Stephanie Thomas (politician)

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Stephanie Thomas
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.jpg
Thomas in 2023
75th Secretary of the State of Connecticut
Assumed office
January 4, 2023
Democratic Stephanie Thomas665,63153.44%−0.37%
Working Families Stephanie Thomas22,0831.77%−0.30%
Total Stephanie Thomas 687,714 55.22% -0.67%
Republican Dominic Rapini532,21842.73%+0.27%
Independent Party Cynthia Jennings25,4882.05%N/A
Total votes1,245,420 100.0%
Democratic hold

Tenure

Thomas being sworn in as Secretary of the State on January 4, 2023 Stephanie Thomas sworn in Secretary of the State of Connecticut.jpg
Thomas being sworn in as Secretary of the State on January 4, 2023

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. [21] In 2024, Thomas presided over the launch of the NextGen Elections program, which aims to recruit college students to become election workers. [22]

In 2024, Thomas testified before the state legislature on the need to protect election workers from security threats. [23] Under Thomas, the Secretary of the State's office has led an outreach campaign to help Connecticut residents identify election misinformation and disinformation. [24]

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References

  1. Bergman, Julia (August 6, 2022). "Personality and experience separate Democrats in secretary of the state race". CT Insider. Retrieved April 20, 2023. The race between Bond, 45, of New Haven, and Thomas, 53, of Norwalk is about who can turn out more voters to the polls during a sleepy August primary.
  2. "Stephanie Thomas (Connecticut)".
  3. 1 2 3 Rodriguez, Barbara (2023-02-16). "CT approved early voting. Here's how the secretary of state wants to make it happen". CT Mirror. Retrieved 2024-09-13. Thomas, a Democrat and former state lawmaker who campaigned on expanding voting access, defeated Republican Dominic Rapini, who questioned the 2020 election results and claimed without proof that voter fraud is rampant. In the process, Thomas made history as the first Black person to be elected to the post.
  4. Shaiken, Ben (2018-09-26). "Stephanie Thomas". The Alliance. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  5. Lebrun, Sylvan (2022-04-14). "State Rep. Stephanie Thomas runs for Secretary of the State with plans to engage voters". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  6. 1 2 Herve, Heather Borden (2018-06-25). "Newcomer Stephanie Thomas Challenges Gail Lavielle for State House Seat". Good Morning Wilton. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  7. Tomlinson, Pat (2018-07-05). "Thomas vs. Lavielle is official for the 143rd District". CTInsider. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  8. Hard, Jeanne (2018-10-26). "Stephanie Thomas Endorsed by CT Working Families". Wilton, CT Patch. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  9. Borden Herve, Heather (2020-02-06). "BREAKING NEWS: Stephanie Thomas to Challenge Gail Lavielle". Good Morning Wilton. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  10. Borden Herve, Heather (2020-04-21). "Westport Republican Lawyer Announces Run for Gail Lavielle's Seat". Good Morning Wilton. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  11. "Stephanie Thomas, Democrat, 143rd House District candidate". thehour.com. The Norwalk Hour. 28 September 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  12. Simmons, DJ (2020-11-04). "Thomas prevails in race for 143rd District". Westport News. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  13. Ballotpedia. "Stephanie Thomas (Connecticut)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. Chapman, Nancy Guenther (2021-12-01). "Norwalk State Rep. Thomas seeks CT Secretary of State endorsement | Nancy on Norwalk". www.nancyonnorwalk.com. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  15. Breen, Thomas (2022-08-09). "Stephanie Thomas Pops In". New Haven Independent. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  16. "Dem Stephanie Thomas, GOP's Dominic Ripini Win Secretary of the State Races". NBC Connecticut. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  17. Golvala, Katy (9 November 2022). "CT Secretary of the State election: Stephanie Thomas wins". CTMirror. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  18. "The Biography of Stephanie Thomas". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  19. "2022 General Election - Secretary of State". Connecticut Secretary of State.
  20. Savitt, Michayla (2024-03-18). "CT Secretary of the State weighs in on election reform bills targeting absentee ballots". Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  21. Udoma, Ebong (2024-04-09). "CT's Secretary of the State wants to inspire college students to work elections". WSHU. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  22. Asikainen, Izetta; Aponte, Coral (2024-03-14). "Committee Co-Chairs Focusing On Election Workers' Safety, Misinformation From AI". CT News Junkie. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  23. Zbierski, Dalton (2024-09-10). "Office of the Secretary of the State says election security is its top priority". fox61.com. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Connecticut
2023–present
Incumbent