South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut

Connecticut Senate District 17

2 candidates are tracked for Connecticut Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jorge Cabrera and John-Paul Dorais. Candidate information follows official South Central Connecticut Planning Region election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jorge Cabrera (Democratic), John-Paul Dorais (Republican) are the major-party nominees for Connecticut Senate District 17 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. Jorge Cabrera 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, Jorge Cabrera, is on the ballot.

Connecticut › South Central Connecticut Planning Region › Connecticut Senate District 17

Jorge Cabrera

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Lower electric bills and childcare costs for families
Secure increased state funding for local schools
Take on insurance and pharmaceutical companies to lower health care costs and cap prescription drug prices

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jorge Cabrera is the Democratic state senator for Connecticut's 17th District, representing Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge, per his campaign site. He was first elected to the State Senate in 2020 after nearly a decade working as a researcher, wage enforcement specialist and organizer for the Carpenter's Union, per his campaign site. Cabrera later worked as an international representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers union and currently works for IUPAT DC 11, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

John-Paul Dorais

Republican

Top priorities

Protect families and strengthen local towns

Per the campaign site.

Biography

John-Paul Dorais is a candidate for Connecticut Senate District 17, per his campaign site. He has served as a police detective for 13 years while also operating as a small business owner, per his campaign site. Dorais has served on the Prospect Planning & Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals and coached youth and high school basketball, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Connecticut Senate District 17 in 2026?

When is the Connecticut Senate District 17 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 South Central Connecticut 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 South Central Connecticut 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your South Central Connecticut Planning Region ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Connecticut House District 82 Connecticut House District 83 Connecticut House District 84 See all 34 South Central Connecticut Planning Region races

Candidate profiles

Jorge Cabrera, full profile John-Paul Dorais, full profile Official Connecticut election office