These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more news about the 2026 legislative session, campaigns, elections and more, sign up here for The Issue, CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.
Open Seat Watch
Two Democrats and a Republican are running for the open Democratic seat in the 10th House District of East Hartford, where Rep. Henry Genga is not running after 20 years in office. The Democrats are town Councilor Angie Parkinson, who entered politics a decade ago as a Bernie Sanders activist, and Tyron V. Harris, the school board chair. The Republican is Chris Tierinni, also a school board member.
On the other side of the river, two Democrats are competing for the open Democratic seat in the 19th House District of West Hartford and a smallish slice of Avon, where Rep. Tammy Exum, D-West Hartford, is leaving after eight years. Her would-be successors are Olaleye Onikuyide and Mario Volpe, both of West Hartford. With Rep. Jillian Gilchrest running for Congress, the 18th District seat in West Hartford also is open.
— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief
Eversource doubled earnings in 2025
Eversource reported earnings of $1.69 billion in 2025 as part of its year-end financial results released Thursday. That was more than double the earnings reported by the company in 2024, when it was saddled with losses related to its exit from the offshore wind industry.
Eversource operates utilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Its holdings include Yankee Gas, Aquarion Water and the former Connecticut Light and Power company.
In a call with investors on Friday, Eversource CEO Joe Nolan sounded an optimistic note about the company’s relationship with state regulators, following a protracted dispute with former Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Chairwoman Marissa Gillett. Gillett resigned in October.
“Our commitment to building strong regulatory relationships is enabling productive dialogue in all three state jurisdictions,” Nolan said.
— John Moritz, Environment and Energy Reporter
Evictions bill
The Housing Committee on Tuesday agreed to work on several ideas to change the landlord-tenant relationship including banning no-fault evictions at larger apartment complexes.
Tuesday’s meeting was part of the legislative process in which lawmakers agree on concepts ahead of public hearings or official votes on bills. The concepts often have few details.
The ban on no-fault evictions is a familiar proposal for committee members. Similar bills have surfaced in the past few legislative sessions. The measure would require that landlords offer a reason for evictions rather than filing no-fault evictions, which typically occur at the end of a lease.
— Ginny Monk, Housing and Children’s Issues Reporter
“Healthcare Cabinet” presents recommendations
Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s “Healthcare Cabinet” gathers industry leaders from across the state to tackle key health care issues, including the workforce, mental health and urban and rural access. On Monday, the cabinet’s eight subcommittees presented roughly 30 policy recommendations, which Scanlon’s office will work with legislators and advocates to consider. Proposals ranged from studying the feasibility of universal health coverage for all children in the state to strengthening fertility coverage laws.
— Katy Golvala, Health Reporter
Cold weather emergency
Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday extended the state’s cold weather emergency, which keeps certain shelters and warming centers open longer.
The emergency began Jan. 23 and is now scheduled to end at noon Sunday. It marks the longest consecutive cold weather emergency in Connecticut since 2015, when there was a 34-day emergency, according to a press release from Lamont’s office.
Homelessness service providers have asked for more stable funding for cold weather, saying it’s hard to plan when they aren’t sure how many days state emergencies will be in effect. Funding is typically tied to the emergency state.
— Ginny Monk, Housing and Children’s Issues Reporter
Mental Health in DOC
“ You have become the psychiatric institution in the state of Connecticut. And I think we need to recognize that,” Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, told Commissioner Angel Quiros of the Department of Correction on Tuesday.
Osten, chair of the budget committee, questioned the medical and mental health staffing levels and whether correction staff were being trained to work with people with mental health issues. Quiros said medical staffing had decreased compared to last year, and that he felt that there should be more training.
A report by the Connecticut Sentencing Commission found that 28% of men and 81% of women who are incarcerated have a mental health disorder.
— Emilia Otte, Justice Reporter
Long-term care ombudsman outlines priorities
Mairead Painter, the state’s long-term care ombudsman, has released a list of a dozen recommendations for legislative reforms this session. Among her priorities are a proposal to extend virtual visitation and monitoring to residential care homes (cameras are already allowed in nursing homes and assisted living centers), strengthening transfer and discharge protections, and creating an automatic cost-of-living adjustment to the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients in long-term care facilities.
She also suggested imposing daily civil penalties for nursing homes that understaff and boosting oversight of nursing facilities to include reviews of related party companies.
— Jenna Carlesso, Investigative Reporter
Hakeem Jeffries’ heckler
“He must think that he’s interrupting a Republican rally.”
— U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, after a heckler interrupted his speech at a rally in Hartford for Congressman John B. Larson, demanding he commit to abolishing ICE.
It took a day to reach him, but Andrew Rice, a Democrat running for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, acknowledged he was the heckler who challenged Jeffries over ICE and the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
Weekend plans?
The governor is taking the long weekend in Puerto Rico, leaving Friday and returning Monday. He’s got a family connection to the island: His late mother, Camille “Buz” Buzby Lamont, was born and raised in San Juan.
— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief