The Ballot Brief
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut

Connecticut Senate District 12

2 candidates are tracked for Connecticut Senate District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Christine Cohen and Lisa Deane. Candidate information follows official Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Christine Cohen (Democratic), Lisa Deane (Republican) are the major-party nominees for Connecticut Senate District 12 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. Christine Cohen 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, Christine Cohen, is on the ballot.

Connecticut › Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region › Connecticut Senate District 12

Christine Cohen

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Focus areas include environmental protection, gun violence prevention, healthcare access and economic development; she co-chairs the legislature's Coastal Caucus and Bioscience Caucus.

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Christine Cohen is a small business owner who founded Cohen's Bagel Company after working for Stanley Black & Decker, per her campaign site. She has served three terms representing Connecticut Senate District 12 and founded the bipartisan Coastal Caucus while chairing the Environment Committee, per her campaign site. The site's donation link and copyright date reference the 2024 cycle, so it could not be confirmed as her current 2026 campaign presence. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Lisa Deane

Republican

Top priorities
  • Supports sales and income tax relief, a state child tax deduction, reduced small business filing fees, and increased investment in police recruitment.

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Lisa Deane co-owns Brother Mike's Restaurant in Madison and founded demandZERO, a nonprofit focused on combating drug trafficking and substance-abuse education, per her campaign site. She volunteers with Meals on Wheels and received a 2023 Hero Volunteer Award from the Madison Foundation, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Connecticut Senate District 12 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Connecticut Senate District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Christine Cohen and Lisa Deane. Candidate information follows official Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Connecticut Senate District 12 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region ballot

16 tracked races in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Connecticut Senate District 20Connecticut Senate District 33Connecticut Senate District 34See all 16 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region races
Candidate profiles
Christine Cohen, full profileLisa Deane, full profileOfficial Connecticut election office