Candidate Profile: Joe Zullo, 99th State House District

EAST HAVEN, CT — The 2026 election is heating up in Connecticut, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Eyes are primarily focused on the Connecticut gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats are up for grabs as well.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate. Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Joe Zullo is running for reelection to the House of Representatives in the 99th District.

Candidate's Name:

Joe Zullo

What office are you seeking?

State Representative, 99th District

Age:

41

District:

99

Party:

Republican (cross endorsed on the Independent Party of CT line as well)

Campaign website:

https://www.joezullo.com

Occupation:

Attorney

Family:

Married to my wife, Danelle. Father to one "fur baby," a 14-year old toy poodle named "Ace."

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No

Previous public office:

Incumbent State Rep. - Elected in 2019; former Town Attorney for the Town of East Haven (2011 to 2019)

Why are you seeking this office?

For the past 7 years, I have been a strong voice in favor of common sense policies to make our State more affordable for families, small businesses, and retirees. I've supported policies to retain and expand local control of housing and zoning decisions, along with policies to restore law and order and improve public safety. Nevertheless, Hartford's supermajority continues to make our government bigger and more expensive. Hartford's supermajority continues to strip towns like East Haven of control of housing and zoning decisions. And Hartford's supermajority refuses to take the cuffs off our police departments and allow them to do their jobs. I am running because East Haven residents are not being served well by the policies coming out of our legislature, and they need a strong voice pushing back on those policies and fighting for common sense. I'm running to continue to be that strong voice for our community.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

Affordability. Period. And we can address it immediately—in both small and big ways. We can roll back the "highway use tax" passed years ago by Hartford's supermajority, which adds an additional tax to every single item that passes by truck over our roadways and which ends up being paid by taxpayers and consumers.

We can and should also rescind every single charge that makes up the "public benefits charge" on our electric bills and put each charge before a vote of the legislature. When legislators are held accountable for those charges, many will disappear or end up revised, saving taxpayers money every single month on their electric bills.

We also need better energy policy here in Connecticut. Residents are struggling with skyrocketing electric and utility bills. I support working with our federal government to expand nuclear capacity here in Connecticut to meet the energy needs of our State and reduce costs on rate-payers. We also need to stop subsidizing big data centers with tax breaks, make sure they pay their fair share, and instead pass the tax savings that have been given to those conglomerates onto our families and small businesses.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?

Energy costs go hand-in-hand with the question of affordability. In addition to rolling back the public benefits charge and expanding our nuclear capacity, we should also be working to improve access to natural gas here in Connecticut. Our access is constrained, which artificially increases those costs for our rate payers and consumers. I would support a blue ribbon commission to study short-term and long-term solutions for expanding access to natural gas to ease those costs for rate payers.

Additionally, we can and should work with communities to participate in "virtual net metering" and develop solar and other alternative energy capabilities. Right now, although they don't always take advantage of it, towns can strategically develop "solar parks," generate energy, and use that energy to offset usage by town facilities, usually passing substantial savings onto taxpayers in the form of lower operational costs. East Haven, between 2019 and 2020, did this on a small scale and we'd be well-served to explore whether there are other opportunities for this in town.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?

Again, Connecticut is a "tax and spend" state. Every year, our budget grows, and residents are asked to pay more. Hartford's supermajority, years ago, promised a "debt diet." Like so many people's New Year's diet promises, it went out the window quickly. Debt service is a substantial driver of costs in Connecticut, and I'd support bipartisan debt guardrails, just like the fiscal guardrails we currently have, to ensure more responsible usage of the state's credit card so we can reign in debt and pass that savings onto taxpayers.

Additionally, I would also support expanding funding for non-profits with some of the savings from a new debt diet. Believe it or not, this can be a money-saver! Non-profits perform vital public functions, almost always at a fraction of the cost that state government can do so, and usually in areas where state government is not well-equipped to provide services. Our nonprofits can and should be partners in expanding services efficiently, reducing the size of government, and making our state more affordable.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I'm a bipartisan leader. I'm proud to have worked alongside our Mayor to secure over $5 million in grants, funding, and authorizations for the Town of East Haven since 2020, including most recently over $1.5 million to expand and upgrade the Overbrook Early Learning Center.

I always show up. This job, although deemed "part-time," is a full-time commitment. In 2026, I had a perfect voting record in our legislature and didn't miss a single vote. And here in East Haven, I always show up—whether it's to support our students, to protest alongside residents, or to welcome and advocate for new businesses here in town. This job requires determined commitment, and I've lived out that commitment the last 7 years.

Finally, I stood up for East Haven and small towns on the issue of local control. Over the last 2 years, when Hartford's supermajority initially tried to pass omnibus bills to rip local control of housing decisions from towns, I stood at the forefront of the charge that ultimately forced the governor to veto one of the bills. This job requires conviction, and I've shown I'll stand up for what's right.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

It has been and remains a privilege to serve as our state representative and be our community's voice in Hartford. It's an awesome responsibility.

I work with anyone, and I work for everyone. I don't believe any one person or party has a monopoly on good ideas, and my record, both locally and at the state level, demonstrates a commitment to working cooperatively to get things done.

I was born and raised in East Haven; I live here; and I own a business here. My roots run deep throughout our community, and I care deeply about our residents—not just because it's my job, but because that love is a part of how I was brought up here and who I am. This job is about service for me, and it's always been about giving back to the community I love and that has always supported me.