The economy is not broken for everyone. It works just fine for the ultra-rich, corporate lobbyists, and the politicians who protect them. But for working families, it feels like the deck is stacked against us. Wages have stagnated for decades while costs for housing, healthcare, and everyday essentials have skyrocketed. Families are working harder than ever, yet they’re falling behind. That’s not by accident — it’s the result of policies written to favor the wealthy and well-connected over regular people.
We need an economy that rewards work, not just wealth. That starts with raising wages, protecting union rights, and closing the tax loopholes that let billionaires and multinational corporations off the hook while working people foot the bill. It also means ensuring that jobs come with good benefits, secure retirement, and predictable schedules so people can plan their lives. If you work hard, you should be able to build a good life, support your family, and retire with dignity. That’s not too much to ask. It should be the bare minimum.

No one working full time should live in poverty. Yet too many of our neighbors earn wages so low that a single emergency could push their families to the brink. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is a starvation wage. We should raise it to $15 an hour nationwide, index it to inflation, and make sure hard work here in Connecticut is rewarded with dignity and stability.
I will fight to protect and expand the right to form unions and bargain collectively for better pay and working conditions. That means making it easier for workers to organize through majority sign-up, ending so-called “right to work” laws that weaken unions, and ensuring independent contractors and non-traditional employees are included in workplace protections.
We must build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest one percent. That starts by putting more power in the hands of working people and ensuring every job in our state is a good job.

The United States should lead the world in delivering the next generation of medical breakthroughs. From mRNA vaccines to treatments like semiglutide and tirzepatide, science can save lives and improve health for millions. Too often, progress is blocked by corporate interests that put profits over patients and by the current administration's political appointees who put their agendas above science.
Even when breakthroughs happen, drug companies set prices so high that working families, seniors, and people on fixed incomes cannot afford them. I will fight to cap prices, allow Medicare to negotiate costs, break monopolies, and ensure our regulatory system serves patients, not corporate bottom lines.
Innovation should save lives and be available to everyone.

Housing costs are rising faster than wages and too many families are being priced out of the places they call home. Rent takes up more and more of each paycheck, and the dream of owning a home feels further out of reach every year. This is not just a personal struggle for families. It is a drag on our entire economy and a barrier to building stable and vibrant neighborhoods.
We need to treat housing as a basic foundation for a healthy community, not just another investment market for big corporations. That means increasing the housing supply through smart development, investing in affordable housing, and protecting renters from predatory practices. It also means cracking down on corporate landlords and speculators who buy up homes and drive up prices. Everyone should have the chance to live in the community they love without being priced out.

I built my business from a high school idea and a pickup truck. I know what small business owners deal with every day. The endless paperwork. The risk of putting everything on the line. The pressure to keep going when the odds are stacked against you. And I know how many working families count on small businesses for good jobs, reliable paychecks, and a sense of community.
Small businesses are not just part of the economy. They are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. They sponsor local sports teams, donate to community events, and know their customers by name. But too often, they are competing against giant corporations with deeper pockets, more resources, and the ability to undercut prices until local competition disappears.
I will work to make it easier to start and grow a small business by cutting unnecessary red tape, expanding access to affordable loans and grants, and simplifying the tax code so it does not punish local entrepreneurs. I will also push to end corporate practices that drive small competitors out of business and to ensure fair access to markets for local producers and service providers.
When small businesses thrive, they create jobs that stay in the community, keep wealth circulating locally, and give people more control over their economic future. We need leaders who understand that—and I will bring that fight to Washington.

Child care is not a luxury — it’s a necessity for working families. But right now, the cost of care can equal a second rent or mortgage payment. For some parents, especially mothers, the price tag forces them out of the workforce entirely, which hurts family income and the broader economy. When families can’t find affordable, high-quality care, children miss out on early learning opportunities, parents are stretched thin, and employers lose workers.
We need a national commitment to affordable child care, starting with investments that expand access, improve quality, and support the workforce that makes it possible. That means better pay and training for child care providers, subsidies that bring costs down for families, and expanded pre-K programs so every child starts school ready to learn. No parent should have to choose between their paycheck and their child’s well-being.

Connecticut families already pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country. Buried in those bills is a “public benefits” charge that subsidizes the Millstone nuclear plant — even though Connecticut produces more electricity than we use. That extra power is sent to other states, but we are the ones paying part of the bill.
Our state is already doing its part by hosting this facility. We should not also be subsidizing energy that primarily benefits others. At a time when housing, groceries, and medical bills are stretching budgets, every extra charge matters. I will work to end this unfair arrangement and make sure Connecticut ratepayers only pay for the energy and infrastructure that serve our communities.

Local news is disappearing, and too many communities no longer get reliable coverage of school boards, town halls, public safety, or local government. Since COVID, the decline of newspapers and local stations has accelerated, and recent federal funding reductions have put even more outlets at risk. That means fewer reporters holding local leaders accountable and less information for people who need it most.
I will work to restore public media funding, create federal grants to support local newsrooms, and offer tax incentives that help independent and community-based outlets survive. I will also push to protect press freedom, expand access to public records, and stop corporate consolidation that wipes out local coverage. Every community deserves a strong, independent local press that tells the stories that matter most.

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