How Millennial Rep. Devin Carney is Building Bipartisan Coalitions in Connecticut

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By Sarah Evans

“I felt it was important for me as a younger person to change things up in Hartford, to provide a different perspective, and to fight for issues that are important to the millennial generation.”

Since his election to the Connecticut General Assembly in 2015 at age 30, Rep. Devin Carney (R-CT) has dedicated his political career to passing legislation that makes his state a better place to live and work, particularly for younger people.

“I’m able to understand what millennials are going through, and to a degree some of Generation Z,” Carney said. “I have student loans, I understand the issues the economy has on folks who haven’t yet bought a house, or who haven’t yet started a family … and good understanding of how the pandemic affected my generation and the one below me.”

Carney sees being in the state’s political minority not as an obstacle—there are 98 Democrats and 53 Republicans in the Connecticut House of Representatives—but as extra motivation to build connections across the aisle and support coalition-building along generational lines and common interests, rather than party identity.

When it comes to bridging America’s political divisions, Carney considers himself a hopeful realist. “I don’t know if that’s going to change anytime soon,” he said, adding, “The only way it will change is if elected leaders like myself want it to.”

In 2021, Carney received Future Caucus’ Rising Star Award, which recognizes state lawmakers who have made an outstanding effort transcend political polarization and consistently taken initiative to shepherd bipartisan legislation on critical issues. He is especially proud of his efforts to support families and children, which include co-sponsoring bills to improve nursing and home-based care for seniors, increase access to nutrition programs for children and families, and provide much-needed support to early-childhood educators.

“Family is so important to me. I grew up with a single mom who at one time had to work three jobs,” he said. “Giving everyone an opportunity to succeed is a huge part of my values … and I want to make sure that every young person does have those opportunities in the state of Connecticut.”