Together, the House of Representatives and the Senate constitute the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA). The General Assembly enacts legislation dealing with state appropriations and finance, public welfare, the environment, public works, housing, education, civil and criminal laws, and other matters. The Senate tries all impeachments of executive and judicial branch officials. In Connecticut, members of the state’s legislative body, the General Assembly, must be at least eighteen years old and reside in the district they represent. Senate and House members serve two-year terms. Candidates were asked to respond to questions developed by local Leagues of Women Voters (LWV). Candidates enter their replies directly into Vote411, and replies are not edited by the LWV.This is the link to the CGA website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/This is the link to Sample Ballots for each Town found on the Secretary of State website: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/town-ballots/2026-november-town-election-ballots
Candidate Name
Brandi Mandato
You Tube Video
Campaign Website
mandatofor34.com
Campaign Email
mandatofor34@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
5104090029
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/brandiforct/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/brandiforct
I bring 25 years of experience in workforce development, economic mobility, policy and systems change. I currently work nationally with state coalitions, policymakers, employers, and people directly affected by our systems to turn policy ideas into practical solutions. As a North Haven Economic Development Commissioner, I also understand the opportunities and challenges facing our local communities and businesses. I have helped raise and direct millions of dollars toward pathways into high-growth careers and have worked across political and institutional lines to deliver results. I would bring that same approach to the State Senate: listen first, build coalitions and turn the priorities of working families into concrete legislation.
I would tackle affordability at its roots, not with temporary rebates that disappear after an election. I would reform Connecticut’s tax code to reduce the burden on working families while asking the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations to contribute their fair share. I would fight utility monopolies by strengthening consumer protections, expanding opportunities for municipal and regional power, and removing unnecessary corporate profit from electric bills. I would support policies that expand housing supply and affordability, reduce property-tax pressure through a fairer state-local funding partnership, and strengthen local economies so residents can find quality jobs closer to home. I would also invest in public transportation and infrastructure that reduce the cost of getting to work, school, and essential services.
I would reform the Education Cost Sharing formula so that funding follows student need, not simply property wealth. Connecticut should fully fund the cost of educating students, with additional resources for students experiencing poverty, multilingual learners, students with disabilities and districts facing concentrated need. I would support regularly updating the ECS foundation amount so it reflects the actual cost of education rather than relying on an outdated baseline, and I would ensure that communities with fewer local resources receive a meaningful state investment. We also need stronger accountability for how new funding improves student outcomes. As a longtime workforce and education advocate, I believe every child deserves access to the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of the ZIP code where they live.
Anything short of universal healthcare is a band-aid. We can and should have it.
On the path there, I would make health care more affordable by addressing the underlying costs that drive premiums, not simply shifting those costs onto families. I would strengthen state oversight of insurance rates, increase transparency around hospital and pharmaceutical pricing, and pursue policies that promote competition and reduce unnecessary costs. I would also protect and expand access to reproductive health care and mental health services, particularly in communities where providers are scarce.
Mental health care should be treated as foundational health care, with adequate reimbursement and investment in community-based services, crisis response, and early intervention.
No Connecticut family should have to choose between paying a medical bill and paying for groceries, housing, or utilities.
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I believe climate resilience is both an environmental responsibility and an economic necessity. Connecticut should invest now in stormwater systems, roads, drainage, coastal protection and other infrastructure that can withstand more frequent extreme weather. These investments protect homes, businesses and taxpayers from much larger costs after disasters occur. We should also make sure state investments prioritize our most vulnerable communities
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