Murphy wades into midterms, CT voter turnout: CT politics news
These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more Connecticut political news, sign up here for The Issue, the CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.
Murphy wades into the midterms
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is stepping up his involvement weeks out from the midterm elections.
Murphy, a prolific fundraiser, is donating more than $500,000 to various Democratic committees including ones that handle competitive House and Senate races, according to Politico.
He also met with Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s Senate race who visited D.C. this week. The progressive candidate who’s a critic of Israel won a turbulent primary that divided Democrats. Murphy initially endorsed one of El-Sayed’s primary opponents, but praised him as “more of a bridge builder here than folks think he will be.”
— Lisa Hagen, Federal Policy Reporter
How can CT get more people to vote?
The Voter Participation Task Force got underway this week, authorized by legislation passed in response to lobbying by Miles Rapoport, the former secretary of the state.
Voter turnout in Connecticut is above the national average, but trails other states. Rapoport, who is co-chairing the task force with Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden, says it will seek ways to improve turnout. Their recommendations to the General Assembly are due Feb. 1.
Turnout yo-yos from cycle to cycle, peaking in presidential years and falling in midterm and municipal elections. Connecticut’s turnout was 67% in the 2024 presidential election — 2.4 percentage points above the national average. In the 2022 midterm, it fell to 49%.
— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief
Unemployment rate falls; private sector jobs hit high in August
The August jobs report from the Department of Labor once again highlights Connecticut’s complicated economic picture, with unemployment dipping slightly to 5.1% and payroll jobs falling by 300 while private sector job growth grew to 1,495,700 jobs.
The unemployment decrease, while small, is the first drop after months of increases. But the state also continues to see people exit the labor force; in August the labor force declined by 4,100.
The figures add to already mounting concerns about the state economy. A new Connecticut Business and Industry Association survey of the state’s businesses finds that businesses in the state are reporting hiring issues, with 25% of respondents saying that they are struggling to find skilled workers.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter
CT education department puts focus on STEM equity
At this year’s back to school conference for Connecticut superintendents, the keynote speech was all about jobs — STEM jobs.
National Math and Science Initiative CEO Jeremy Anderson told school leaders the STEM-related workforce is projected to grow 3.5 times faster than any other by 2032.
Anderson also noted STEM access remains inequitable and encouraged schools to proactively cultivate a “STEM identity” in students from underrepresented demographics (e.g. nonwhite, female). He said NMSI has found students who see themselves as future scientists and engineers are far more likely to get a STEM degree in college.
— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter
CT launches haunted history trail
The state’s latest tourism campaign is going in a spooky direction for fall, with officials announcing a new Haunted History Trail that calls attention to the lore, legends and history of Connecticut.
The trail includes more than 130 places from around the state, from haunted sites like hotels and cemeteries, to museums and theaters. The state is also calling attention to the history of the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned more than four decades and started before the more widely known trials in Salem, Mass.
The campaign comes as the state looks to build off of a big year for tourism, with visitors to the state generating some $20.1 billion in economic impact in 2025.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter
