Meriden House Rep, Cheshire Councilman to Face Off in Senate Primary

Story by Luke Feeney, CT Examiner

May 29, 2026

MERIDEN — The August primary between Gov. Ned Lamont and State Rep. Josh Elliot isn’t the only statewide Democratic contest pitting an established officeholder against a challenger from the party’s left. State Rep. Jack Fazzino and Cheshire Town Council Vice Chair Jim Jinks vie to represent Meriden, Cheshire, Middletown and Middlefield in the state Senate. 

The 13th Senate District seat opened up following the retirement of Democratic State Sen. Jan Hochadel, who has held the seat since 2023. Both candidates spoke with CT Examiner this week about their background, legislative priorities, and outlook on the state Democratic Party. 

Fazzino, a 31-year-old Meriden resident, was first elected to represent Meriden, Berlin and Cheshire in the state House in 2022. Fazzino graduated from the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, and Boston College Law School. He practices law with Shipman & Goodwin LLP in downtown Hartford.

“I know firsthand how rising costs, inflation combined with federal cuts put our cities in a very challenging spot right now. I think we need people my age,” in government, he said.

Jinks, 54, is a youth sports coach, founder of Bike Cheshire, a former Planning & Zoning Commission member and serving his fourth term on the Cheshire Town Council. A Cheshire resident, Jinks received support from 28% of the delegates at the Democratic State Senate Convention on May 18 to qualify for the Aug. 11 primary.

“I have a lot of municipal experience that I’m bringing to the table, and a sensitivity for what the decisions that get made in Hartford or numbers impact the kitchen tables locally,” Jinks said.

There are several areas where the two hold similar beliefs. Both agreed that families throughout the state need help to confront rising costs for gas, food and electricity. They also criticized the Trump administration for its immigration enforcement policy and vowed to protect immigrant communities within the state.

As far as key priorities, however, Fazzino wants to focus on supporting local nonprofits and increasing state investments in health care, mental health services and food programs.

“We need to prioritize the Connecticut way. What makes Connecticut politics so unique is that we actually do have a great deal of bipartisanship here,” he said.  

Jinks, according to his campaign website, is focused on affordability, advancing progressive ideas on sustainability, renewable energy and public health policies. He also said he supports increasing taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents. 

“It would go a long way toward helping people that really need our support,” he added.

Regarding the upcoming primary between Lamont and Elloit, the two candidates held differing views.

Fazzino said he supports Lamont and expressed satisfaction with the current Democratic leadership in the state Legislature. 

“All that work really means a lot, that is the product of what happens when Democrats work together,” he said. 

While Jinks said he was more, “ideologically aligned,” with Elliot, he declined to share who would vote for in the August primary. 

“I’m not ready to say that, but, but I do think that it’s important that we have this conversation as a party,” he said.

Jinks added that while he, “would take our party over the other party any day,” he also argued there is more that can be done, such as expanding the state’s renter and child tax credits.

“People are going to eventually get fed up with one party rule, as they always do. We need to take advantage of the power that we have now and get these things done now rather than kind of be back on our heels at some later point,” Jinks said.

Connecticut’s Republican Party has not yet announced a candidate for the seat yet, and did not respond to a request for comment.  

Fazzino argued he had the right combination of youth and experience for the job. 

“I don’t think you get many candidates who offer both,” he said. “That’s what makes me the best possible choice in this race is because I blend the energy of a young person with the experience of someone who has been doing this job for four years.”

Jinks, who ran against State Rep. Craig Fishbein in 2020 but lost by seven votes, said his outside perspective, as well as winning multiple terms on a local council seat in a traditionally Republican-dominated area, make him the strongest candidate.

“I’m not a career politician. I’m not someone that’s looking to do this, just kind of taking the next step up. I really want to get things done and get big things done,” he said.

Read the article online at: https://ctexaminer.com/2026/05/29/meriden-house-rep-cheshire-councilman-to-face-off-in-senate-primary/