Candidate Profile: Aimee Berger-Girvalo, 111th State House District

RIDGEFIELD, 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.

Aimee Berger-Girvalo, 53, of Ridgefield, is running for reelection to the House of Representatives in the 111th District, representing parts of the town.

Party: Democrat and endorsed by Independent Party

Occupation: ADA Coordinator

Family: Daughter Gracie, son Austin, partner Jeff

Does anyone in your family work in government? no

Previous public office: State Representative

Why are you seeking this office? I'm seeking reelection because, after three terms of delivering for Ridgefield, I know there is still more work to do. I've brought millions of dollars back to our community and made sure Ridgefield has a seat at the tables on housing, education, and public safety. Together, we've put Connecticut on stronger financial footing by paying down debt and pension obligations, giving us room to support our communities in ways we haven't been able to in decades. I want to build on that progress to strengthen our schools, keep our community safe, and make Ridgefield and Connecticut more affordable.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it? Affordability is the number one issue facing Connecticut, and we need to start by tackling two essential costs: health care and energy. I will fight for public options in both, giving residents a health insurance choice designed to lower costs through stronger negotiating power and competition, and a public energy alternative focused on serving customers rather than generating shareholder profits. By lowering these everyday expenses, we can help families keep more of what they earn, give businesses more room to grow, and make Connecticut a more affordable and desirable place to live, work, and retire.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue? Connecticut families should not be treated as an unlimited source of revenue for Eversource. Restoring power after storms is a core responsibility, not an excuse to keep passing costs onto customers while protecting corporate profits.

I will propose blocking additional storm-cost recovery when the utility is profitable.

Long term, we need public power: nonprofit utilities focused on reliable service and affordable rates, not shareholder returns and executive bonuses. If we cannot achieve that statewide, we should make it easier for communities to establish their own municipal utilities. I will propose legislation that streamlines local referenda, allows the use of state land, and creates state financing and power-supply authorities to support local public power.

We also need to challenge the monopoly structure that leaves customers without meaningful leverage. Our goal should be straightforward: more accountability, lower costs, and an energy system that puts customers first.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue? Affordability means tackling the bills that put the greatest pressure on household budgets, starting with health care and energy, where I support public options focused on lowering costs rather than maximizing profits. We also need more housing choices for young families, workers, and seniors, supported by state incentives and investments in sewer, transportation, and other infrastructure that help communities accommodate growth, without increasing traffic congestion. To ease property taxes without shortchanging municipalities, I would push for greater state support for education and special education, alongside expanded, state-funded property tax relief tied to household income, helping residents stay in their homes without cutting local services or simply shifting the bill to their neighbors.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? In just my second term, I was asked to serve as acting House chair of the Transportation Committee, one of the legislature's largest committees, and was appointed to the role permanently in my third, which was a significant leadership responsibility entrusted to me early in my service. Beyond passing legislation and bringing millions of dollars home, I've worked directly with Ridgefield's Planning and Zoning Commission and first selectperson to negotiate changes to housing proposals and stop provisions that would have harmed our town. My approach is results over political posturing. I work with the people writing these policies, support bills when they incorporate the changes Ridgefield needs, and vote against them when they do not. I also secured a seat for First Selectperson Rudy Marconi on the Majority Leader's Roundtable on Affordable Housing, giving Ridgefield a direct voice in shaping policy, not simply reacting to it.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I want voters to know that I approach this job with an open mind, a willingness to work across the aisle, and a firm commitment to the people I represent, whether they voted for me or not. As Transportation Committee co-chair, I work closely with Republican and Democratic colleagues, and every bill I've brought to the House floor has passed with bipartisan support, which helped me to earn the Independent Party's endorsement. I judge ideas on their merits and look for common ground, but bipartisanship does not mean compromising anyone's fundamental rights, safety, or humanity. We can negotiate the details of public policy without treating anyone's dignity, reproductive freedom, or equitable treatment as bargaining chips.