Stephen Harding Jr.
Stephen Harding, Jr. (Republican Party) is a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 30. He assumed office on January 4, 2023. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Harding (Republican Party, Independent Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 30. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Harding began serving as State Senate minority leader on February 16, 2024. [1]
Biography
Stephen Harding was born in New York, New York, and lives in Brookfield, Connecticut.[2][3] Harding graduated from Brookfield High School in 2005.[4] He earned a B.A. in marketing from Albertus Magnus College in 2009 and a J.D. from New York Law School in 2012. Harding's career experience includes working as the principal attorney with Stephen Harding Law, an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Dean L. Lewis, and a legal intern with the Kings County District Attorney's Office.[2][3][4] He has been affiliated with Brookfield Cares.[2]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Harding was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- Environment Committee
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
- Legislative Management Committee
2023-2024
Harding was assigned to the following committees:
- Education Committee
- Environment Committee, Ranking Member
- Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- Judiciary Committee
2021-2022
Harding was assigned to the following committees:
- Judiciary Committee, Member
- Environment Committee, Ranking Member
2019-2020
Harding was assigned to the following committees:
- Government Administration and Elections Committee
- Environment Committee, Ranking Member
- Judiciary Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Environment, Ranking member |
| • Finance, Revenue and Bonding |
| • Judiciary |
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 30
Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. defeated Justin Potter in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 30 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Stephen Harding, Jr. (R / Independent Party) | 53.6 | 31,127 |
 | Justin Potter (D) | 46.4 | 26,931 | |
| Total votes: 58,058 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Justin Potter advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 30.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 30.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Harding in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 30
Stephen Harding, Jr. defeated Eva Zimmerman in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 30 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Harding, Jr. (R) | 53.8 | 24,404 |
 | Eva Zimmerman (D / Working Families Party / Independent Party) | 46.2 | 20,945 | |
| Total votes: 45,349 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Eva Zimmerman advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 30.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Stephen Harding, Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut State Senate District 30.
2020
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107
Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. defeated Kerri Colombo in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Harding, Jr. (R / Independent Party) | 57.9 | 8,735 |
 | Kerri Colombo (D / Working Families Party) | 42.1 | 6,345 | |
| Total votes: 15,080 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Kerri Colombo advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Scott Dale (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107.
2018
In addition to running as a Republican Party candidate, Harding cross-filed to also run with the Independent Party in 2018.[5]
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107
Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. defeated Daniel Pearson in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Harding, Jr. (R) | 59.3 | 6,890 |
 | Daniel Pearson (D) | 40.7 | 4,736 | |
| Total votes: 11,626 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2016
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives 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 Stephen Harding, Jr. ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 general election.[6]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 107 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Stephen Harding, Jr. Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||
Thomas Burke ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 107 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Thomas Burke (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Stephen Harding, Jr. ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 107 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Stephen Harding, Jr. Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2015
Stephen Harding Jr. (R) defeated Howard Lasser (D) in the special election on February 24. Harding also ran on the Independent ticket.[7][8][9]
The seat was vacant following David Scribner's (R) appointment to the state Liquor Control Commission.[10]
A special election for the position of Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 was called for February 24. Candidates were nominated by parties rather than chosen in primaries.[11]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 107, Special Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Stephen Harding Jr. |
54.2% | 1,600 | |
| Democratic | Howard Lasser | 45.8% | 1,350 | |
| Total Votes | 2,950 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephen Harding, Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Stephen Harding, Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Stephen Harding, Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
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.
Scorecards
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.
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Connecticut State Senate District 30 |
Officeholder Connecticut State Senate District 30 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ “Eyewitness News 3 WFSB (Hartford, Connecticut),” “Sen. Kevin Kelly resigns as Republican minority leader,” February 19, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brookfield Cares, "Home," accessed November 27, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Connecticut Senate Republicans, "About Stephen," accessed April 29, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 LinkedIn, "Stephen Harding, Esquire," accessed April 29, 2023
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2018 List of Candidates," accessed October 29, 2018
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed February 10, 2015
- ↑ CTNews.com, "Harding victory over Lasser in 107th District," February 24, 2015
- ↑ Official results received in a phone call with the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of State on April 27, 2015
- ↑ newstimes.com, "State Rep. Scribner resigns for Liquor Control Commission post," January 7, 2015
- ↑ Stamford Plus, "Special elections for three state assembly seats to be held February 24," January 12, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Craig Miner (R) |
Connecticut State Senate District 30 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 107 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Marty Foncello (R) |
