STATEMENT BY MAYOR ELICKER ON SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE MARTIN LOONEY’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION IN 2026

[NEW HAVEN, CT] - On Saturday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) announced he will not seek reelection to the Connecticut State Senate in 2026, marking the end of his 46-year career in the Connecticut General Assembly. Following Senator Looney's announcement, Mayor Justin Elicker released the following statement:

"No one has worked harder or delivered more for New Haven over as many years than Marty Looney.

Senator Looney is a passionate, principled, pragmatic progressive who has served our city and state with dedication and distinction over his 46-year career in the state legislature, including as the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader and longest-serving Senate President.

From raising the minimum wage for residents, to increasing state PILOT funds and other critical state revenue for the city, to securing millions upon millions of dollars for countless infrastructure projects, Marty Looney has delivered for New Haven, improved the lives of generations of New Haveners, and moved our state forward.

Senator Looney is a son of the Elm City who has left an indelible mark on both the City of New Haven and the State of Connecticut. On behalf of a grateful city, I thank Senator Looney for his lifetime of service, and wish him, his wife Ellen and the entire Looney family the very best in life's next chapter."

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Press Contact:

Lenny Speiller | (203) 725-4249; [email protected]