including co-sponsoring Public Act 25-173—that successfully converted these nuclear contract benefits into a credit on ratepayers' bills in mid-2026. Beyond traditional nuclear energy, I have supported offshore wind projects and regional clean energy expansion as vital mechanisms to increase the state's total energy capacity. Through initiatives like the Green Jobs Corps, I fought to ensure that the expansion of offshore wind and solar infrastructure directly translates into specialized workforce training and sustainable employment for Connecticut residents. By diversifying the grid with nuclear stability and offshore wind capacity, I believe Connecticut can finally be in a position to build a reliable energy supply that permanently reduces consumer costs and drives long-term economic growth.

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

I will continue to address our high cost of living by supporting middle-class tax relief, policies that help cap household expenses, and advocating for public utility accountability. I supported the largest middle-class income tax cut in state history, reducing the two lowest marginal rates to provide over $600 million in relief. To protect seniors on fixed incomes, I backed expanded state tax exemptions on Social Security and retirement benefits. I also supported eliminating sales taxes on school supplies and other family purchases. I also co-sponsored the initiative to create a multi-million dollar childcare endowment fund to lower family care costs and championed new tax credits for those who care for an aging family member. We also need to combat high energy bills by reducing the public benefit charge’s burden on ratepayers. Through targeted legislative actions like these I will continue to deliver direct, structural financial relief to working and middle class families across our District.

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

I work to achieve legislative and policy goals by being a results-driven coalition builder, keeping my values at the core of my work while forging strong relationships to deliver actionable, consensus-driven policy. Grounded in a 20-year history of advocacy, I focus on making life practically better for working- and middle-class families. I specifically champion structural childcare and early literacy investments, family nutrition, domestic violence survivor supports, youth mental health access, and online safety. Through pioneering workforce training pipelines like the Green Jobs Corps, boosting tax credits, and protecting healthcare access, I balance fierce advocacy for the people I serve with practical, everyday results that lower the cost of living. Anchoring my work in transparency and active listening, I continually strive to earn the trust of colleagues across the political spectrum—major and minor parties included—by focusing on measurable quality-of-life improvements. Directly engaging with state agencies, municipal leaders, and lawmakers holding diverse perspectives helps me transform shared ideas into successful statutes. Whether coordinating with regional tech hubs, standing alongside sustainable business leaders, or uniting a core legislative group, I demonstrate that meaningful progress is achieved by bringing people to the table early and ensuring their voices are heard. By prioritizing collaborative policy development, I remain driven by the critical importance of public participation, securing vital structural investments for the 143rd District, and keeping everyday cost of living and quality of life at the absolute heart of this work. I believe in shaping law directly from everyday conversations, ensuring that the real-world experiences of local families dictate the legislative priorities I champion in our state government. Please take a look at my website at DominiqueJohnson.org/about for more background on the results I have successfully delivered for our District and please use the contact form there to let me know what is on your mind and the issues most important to you and your family.

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

I will continue to be there for all neighborhoods in the District as we move our community forward with integrity and empathy. I will continue the fight to: Ensure quality of life for all; Build a safe, healthy, and prosperous future where the hard work of the next generations are able to be rewarded; and keep the community we build together at the heart of our District and state. It is a privilege being your State Representative so I can work for you, for my neighbors and my community. And it remains an honor to bring your voices to Hartford while being a force for good in our diverse community. I take great pride in representing a District where we share concern and care for each other at home and I bring those values with me when I represent us in the Capitol. I will continue leading with purpose, building trust, and bringing people together around a mission to solve hard problems and deliver results for us in Norwalk and Westport. I would be grateful for your support - thank you for putting your faith in me to be your voice in Hartford and to represent our values of community.