Patch Candidate Profile: Tiffani McGinnis For 18th State House

Editor's Note: Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

WEST HARTFORD, 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.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate.

Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

West Hartford Republican Philip Tummescheit, who is only 18, is challenging Democrat Tiffani McGinnis, a current town councilwoman, for the 18th House District seat.

The seat is currently occupied by state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, who opted against a new term in the House to run for Congress, eventually losing to Democrat Luke Bronin in a primary last August.

The 18th House seat is composed of part of West Hartford.

Candidate's Name:

Tiffani McGinnis

What office are you seeking?

State Representative

Age:

55

District:

18th House

Party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

https://www.tiffaniforwesthartford.com

Occupation:

Town Councilor

Family:

Married with three adult children

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No

Previous public office:

Vice-chair, West Hartford Democratic Town Committee, Town Councilor 2023-present

Why are you seeking this office?

I’m running because I believe government should lift people up and expand opportunity. That’s personal for me. I grew up in a family that struggled financially. Pell Grants and scholarships helped me get through college and build a better life.

I know what it’s like to worry about paying the bills. I hear those same concerns from residents who are working hard and still struggling with rising costs.

On the Town Council, I’ve seen how decisions in Hartford affect our schools, town services, and property taxes. I'll bring that local perspective to the Capitol and work to reduce our reliance on property taxes, strengthen public education, and lower healthcare and energy costs.

I’m also running to protect our rights and stand up for our values. I love this community, and I will always put the people of West Hartford first.

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

The cost-of-living crisis is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut.

Too many residents are working hard and still struggling to keep up with housing, healthcare, energy costs, and property taxes.

One of my biggest priorities is changing how Connecticut funds our towns. We rely too heavily on property taxes to pay for schools and essential services. I’ll fight for predictable state education funding, including special education, so those costs don’t keep falling on local taxpayers.

I also support returning the existing 1% restaurant tax revenue to the towns where it’s collected. That would mean approximately $3.3 million more each year for West Hartford, which would help fund local services and reduce our reliance on property taxes.

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

I support a strong, independent PURA that holds Eversource accountable and puts ratepayers’ interests first.

We also need to address the cost of the energy itself.

I would support expanding renewable energy and storage, diversifying our energy supply, and improving the grid so we can meet demand more reliably and at a lower cost.

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

We need to tackle the costs that make it harder for residents to stay in their homes, get the healthcare they need, and make ends meet.

My degree is in healthcare administration and planning, and I understand how the cost of care affects both household budgets and access to treatment.

I support lowering prescription drug costs, greater transparency in healthcare pricing, and protecting access to quality coverage.

We should also explore a Connecticut public health insurance option to expand access to more affordable coverage. People shouldn’t have to put off a prescription or a doctor’s visit because they can’t afford it.

As a board member of West Hartford Fellowship Housing, I see the importance of housing that people can afford, especially older adults and residents with disabilities.

We also need options that allow young people to build their lives here. I support expanding rental and homeownership opportunities so people at every stage of life can afford to call Connecticut home.

My focus is on reducing the costs residents face every month, from housing and healthcare to electric bills and property taxes.

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

Serving on the West Hartford Town Council has given me a first-hand understanding of how decisions made at the Capitol affect residents. I see where state support makes a difference and where gaps leave towns and residents carrying too much of the burden. I would bring that local perspective to representing West Hartford.

My experience working in healthcare, my degree in healthcare administration and Planning, and my service on the board of West Hartford Fellowship Housing give me a strong foundation in two of the biggest challenges facing Connecticut: healthcare and housing.

And I know how to persevere. I’ve struggled to make ends meet. I was the first in my family to graduate from college, earning my degree while raising my daughter and relying on scholarships, Pell Grants, and WIC. I understand what opportunity can make possible because I’ve lived it. That experience shapes what I fight for and my determination to see it through.

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

I will always do what I believe is in the best interest of West Hartford, and I believe the 18th District deserves a representative who shares our values and has the courage to stand up to the cruelty and chaos coming from the Trump administration.

Our rights, our healthcare, and our communities are at stake. I won’t stay quiet when they are threatened. I’ll stand up for reproductive freedom, public education, gun safety, and the dignity of every person in our community.

I’ve also earned the endorsement and support of several organizations, including Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut, Reproductive Equity Now, AFT Connecticut, AFSCME, the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, Everytown for Gun Safety, Connecticut Against Gun Violence, and the Young Democrats of Connecticut. I’m also proud to be a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.

I’m asking for your vote by November 3.