Joan Hartley
Joan Hartley (Democratic Party) is a member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 15. She assumed office in 2001. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Hartley (Democratic Party, Independent Party) ran for re-election to the Connecticut State Senate to represent District 15. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Hartley earned her B.A. from Elms College and her M.A. from Trinity College. Her professional experience includes working as an educator.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Hartley was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Co-Chair
- Commerce Committee, Co-Chair
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
- Legislative Management Committee
2023-2024
Hartley was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair
- Commerce Committee, Co-Chair
- Legislative Management Committee
- Legislative Regulation Review Committee
2021-2022
Hartley was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Management Committee, Member
- Legislative Regulation Review Committee, Member
- Banking Committee, Member
- Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair
- Commerce Committee, Co-Chair
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, Member
2019-2020
Hartley was assigned to the following committees:
- Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Vice Chair
- Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair
- Commerce Committee, Co-Chair
- Legislative Management Committee
- Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Vice chair |
| • Commerce, Co-chair |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations |
| • Insurance and Real Estate, Vice chair |
| • Legislative Management |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Hartley served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Vice chair |
| • Commerce, Chair |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations |
| • Insurance and Real Estate, Vice chair |
| • Legislative Management |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Hartley served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Vice Chair |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations, Vice Chair |
| • Insurance and Real Estate |
| • Public Safety and Security, Chair |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Hartley served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations |
| • Insurance and Real Estate, Vice Chair |
| • Legislative Management |
| • Public Safety and Security, Co-Chair |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Hartley served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations |
| • Insurance and Real Estate |
| • Regulations Review |
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 15
Incumbent Joan Hartley won election in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 15 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Joan Hartley (D / Independent Party) | 100.0 | 20,972 |
| Total votes: 20,972 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joan Hartley advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 15.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hartley in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 15
Incumbent Joan Hartley won election in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 15 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joan Hartley (D / Independent Party) | 100.0 | 13,925 |
| Total votes: 13,925 | |||
| = 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 Joan Hartley advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 15.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Charneil Bush (D)
2020
See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 15
Incumbent Joan Hartley won election in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 15 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joan Hartley (D / Independent Party) | 100.0 | 24,840 |
| Total votes: 24,840 | |||
| = 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 Joan Hartley advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut State Senate District 15.
2018
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Connecticut State Senate District 15
Incumbent Joan Hartley defeated James Russell in the general election for Connecticut State Senate District 15 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joan Hartley (D) | 84.7 | 16,426 |
 | James Russell (Independent Party of Connecticut Party) | 15.3 | 2,963 | |
| Total votes: 19,389 | |||
| = 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 Joan Hartley defeated James K. Russell in the Connecticut State Senate District 15 general election.[1]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 15 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Joan Hartley Incumbent |
82.17% | 20,312 | |
| Independent | James K. Russell | 17.83% | 4,407 | |
| Total Votes | 24,719 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Incumbent Joan Hartley ran unopposed in the Connecticut State Senate District 15 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 15 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Joan Hartley Incumbent (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 Joan V. Hartley was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Karl D. Shehu was unopposed in the Republican primary. Hartley defeated Shehu and Blair Bertaccini (Working Families) in the general election.[2][3]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joan Hartley Incumbent |
63% | 12,083 | |
| Republican | Karl D. Shehu | 29.9% | 5,739 | |
| Independent | Joan Hartley Incumbent | 4.4% | 851 | |
| Working Families | Blair Bertaccini | 2.7% | 510 | |
| Total Votes | 19,183 | |||
2012
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2012
Hartley ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut State Senate District 15. Hartley ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012. She defeated Blair Bertaccini (WF) and Andrew "Andy" Larsen (I) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4][5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joan V. Hartley Incumbent |
85.2% | 19,927 | |
| Independent | Andrew "Andy" Larsen | 10% | 2,334 | |
| Working Families | Blair Bertaccini | 4.9% | 1,140 | |
| Total Votes | 23,401 | |||
2010
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2010
Hartley ran for re-election to the 15th District seat in 2010. She had no opposition in the primary or general election.
| Connecticut State Senate, District 15 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Joan Hartley (D)
|
14,178 | |||
| Theodore Derouin (Ind) | 1,871 | |||
| Blair Bertaccini (Working Families Party) | 675 | |||
2008
- See also: Connecticut State Senate elections, 2010
On November 4, 2008, Hartley won re-election to the 15th District Seat in the Connecticut State Senate, defeating Cicero Booker, Jr. (I).[7]
| Connecticut State Senate, District 15 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Joan Hartley (D)
|
21,839 | |||
| Cicero Booker, Jr. (I) | 2,878 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joan Hartley did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Joan Hartley did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Joan Hartley 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.
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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Hartley and her husband, Jim, have two children.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official primary and general election results," accessed November 26, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Candidate List," accessed June 18, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, Official Primary Results
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012" accessed November 17, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results," November 4, 2008
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut State Senate District 15 2001-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 73 1985-2000 |
Succeeded by - |
