Connecticut State Senate District 24
An honest, fact-grounded head-to-head comparison between Incumbent Senator Julie Kushner and Challenger Melissa Lindsey. Explore their stances on housing affordability, schools, healthcare, and working families.
Candidate Profiles & Track Record
A side-by-side assessment of background, legislative experience, and proven public service.
Julie Kushner
Deputy President Pro Tempore, Connecticut State Senate
"Delivering Real Results for Working Families, Seniors, and Our Local Schools."
Lifelong champion for working people, mothers, retirees, and students. Former Director of UAW Region 9A, 30-year Danbury resident and neighbor. Holds a perfect 100% voting attendance record for five consecutive years (2020–2024) and has passed some of the most consequential legislation in Connecticut history.
Key Legislative Committee Roles
Melissa Lindsey
Republican Nominee for CT State Senate District 24
"Fighting for working families in District 24 — because Connecticut shouldn't be this hard to afford."
Lifelong resident of New Fairfield, former First Selectman of New Fairfield, small business office manager in Danbury for 15+ years. Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Western Connecticut State University. Involved in local sports coaching (field hockey) and Danbury public schools as a substitute teacher.
Melissa Lindsey has served 1 term as New Fairfield First Selectman, but has no experience in state legislative drafting, state budget negotiation, or statewide committee leadership.
Housing Affordability in District 24
With median home prices topping $450,000 and Danbury rents rising, housing costs are the #1 challenge facing working families, first-time buyers, and seniors. Here is how the candidates’ records and plans compare.
Julie Kushner’s Leadership on Building Affordable Housing
As Senate Deputy President Pro Tempore and Labor Committee Co-Chair, Senator Julie Kushner was the chief Senate architect and negotiator of Connecticut’s landmark 2025 Housing Omnibus Act (originally HB 8002)—unleashing over $350 million in state bonding for transit-oriented workforce housing, sewer infrastructure, and $50,000 first-time homebuyer grants.
Toggle between local district deliverables in Western Connecticut and statewide structural changes.
$15M+ Downtown Transit Housing
Directed over $15 million in dedicated state bonding and CIF funds to modernize Downtown Danbury's sewer and transit infrastructure, accelerating the conversion of vacant commercial parcels and surface lots near the Metro-North station into vibrant workforce housing with ground-floor retail.
Danbury Hospital & Teacher Housing
Established dedicated workforce preference allocations ensuring Danbury Hospital nurses, medical technicians, public school educators, and Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) faculty can afford to live in the community where they serve.
Suburban Planning & 8-30g Moratoriums
Provided direct state planning grants to New Fairfield and Ridgefield to craft town-tailored housing plans, expand gentle middle housing, and achieve statutory 8-30g moratoriums cooperatively without contentious builder lawsuits.
Candlewood Lake & Watershed Safeguards
Built in strict environmental review and water capacity safeguards protecting Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond, Lake Kenosia, and local wetlands from inappropriate high-density runoff or septic overload.
$50,000 Time To Own Down Payment Grants
Replenished Connecticut's signature 0% forgivable down payment assistance fund so local young families, nurses, firefighters, and municipal workers can afford to buy their first single-family home or condo in District 24.
Senior Aging-in-Place & ADU Flexibility
Provided funding for accessible home retrofits (ramps, walk-in showers) and ADU permitting flexibility so longtime senior residents across District 24 can generate rental income or downsize without leaving their hometowns.
Uniting Labor, Towns, and Environmental Champions
Senator Kushner utilized her position as Labor Committee Co-Chair and Deputy President Pro Tempore to bridge deep divides between urban centers and suburban towns. She ensured HB 8002 included prevailing wage standards for construction workers, guaranteed local municipal autonomy with state financial support, and defeated punitive top-down developer overrides.
Opposed State Housing Funds & Demands 8-30g Repeal
Melissa Lindsey opposed HB 8002 and voted against state housing investments, claiming state funding for housing and transit constitutes 'government overreach.' Lindsey's platform focuses entirely on demanding the outright repeal of CGS § 8-30g without offering any replacement funding, infrastructure aid, or strategy to address skyrocketing home prices and rents in District 24.
How Julie Kushner Delivers Real Housing Relief
From $50,000 Time To Own homebuyer grants (HB 8002) to Fair Rent Commissions and senior property tax relief, explore the concrete statutory programs supporting District 24 residents.
Time To Own First-Time Homebuyer Grants (HB 8002)
Julie Kushner: Secured recurring state bond funding and expanded Time To Own in the 2025 landmark housing bill (HB 8002), providing 0% forgivable down payment assistance.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Opposes state-backed down payment subsidies, arguing state lending interventions distort the private housing market.
Senior Pension Exemption & Property Tax Relief
Julie Kushner: Enacted 100% state tax elimination on senior pensions/401(k)s and expanded homeowner property tax circuit-breakers.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Offers no state senior tax relief programs; suggests town hall spending caps to restrain local mill rates.
Fair Rent Commissions & Junk Fee Bans (HB 8002)
Julie Kushner: Passed mandatory Fair Rent Commissions and enacted provisions in HB 8002 outlawing deceptive rental application fees and arbitrary price gouging.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Opposes government rent review boards and tenant regulations, characterizing them as infringements on private landlords.
Right-to-Counsel & Eviction Prevention
Julie Kushner: Funded legal representation for vulnerable tenants and mediated landlord-tenant resolutions to prevent homelessness.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Opposes state-funded tenant legal representation and advocates streamlining the eviction process for landlords.
Home Energy Audits & Weatherization Grants
Julie Kushner: Expanded state weatherization bonding and clean heat pump rebates that permanently cut residential electric and heating bills.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Proposes eliminating the public benefit charge, which directly finances residential weatherization and energy audit grants.
Downtown Transit Housing & Infrastructure (HB 8002)
Julie Kushner: Co-authored and passed HB 8002 to deliver dedicated state infrastructure and housing grants for Downtown Danbury transit-oriented revitalization and sewer upgrades.
✕Melissa Lindsey: Opposes state subsidies for high-density multi-family development, focusing strictly on suburban road maintenance.
Head-to-Head Deep Dive by Housing Issue
Select a housing topic below to compare candidate stances, voting actions, and district impact.
First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance (HB 8002)
Forgivable down payment grants ($25K–$50K) vs. no homeownership aid
With median home prices exceeding $450,000 in Western Connecticut and interest rates elevated, saving for a 20% down payment is the single biggest barrier preventing young families, nurses, and teachers from owning a home in District 24.
Senator Julie Kushner
Democrat / Working Families • Deputy Senate President Pro TemporeDelivers $25,000 to $50,000 in 100% forgivable home equity to qualifying local first-time homebuyer families.
Melissa Lindsey
Republican • Former New Fairfield First SelectmanWithout down payment grants, young working-class buyers cannot compete with institutional investors and all-cash purchasers in Fairfield County's fiercely competitive housing market.
Julie Kushner delivered real, life-changing equity grants ($25K–$50K) that have enabled local workers to buy homes in District 24. Lindsey offers zero assistance for first-time buyers.
Housing Reality Check: Delivery vs. Stated Positions
| Housing Pillar | Senator Julie Kushner (Record & HB 8002) | Melissa Lindsey (Platform) |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Homebuyers (HB 8002) | Time To Own ($25K–$50K Grants)Passed HB 8002 funding 0% forgivable equity loans for young families and teachers. | Opposes Homebuyer SubsidiesBelieves state assistance distorts mortgage markets; offers zero down payment aid. |
| Downtown Danbury Housing (HB 8002) | $15M+ State Grants via HB 8002Transit-oriented development, sewer upgrades, and mixed-income workforce housing. | Opposes State Multi-Family AidFocuses on suburban single-family roads; opposes state urban housing funds. |
| Suburban Zoning & 8-30g | Collaborative Planning GrantsHelps towns secure 8-30g moratoriums while protecting lake environments. | Total 8-30g Repeal RhetoricDemands repeal without any replacement plan for senior/workforce housing. |
| Senior Homeowners Aging in Place | 100% Pension Tax ExemptionExpanded elderly homeowner circuit breakers and home weatherization. | Local Spending Caps OnlyOffers no state senior tax relief or homeowner assistance programs. |
| Tenant Rights & Junk Fees (HB 8002) | Fair Rent & Junk Fee Bans (HB 8002)Outlawed hidden rental fees and passed Fair Rent Commissions to halt rent gouging. | Opposes Rent BoardsAdvocates landlord deregulation and opposes tenant legal defense aid. |
| Homelessness & Veterans | Millions for Shelters & VetsFunded Danbury emergency shelters and Permanent Supportive Housing. | Policing & Public Order FocusTreats homelessness as a policing issue; opposes suburban shelter services. |
Where the Candidates Stand on the Issues
An honest look at policy positions, actual legislative votes, and how their visions impact the families of District 24.
Delivered the largest middle-class income tax cut in Connecticut history; eliminated state income taxes on 100% of pensions and 401(k) distributions for seniors; capped local motor vehicle taxes; capped insulin at $25/mo to lower living costs.
Focuses primarily on eliminating the 'public benefits charge' on utility bills and opposing state climate fees (Climate Superfund HB 5156). Proposes cutting state fees without outlining structural tax cuts for working-class families.
While Melissa Lindsey points to utility surcharge frustrations, Senator Julie Kushner has delivered tangible, systemic financial relief to every household in the district: the largest personal income tax cut in state history, complete tax freedom on senior pensions and 401(k)s, and multi-million dollar school construction grants that directly prevented local property tax hikes in Danbury and New Fairfield.
How Senator Julie Kushner Delivers for District 24
From passing the nation-leading Paid Family & Medical Leave Act to securing historic 80% state aid for Danbury schools, Julie’s tenure has reshaped Connecticut for the better.
Perfect roll-call voting record for 5 consecutive years in the State Senate.
Secured an unprecedented 80% state reimbursement rate saving local taxpayers millions.
Utilized CT Paid Family & Medical Leave to heal from illness or care for newborns.
Named 'Environmental Champion' by CT League of Conservation Voters.
Landmark Legislative Victories Spearheaded by Julie Kushner
Landmark 2025 Connecticut Housing Omnibus Act (HB 8002)
Played a central Senate leadership role as Deputy President Pro Tempore in negotiating and passing Connecticut's historic 2025 Housing Omnibus Act (originally introduced as HB 8002). The landmark law delivered record state funding for transit-oriented workforce housing near downtown train corridors like Danbury, replenished the $50,000 Time To Own homebuyer grant fund, provided municipal infrastructure and sewer grants to encourage gentle housing growth, and enacted sweeping tenant protections against hidden rental junk fees and unfair evictions.
Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PA 19-25)
Spearheaded and passed landmark legislation providing up to 12 weeks of paid wage replacement for workers facing serious health conditions, caring for ill family members, or bonding with a newborn or adopted child. Today, over 100,000 Connecticut workers have utilized this safety net without risking financial ruin.
Historic Minimum Wage Increase to $15+ Pegged to Inflation
Authored and enacted the $15 minimum wage increase, with an automatic index to the federal Employment Cost Index so pay continues to keep pace with inflation (now $15.69+/hr in 2024–2026), lifting tens of thousands of local families out of poverty.
Danbury Career Academy & Historic ECS Education Aid
Secured an unprecedented 80% state construction reimbursement rate for the $164 million Danbury Career Academy, protecting Danbury property taxpayers while expanding career and technical education for 1,400+ high school students. Delivered record increases in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants to Danbury and New Fairfield.
Reproductive Freedom Defense Act (Safe Harbor Law)
Co-sponsored Connecticut’s groundbreaking Safe Harbor legislation protecting patients, doctors, and nurses from out-of-state legal persecution or civil penalties for providing legal reproductive and abortion healthcare services.
Prescription Drug & Insulin Price Caps (PA 20-4)
Capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $25 per month and non-insulin diabetes supplies at $100 per month, directly lowering life-or-death healthcare costs for thousands of diabetic residents.
Largest Personal Income Tax Cut & Senior Pension Exemption
Enacted the largest middle-class income tax rate reduction in state history (lowering marginal rates from 3% to 2% and 5% to 4.5%) and fully exempted 100% of retirement pensions and 401(k) distributions from state income tax for middle-class retirees.
Preserving Candlewood Lake & Banning Toxic PFAS
Earned a 100% environmental score from CTLCV. Secured state bonding to eradicate invasive aquatic weeds in Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond, banned toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals' in food packaging and firefighting foam, and funded clean drinking water infrastructure.
Worker Safety & First Responder PTSD Protections
Expanded workers’ compensation coverage to include PTSD and mental health support for police, firefighters, paramedics, and healthcare workers, while enhancing safety protections for assaulted teachers and healthcare staff.
Why Seniority & Committee Leadership Matter for Our District
As Deputy President Pro Tempore and Labor Committee Senate Co-Chair, Senator Julie Kushner sits at the decision-making table when the state budget is negotiated and bonding projects are allocated. This leadership ensures Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield receive their fair share of state resources every single year.
An Objective Review of Melissa Lindsey's Stated Platform
Examining the 4 core pillars highlighted on challenger Melissa Lindsey’s official campaign website, with practical tradeoffs for Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield families.
"Affordability" & Utility Charges
Advocates eliminating the "public benefits charge" on electric bills and opposes state climate fees on fossil fuel companies (HB 5156).
While utility charges are a visible friction point, the public benefits charge finances energy efficiency audits, low-income heating assistance, and solar incentives. Cutting these charges without replacement revenue would shift costs directly onto municipal budgets. Meanwhile, Lindsey offers no framework for income tax reductions or property tax offsets.
"Constitutional Freedoms" & Vaccines
Focuses on "Medical Autonomy" and "Religious Liberty," advocating to restore religious exemptions for school vaccines and opposing state public health standards.
Lindsey adopts slogans like "My Body, My Choice" solely in the context of resisting immunization requirements, while noticeably declining to support reproductive freedom, abortion access, or safe harbor protections for Connecticut women and healthcare providers.
"Parental Rights" & School Vouchers
Explicitly states on her campaign site: "How and where children are educated — I support school choice."
Voucher / school choice programs siphon essential public tax dollars out of Danbury and New Fairfield public classrooms and redirect them to private academies. In contrast, Senator Kushner secured a historic 80% state reimbursement rate for the $164M Danbury Career Academy to strengthen local public education.
"Public Safety" & Firearms
Supports the right to bear arms, opposes creating new gun regulations, and emphasizes reversing police accountability legislation.
Connecticut's evidence-based gun safety statutes (banning untraceable ghost guns, safe storage, and red flag laws) have made Connecticut one of the safest states in America. Opposing sensible gun safety measures runs contrary to the public safety interests of suburban and urban communities across District 24.
The Core Choice for Voters in 2026
While Melissa Lindsey offers standard challenger critiques regarding Hartford bureaucracy, Senator Julie Kushner has consistently used her seniority and majority leadership to deliver tangible legislative victories: paid family leave, insulin price caps, 100% senior retirement tax relief, and record school construction funds.
What Julie Kushner Has Delivered for Your Town
Select your municipality to see direct funding, tax relief, and capital projects secured for our local communities.
Danbury, Connecticut
Key Projects & Investments Secured by Senator Julie Kushner:
Where Do You Stand?
Answer 5 quick policy questions to see which candidate's legislative votes align with your family's priorities.
When a family welcomes a new baby or a worker faces cancer treatment, what should happen?
Connecticut 24th Senate District Voting Guide
Everything you need to know about casting your ballot in Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield.
General Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
All regular municipal polling places across Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield will be open for in-person voting.
14 Days of Early Voting
Available In-Person Prior to Election Day
Connecticut now offers 14 days of Early Voting prior to General Election Day. Registered voters can vote early at designated early voting locations in their town hall before November 3.
Absentee & Mail Voting
Expanded Access (HB 5001)
Expanded absentee voting available for all eligible CT voters (supported by Julie Kushner in HB 5001). Senator Julie Kushner supported legislation to expand accessible absentee voting for all eligible Connecticut voters.
Learn More About Both Campaigns
Connect directly with the candidates, volunteer for local grassroots efforts, or contribute to support their visions for Connecticut.