State Representative, 86th District
House Republican Leader
Vincent Candelora proudly represents the people of North Branford, Durham, East Haven, and Guilford in the Connecticut General Assembly. Now serving his tenth term, he was unanimously chosen by House Republicans to continue as Minority Leader for the 2025–2026 legislative term—his third consecutive leadership term. First selected as leader in 2020, Candelora has earned a reputation as a steady, knowledgeable, and effective lawmaker trusted by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
"Property taxes driven by revaluation are crushing Connecticut's middle class, yet our Democratic colleagues ignore this crisis while pushing policies that increase costs—from higher electric bills to unfunded mandates that drive up local taxes,"
First elected to the General Assembly in the mid-2000s, Candelora has served on numerous committees—including Finance, Public Health, and Judiciary—and chaired the House Republican Screening Committee responsible for reviewing legislation before votes.
His colleagues describe him as deeply knowledgeable in the legislative process, detail-oriented, and committed to government transparency and responsible policymaking.
Candelora has been a leading voice for:
He played key roles in shaping several major budget proposals, including the historic bipartisan budget of 2017 and the $800 million tax-relief package passed in 2023, which included middle-class tax cuts and targeted relief for families and seniors.
He has also been outspoken on issues of public safety, juvenile crime, and the real-world impacts of the state’s controversial police-accountability legislation.
In 2025, Candelora continued to lead House Republicans on issues central to Connecticut residents, including:
Opposed a PURA plan that would raise electric bills to fund EV charging infrastructure, warning against added burdens on households and small businesses.
Raised concerns that the Governor’s announced Medicaid reimbursement deal failed to meaningfully address structural issues affecting providers and patients.
Called for a legislative hearing into PURA leadership and pushed for stronger oversight after fiscal mismanagement in the state’s higher-education system.
Led the rollout of a proposal to increase the property-tax credit to $1,000 and expand eligibility to over 800,000 residents—one of the most significant property-tax relief plans in years.
Before entering state service, Candelora helped run his family’s two local businesses—a manufacturing company and a sportsplex—experiences that shaped his advocacy for Connecticut’s employers and workforce.
He also built a long record of public and civic service, including:
1992 — Graduated from Connecticut College
1995 — Earned his law degree from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law
• Editor-in-Chief, Dickinson Law Review
• Appellate Moot Court Board
After law school, he clerked for Hon. Antoinette L. Dupont, former Chief Judge of Connecticut’s Appellate Court, and later practiced municipal and transactional law at a New Haven-based firm.
Vincent Candelora is married with three children and remains deeply connected to the community he serves. When he’s not at the Capitol or working on behalf of residents of the 86th District, he can be found assisting with his family businesses or participating in local civic projects.
