After the recent elections, the Democrat Party across the country and in Connecticut won astounding victories and increased their numbers and majorities on multiple local boards and public offices. This is not a time for celebration but a time for a solid grounding on what must be done to make the lives of the people of our nation and in our state better.
Connecticut Democrats, with their majority, could take to truly “make peoples lives better,” guided by the identified issues like affordability (housing, healthcare, childcare), economic opportunity, and equity.
As often attributed to Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” The goal is not to simply resist or to revert to a pre-Trump status quo, it’s to innovate a better Connecticut. A majority that fails to make lives measurably better is a majority that has failed the people.
The real crisis: affordability and opportunity. These are the things that Democrats must address solidly with their majority.
Housing is the top concern. While we are in need of almost a hundred thousand affordable housing units, the crisis isn’t just about finding a home; it’s about housing costs eating up money for groceries and medicine.
Healthcare: Democrats must hold the line to maintain and expand affordable healthcare subsidies (like the ACA enhancements), and the high number of residents still worried about medical debt. The move to a single-payer system is gaining support across the country and Connecticut should be a leader in the movement.
Childcare: Quality childcare costs is an economic blocker for both families and the state. Expensive childcare prevents skilled workers (especially women) from returning to the workforce, hurting both families and the economy.
The irony of wealth: Acknowledge Connecticut’s wealth, but point out the glaring income and wealth disparities. The status quo is only working for the privileged few. The richest 5% of households have incomes 14.1 times higher than the bottom 20% of households. Fairfield County exhibits some of the worst income inequality in the country, with average incomes in the top 1% of the country being 73.7 times higher that the bottom 99%. Increasing taxes on incomes over a million dollars would supply the financial means to address many of the concerns of our affordability crisis.
Reimagine housing and zoning. Move beyond vetoes.
The problem: Local zoning restrictions drive up costs and concentrate opportunity. The new thinking: The vetoed housing bill (HB 5002) had strong public support. The new majority must re-engage with courage. Pass state-level zoning reform that mandates a minimum density or affordable unit allocation in all towns, leveraging state resources for sewers and water and other infrastructure and provide funding for compliance rather than just punishment. Focus on allowing more housing types (like multi-family and accessory dwelling units) near transit and job centers.
Guaranteeing affordable health coverage (Expanding the safety net.)
The problem: Even with subsidies, costs for many middle-class families are crushing. The new thinking: Don’t just fight to preserve expiring federal benefits; build a sustainable state model. Aggressively pursue policies to lower prescription drug costs by pooling state agency purchasing power or creating a state-based bulk purchasing program (like the ArrayRx model). Expand the definition of emergency Medicaid coverage to bridge gaps for vulnerable populations.
Catalytic investment in the workforce (beyond minimum wage.)
The problem: Businesses cite a lack of skilled workers, and families are squeezed by childcare costs.
The new thinking: Connect the workforce pipeline directly to family stability. Don’t just raise the minimum wage; make a massive investment in childcare subsidies and educator wages to lower costs for parents and stabilize the childcare workforce. Simultaneously, create new incentives for trade/technical schools to train residents for Connecticut’s high-demand, high-benefit jobs, creating a clear path to the middle class.
The Democratic majority has and for many yeas has had the power it needs to make changes that matter however the leadership of the legislature and the governor has preferred to go slow and with measure. There is no longer time to make small changes. The Democrats are no longer an underdog or a reactionary force. They must be an innovative force. Failure is not just political —it means Connecticut continues to be a great state to leave for young families and a hard state to retire in.
When I ran for office and won the 42nd State House district in 2022, I was alarmed and saddened by how poorly the party used their majority to make significant changes due to concerns that they would overreach to make significant changes that would make peoples lives better in the state. They could have used the rule of ‘call the question’ (also called the nuclear option) to end debate that stymied time constraints the Republican use to stop legislation passing but never chose to. I think they forgot that the nuclear power doesn’t always blow things up but also creates energy.
I challenge Democrats both in the legislature and in our towns and cities to use their majority to prove that the thinking that got them elected (running against chaos) is not the thinking that will define their governance but bold, tangible improvement.
They must prove a majority means actual change that puts money back in people’s pockets and makes Connecticut a genuinely affordable, opportunity-rich state for all its residents.
Keith Denning of Wilton is a former State Representative of Connecticut’s 42nd District.