Alexander Taubes

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Alex Taubes

Petitioning

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Boston University, 2011

Law

Yale Law School, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Lake Forest, Ill.

Religion

Islam

Profession

Civil rights attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Alex Taubes (Petitioning) ran for election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 11. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Taubes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Taubes was born on November 8, 1988, in Lake Forest, Illinois. He graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in 2011. He went on to obtain his J.D. from Yale Law School in 2015. Taubes professional experience includes working at a civil rights law firm. He also is a co-founder of a prisoners' debate club.

Elections

2020

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Connecticut State Senate District 11

Incumbent Martin Looney defeated Jameson White and Alex Taubes in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 11 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Martin Looney (D)	74.7	27,336
	Submit photo	Jameson White (R)	23.1	8,462
		Alex Taubes (Petitioning)	2.2	795

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,593
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Martin Looney advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 11.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Jameson White advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 11.

Endorsements

To view Taubes' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Alex Taubes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Taubes' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a civil rights attorney and socialist advocate for human rights running for the state senate to represent New Haven, Hamden, and North Haven, Connecticut. As a civil rights attorney, I represent ordinary people who have been harmed by government or corporate misconduct. In my work I see that Connecticut's laws need change. My opponent, incumbent state senator Martin Looney, has held office in Connecticut for forty years. I believe this progressive district wants a champion for reforms like the Green New Deal, the legalization of cannabis, a housing guarantee, and reforms to the state tax structure.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Green New Deal
• Legalize Cannabis
• Black Lives Matter

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Election reform, such as the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting and liberalization of ballot access laws.

Zoning and affordable housing reform.
Economic, social, environmental, and racial justice.

As a lifelong Connecticut resident, serving the Connecticut community.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

The abolitionists and people of moral clarity throughout history who went against conventional norms to champion justice.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Not yet - but maybe we can make one!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Diligence and understanding.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I work hard, follow up, listen, and relate to people of diverse experiences. My expertise is in using the law to benefit ordinary people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Pushing forward an agenda that benefits the people of the district.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Progress for environmental, economic, and racial justice.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

September 11, 2001. I was in seventh grade.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

In middle school, I won an internship with then-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. I forget how long it lasted.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

None - abolish one and have one chamber like Nebraska. We already join the two chambers for committee purposes.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Inequality and segregation.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Active legislature pushing policy and keeping the governor in check.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course - otherwise nothing will get done.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Independent nonpartisan commission to ensure competitiveness and compactness.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Judiciary and appropriations.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Not necessarily.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

AOC!

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Yes

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Too many to recount here.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Connecticut State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Bob Duff

Minority Leader:Stephen Harding

Senators

District 1

John Fonfara (D)

District 2

Douglas McCrory (D)

District 3

Saud Anwar (D)

District 4

MD Rahman (D)

District 5

Derek Slap (D)

District 6

Rick Lopes (D)

District 7

John Kissel (R)

District 8

Paul Honig (D)

District 9

Matthew Lesser (D)

District 10

Gary Winfield (D)

District 11

Martin Looney (D)

District 12

Christine Cohen (D)

District 13

Jan Hochadel (D)

District 14

James Maroney (D)

District 15

Joan Hartley (D)

District 16

Robert Sampson (R)

District 17

Jorge Cabrera (D)

District 18

Heather Somers (R)

District 19

Catherine Osten (D)

District 20

Martha Marx (D)

District 21

Jason Perillo (R)

District 22

Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D)

District 23

Herron Gaston (D)

District 24

Julie Kushner (D)

District 25

Bob Duff (D)

District 26

Ceci Maher (D)

District 27

Patricia Miller (D)

District 28

Tony Hwang (R)

District 29

Mae Flexer (D)

District 30

Stephen Harding (R)

District 31

Henri Martin (R)

District 32

Eric Berthel (R)

District 33

Norm Needleman (D)

District 34

Paul Cicarella (R)

District 35

Jeff Gordon (R)

District 36

Ryan Fazio (R)

Democratic Party (25)

Republican Party (11)