Stephanie Thomas (politician)

As a high school student, Thomas volunteered for organizations including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Special Olympics.{{Cite web |last=Shaiken |first=Ben |date=2018-09-26 |title=Stephanie Thomas |url=https://ctnonprofitalliance.org/stephanie-thomas/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=The Alliance |language=en-US}} Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from New York University. She later received a master's degree in nonprofit management from The New School.

Prior to becoming a state legislator, she was a consultant active in the nonprofit sector for 26 years. She founded and owns Stetwin Consulting, a Norwalk-based consulting firm that advises nonprofits on fundraising strategies.{{Cite web |last=Lebrun |first=Sylvan |date=2022-04-14 |title=State Rep. Stephanie Thomas runs for Secretary of the State with plans to engage voters |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/04/13/state-rep-stephanie-thomas-runs-for-secretary-of-the-state-with-plans-to-engage-voters%EF%BF%BC/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}} Prior to running for the state legislature, she was a member of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee.{{Cite web |last=Herve |first=Heather Borden |date=2018-06-25 |title=Newcomer Stephanie Thomas Challenges Gail Lavielle for State House Seat |url=https://goodmorningwilton.com/newcomer-stephanie-thomas-challenges-gail-lavielle-for-state-house-seat/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Good Morning Wilton |language=en-US}}

In 2018, Thomas ran to represent the 143rd district in the Connecticut House of Representatives.{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Pat |date=2018-07-05 |title=Thomas vs. Lavielle is official for the 143rd District |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/wilton/article/Thomas-vs-Lavielle-is-official-for-the-143rd-13046871.php |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=CTInsider}} She ran as a political newcomer against Republican incumbent Gail Lavielle, who had been expected to run unopposed up until the final days of the filing deadline. Her candidacy was supported by the Connecticut Working Families Party.{{Cite web |last=Hard |first=Jeanne |date=2018-10-26 |title=Stephanie Thomas Endorsed by CT Working Families |url=https://patch.com/connecticut/wilton/stephanie-thomas-endorsed-ct-working-families |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Wilton, CT Patch |language=en}}

Thomas decided to mount another candidacy to represent the district in the 2020 election. She announced her candidacy in February 2020, and expressed her intention to run against Lavielle.{{Cite web |last=Borden Herve |first=Heather |date=2020-02-06 |title=BREAKING NEWS: Stephanie Thomas to Challenge Gail Lavielle |url=https://goodmorningwilton.com/breaking-news-stephanie-thomas-to-challenge-gail-lavielle/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Good Morning Wilton |language=en-US}} However, Lavielle decided to forgo a bid for reelection, and supported fellow Republican Patrizia Zucaro's candidacy to succeed her.{{Cite web |last=Borden Herve |first=Heather |date=2020-04-21 |title=Westport Republican Lawyer Announces Run for Gail Lavielle's Seat |url=https://goodmorningwilton.com/republican-candidate-announced-to-run-for-gail-lavielles-seat/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Good Morning Wilton |language=en-US}}

Thomas ultimately won the general election against Zucaro{{cite web |date=28 September 2020 |title=Stephanie Thomas, Democrat, 143rd House District candidate |url=https://www.thehour.com/elections2/article/Stephanie-Thomas-Democrat-143rd-House-District-15597653.php |access-date=May 26, 2021 |website=thehour.com |publisher=The Norwalk Hour |ref=1}}{{cite web |last=Simmons |first=DJ |date=2020-11-04 |title=Thomas prevails in race for 143rd District |url=https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Zucaro-leading-143rd-race-with-absentee-ballots-15699299.php |access-date=2021-05-26 |website=Westport News |publisher= |ref=}} She took office on January 6, 2021. As a member of the state house, Thomas served as a member of both the Commerce and Transportation Committees, as well as the Government Administration and Elections Committee.{{cite web |last1=Ballotpedia |title=Stephanie Thomas (Connecticut) |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Stephanie_Thomas_(Connecticut) |access-date=May 26, 2021 |website=Ballotpedia |ref=1}}{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Connecticut State House of Representatives election, District 143}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Stephanie Thomas|votes=8,105|percentage=53.70|change=}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Patrizia Zucaro|votes=6,409|percentage=42.47}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent Party of Connecticut|candidate=Patrizia Zucaro|votes=321|percentage=2.13}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Working Families Party|candidate=Stephanie Thomas|votes=257|percentage=1.70}}{{Election box total no change|votes=15,092|percentage=100.00|change=}}{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

Thomas ran for the position of Secretary of the State in the 2022 election after incumbent Denise Merrill declined to run for a fourth term in office.{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Nancy Guenther |date=2021-12-01 |title=Norwalk State Rep. Thomas seeks CT Secretary of State endorsement {{!}} Nancy on Norwalk |url=https://www.nancyonnorwalk.com/norwalk-state-rep-thomas-seeks-ct-secretary-of-state-endorsement/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.nancyonnorwalk.com |language=en-US}} Thomas faced Maritza Bond, health director of New Haven, in the Democratic primary. Bond received the endorsements of several labor unions, while Thomas received the endorsement of the state Democratic Party.

File:Stephanie Thomas 2023 (cropped).jpg

During the primary campaign, Bond criticized Thomas for missing a legislative vote related to state employees' union contracts. She defended her record, noting the labor endorsements she received during her state house candidacy. She stated she missed the vote due to work-related duties at her day job leading a nonprofit.{{Cite web |last=Breen |first=Thomas |date=2022-08-09 |title=Stephanie Thomas Pops In |url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/stephanie_thomas_spotted |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=New Haven Independent}}

Thomas ultimately won the nomination against Bond.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-08-10 |title=Dem Stephanie Thomas, GOP's Dominic Ripini Win Secretary of the State Races |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/decision-2022/norwalk-state-rep-stephanie-thomas-wins-democratic-secretary-of-the-state-race/2849372/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}} In the general election, Thomas ran on a platform that supported expanding access to voting. Thomas won the general election against Republican opponent Dominic Rapini.{{cite web |last=Golvala |first=Katy |date=9 November 2022 |title=CT Secretary of the State election: Stephanie Thomas wins |url=https://ctmirror.org/2022/11/09/ct-election-results-secretary-of-state-stephanie-thomas/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=CTMirror}} Thomas' victory made her the first African-American to serve as Secretary of the State.{{Cite web |title=The Biography of Stephanie Thomas |url=https://portal.ct.gov/sots/capitol/about-stephanie-thomas/the-biography-of-stephanie-thomas |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en}}{{Election box begin|title=2022 Connecticut Secretary of the State election{{cite web |title=2022 General Election - Secretary of State|url=https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/view/34719|website=Connecticut Secretary of State}}}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Connecticut Democratic Party|candidate=Stephanie Thomas|votes=665,631|percentage=53.44%|change=-0.37%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Working Families Party|candidate=Stephanie Thomas|votes=22,083|percentage=1.77%|change=-0.30%}}

{{Election box winning candidate|party=Total|candidate=Stephanie Thomas|votes=687,714|percentage=55.22%|change=-0.67%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Connecticut Republican Party|candidate=Dominic Rapini|votes=532,218|percentage=42.73%|change=+0.27%}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent Party of Connecticut|candidate=Cynthia Jennings|votes=25,488|percentage=2.05%|change=N/A}}{{Election box total|votes=1,245,420|percentage=100.0%}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Connecticut Democratic Party}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Stephanie Thomas sworn in Secretary of the State of Connecticut.jpg

Following the controversial 2023 Bridgeport mayoral election, which was surrounded by allegations of voting irregularities, Thomas weighed in in support of proposed state legislation to increase election oversight.{{Cite web |last=Savitt |first=Michayla |date=2024-03-18 |title=CT Secretary of the State weighs in on election reform bills targeting absentee ballots |url=https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-03-18/ct-secretary-of-the-state-weighs-in-on-election-reform-bills-targeting-absentee-ballots |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Connecticut Public Radio |language=en}} In 2024, Thomas presided over the launch of the NextGen Elections program, which aims to recruit college students to become election workers.{{Cite web |last=Udoma |first=Ebong |date=2024-04-09 |title=CT's Secretary of the State wants to inspire college students to work elections |url=https://www.wshu.org/connecticut-news/2024-04-09/ct-college-students-election-workers-stephanie-thomas |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=WSHU |language=en}}

In 2024, Thomas testified before the state legislature on the need to protect election workers from security threats.{{Cite web |last=Asikainen |first=Izetta |last2=Aponte |first2=Coral |date=2024-03-14 |title=Committee Co-Chairs Focusing On Election Workers' Safety, Misinformation From AI |url=https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2024/03/14/elections-committee-focuses-on-election-workers-safety-use-of-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=CT News Junkie |language=en-US}} Under Thomas, the Secretary of the State's office has led an outreach campaign to help Connecticut residents identify election misinformation and disinformation.{{Cite web |last=Zbierski |first=Dalton |date=2024-09-10 |title=Office of the Secretary of the State says election security is its top priority |url=https://www.fox61.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/office-of-secretary-of-the-state-says-election-security-is-its-top-priority/520-512e7ae2-3bc1-40df-9732-c9b8a2e3a6a1 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=fox61.com |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Thomas Government website]
• [https://votestephaniethomas.com/ Campaign website]

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{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State of Connecticut|years=2023–present}}

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{{U.S. State Secretaries of State}}

{{Current Connecticut statewide political officials}}

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Category:1960s births

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century African-American women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:African-American state legislators in Connecticut

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives

Category:New York University alumni

Category:Secretaries of the state of Connecticut

Category:Women state legislators in Connecticut

Category:The New School alumni