The Ballot Brief
Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut

Connecticut Senate District 35

2 candidates are tracked for Connecticut Senate District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ethan Werstler and Jeffrey Gordon. Candidate information follows official Capitol Planning Region election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ethan Werstler (Democratic), Jeffrey Gordon (Republican) are the major-party nominees for Connecticut Senate District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Listed from the party endorsement and nomination certificates filed with the Secretary of the State and the August 11 primary results; minor-party lines and petitioning candidates are certified separately and are not yet reflected here. Jeffrey Gordon is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's member list. Connecticut nominates by party convention; an August 11, 2026 primary was held only where a challenger qualified, per the Secretary of the State.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Jeffrey Gordon, is on the ballot.

Connecticut › Capitol Planning Region › Connecticut Senate District 35

Ethan Werstler

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Wants to bring new leadership to Northeastern Connecticut, which he says has been left behind.
  • Wants to drive economic growth and expand educational access in the district.

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ethan Werstler is a small business owner and associate at a Hartford government affairs firm, and a fourth generation UConn graduate and third generation Woodstock resident, per The Chronicle. He previously ran for state representative in the 52nd district and served as a field organizer for Congressman Joe Courtney's campaign, per the same source.

Jeffrey Gordon

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Jeffrey Gordon, of Woodstock, is a medical doctor first elected to the Senate in 2022 and is one of two physicians in the Connecticut legislature, per his official Senate page. He is the Republican leader on the Planning and Development and Veterans' Affairs committees and co-chairman of the Rural Caucus, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Connecticut Senate District 35 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Connecticut Senate District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ethan Werstler and Jeffrey Gordon. Candidate information follows official Capitol Planning Region election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Connecticut Senate District 35 election in Connecticut?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Connecticut are on the Connecticut election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Capitol Planning Region ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Capitol Planning Region and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Connecticut election office, or see the full Capitol Planning Region sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Capitol Planning Region ballot

58 tracked races in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Connecticut House District 3Connecticut House District 4Connecticut House District 5See all 58 Capitol Planning Region races
Candidate profiles
Ethan Werstler, full profileJeffrey Gordon, full profileOfficial Connecticut election office