John Fonfara

John Fonfara

Democratic Party

Connecticut State Senate District 1

Tenure

1997 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

29

Prior offices:

Connecticut House of Representatives District 6

Years in office: 1993 - 1997

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Connecticut House of Representatives District 4

Years in office: 1987 - 1993

Compensation

Base salary

$43,600/year

Per diem

No per diem is paid.

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Connecticut, 1981

Graduate

Trinity College, 1991

Personal

Profession

Advertising consultant

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

John Fonfara (Democratic Party) is a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 1. He assumed office in 1997. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.

Fonfara (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 1. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Fonfara earned his B.A. in political science from the University of Connecticut in 1981. He went on to receive his M.A. in Public Policy from Trinity College in 1991.

Fonfara is an Advertising Consultant and Vice President of Marketing.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Fonfara was assigned to the following committees:

• Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Co-Chair
• General Law Committee, Vice-Chair
• Legislative Management Committee
• Planning and Development Committee
• Public Safety and Security Committee

2023-2024

Fonfara was assigned to the following committees:

• Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Co-Chair
• General Law Committee, Vice Chair
• Housing Committee
• Legislative Management Committee
• Public Safety and Security Committee

2021-2022

Fonfara was assigned to the following committees:

• General Law Committee, Vice Chair
• Legislative Management Committee, Member
• Planning and Development Committee, Member
• Public Safety and Security Committee, Member
• Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, Member
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Co-Chair

2019-2020

Fonfara was assigned to the following committees:

• Internship Committee (Decommissioned)
• General Law Committee, Co-Chair
• Energy and Technology Committee, Vice Chair
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Co-Chair
• Legislative Management Committee
• Planning and Development Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Connecticut committee assignments, 2017
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Co-chair
• Legislative Management
• Planning and Development, Vice chair

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Fonfara served on the following committees:

Connecticut committee assignments, 2015
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Chair
• Legislative Management
• Planning and Development
• Program Review and Investigations, Chair

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Fonfara served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Fonfara served on these committees:

Connecticut committee assignments, 2011
• Education, Vice Chair
• Energy and Technology, Co-Chair
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Vice Chair
• Program Review and Investigations, Co-Chair

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Fonfara served on these committees:

Connecticut committee assignments, 2009
• Education, Vice Chair
• Energy and Technology, Co-Chair
• Finance, Revenue and Bonding
• Program Review and Investigations

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2024

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Connecticut State Senate District 1

Incumbent John Fonfara defeated Luis Delgado in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Fonfara (D)	87.3	18,512
	Submit photo	Luis Delgado (G)	12.7	2,696

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,208
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Fonfara advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 1.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fonfara in this election.

2023

See also: Mayoral election in Hartford, Connecticut (2023)

General election

General election for Mayor of Hartford

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Hartford on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Arunan Arulampalam (D)	62.0	4,702
	Submit photo	Nick Lebron (Independent)	12.0	907
		Eric Coleman (Independent) (Write-in)	10.6	803
	Submit photo	Michael McGarry (R)	6.4	485
	Submit photo	J. Stan McCauley (Independent)	5.8	443
	Submit photo	Giselle Gigi Jacobs (Independent)	2.8	213
		Mark Stewart Greenstein (Independent)	0.2	18
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	7

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,578
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mayor of Hartford

Arunan Arulampalam defeated Eric Coleman and John Fonfara in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Hartford on September 12, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Arunan Arulampalam	40.5	2,121
		Eric Coleman	30.1	1,574
		John Fonfara	29.4	1,540

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,235
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fonfara in this election.

2022

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Connecticut State Senate District 1

Incumbent John Fonfara defeated Alex Colaiacovo, Michael Oretade, and Alyssa Peterson in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 1 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Fonfara (D)	68.2	11,579
		Alex Colaiacovo (R)	28.8	4,893
	Submit photo	Michael Oretade (G)	1.9	318
	Submit photo	Alyssa Peterson (Independent)	1.1	191

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,981
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Fonfara advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 1.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Alex Colaiacovo advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 1.

2020

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Connecticut State Senate District 1

Incumbent John Fonfara defeated Barbara Ruhe and Mary L. Sanders in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Fonfara (D)	71.8	20,583
		Barbara Ruhe (R)	24.9	7,141
		Mary L. Sanders (G)	3.3	953

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 28,677
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Fonfara advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 1.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Barbara Ruhe advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 1.

2018

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Connecticut State Senate District 1

Incumbent John Fonfara defeated Barbara Ruhe and Barbara Barry in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 1 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Fonfara (D)	74.0	15,612
		Barbara Ruhe (R)	23.9	5,044
	Submit photo	Barbara Barry (G)	2.1	447

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,103
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Connecticut State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

Incumbent John Fonfara defeated Barbara Ruhe and Barbara Barry in the Connecticut State Senate District 1 general election.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Fonfara Incumbent	74.81%	20,437
	Republican	Barbara Ruhe	22.15%	6,052
	Green	Barbara Barry	3.03%	829
Total Votes				27,318
Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State

Incumbent John Fonfara ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 1 Democratic primary.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	John Fonfara Incumbent (unopposed)

Barbara Ruhe ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 1 Republican primary.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Barbara Ruhe  (unopposed)

2014

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Connecticut State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014. Incumbent John W. Fonfara was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Barbara J. Ruhe was unopposed in the Republican primary. Fonfara defeated Ruhe, Barbara A. Barry (G) and Alyssa S. Peterson (nonpartisan) in the general election.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Fonfara Incumbent	67.1%	11,097
	Republican	Barbara J. Ruhe	25%	4,135
	Working Families	John Fonfara Incumbent	4.9%	811
	Green	Barbara A. Barry	2%	335
	Nonpartisan	Alyssa S. Peterson	0.9%	156
Total Votes				16,534

2012

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2012

Fonfara ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut State Senate District 1. Fonfara ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012. He defeated Barbara Ruhe (R) and Jeffery Russell (G) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Fonfara Incumbent	80.7%	20,648
	Republican	Barbara Ruhe	17.4%	4,447
	Green	Jeffery Russell	1.9%	488
Total Votes				25,583

2010

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2010

Fonfara ran for re-election to the 1st District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Barbara Ruhe (R) in the November 2 general election.

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 General Election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
John Fonfara (D)		11,980
Barbara Ruhe (R)		3,478
Martha S. Kelly (G)		369

2008

See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Fonfara won re-election to the 1st District Seat in the Connecticut State Senate, defeating opponents Barbara Ruhe (R) and Michael DeRosa (G).

Connecticut State Senate, District 1 (2008)
Candidates		Votes
John Fonfara (D)		17,402
Barbara Ruhe (R)		4,027
Michael DeRosa (G)		1,109

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Fonfara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

John Fonfara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

John Fonfara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

John Fonfara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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John Fonfara campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	Connecticut State Senate District 1	Won general	$1,275	$57
2022	Connecticut State Senate District 1	Won general	$110,860	$110,980
2020	Connecticut State Senate District 1	Won general	$125,995	N/A**
2018	Connecticut State Senate District 1	Won general	$115,812	N/A**
2016	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$112,745	N/A**
2014	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$113,890	N/A**
2012	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$109,120	N/A**
2010	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$170,096	N/A**
2008	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$168,380	N/A**
2006	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$25,456	N/A**
2004	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$9,800	N/A**
2002	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$18,970	N/A**
2000	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$14,990	N/A**
1998	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$26,640	N/A**
1996	Connecticut State Senate, District 1	Won	$51,220	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Connecticut

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2025.

• Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
• Connecticut Citizens Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2024.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2023.

• Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
• Connecticut Citizen Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• Family Institute of Connecticut — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
• National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2021.

• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2020.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2019.

• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
• Yankee Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to limiting taxes and encouraging free market activity.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2018.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2017.

• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2016.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2015.

• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2014.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

In 2013, the Connecticut General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2012.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
• Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• Yankee Institute — Each member of the Connecticut General Assembly receives a score from 0 to 10 based on how he or she voted on ten votes.

In 2011, the Connecticut General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Fonfara has a daughter.

See also

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Connecticut State Senate District 1

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Connecticut State Senate District 1 1997-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Connecticut House of Representatives District 6 1993-1997	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Connecticut House of Representatives District 4 1987-1993	Succeeded by -

[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)