Photo: cthousegop.comCT · Officeholder
RState Representative · District 86
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Connecticut House District 86
Vincent Candelora is the Connecticut House Republican Leader and represents the 86th District, serving North Branford, Durham, East Haven and Guilford; he was elected to his 10th term in November 2024.[1]
He first became House Republican Leader in 2020, after serving as a Deputy House Republican Leader, and before the legislature served three terms on North Branford's Town Council, one as deputy mayor.[1] He helps run two family-owned businesses, a manufacturing company and a sportsplex, and has practiced municipal and transactional law.[1] He graduated from Connecticut College in 1992 and from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State in 1995, and is married with three children.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-19.
Vin Candelora is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Connecticut House District 86 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
To clarify and amend certain statutes for traffic stops concerning properly displaying a number plate, lamps and illuminating devices, windshields and registration.
May 8, 2025 · Failed 63–79 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To enact statutory provisions providing for the accountable administration and enforcement of law in the state.
Apr 30, 2026 · Failed 64–86 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
Apr 22, 2026 · Passed 86–64 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION.
To (1) replace "marijuana" with "cannabis", (2) redefine "cannabis", (3) authorize qualifying out-of-state patients to access the state's palliative use cannabis market, (4) provide that no producer shall be required to staff any transport vehicle with more than one employee, (5) establish a cannabis regulatory working group, (6) prohibit a retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility from borrowing money or receiving credit from a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer for more than thirty days, (7) authorize the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to order a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer to issue a written notice of delinquency for any delinquent retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility, (8) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to (A) establish additional licenses and endorsements, and (B) allow for sales of additional palliative use cannabis products to consumers at retailers and hybrid retailers, (9) require the Social Equity Council to review and approve certain sales or transfers involving cannabis establishment licenses issued to social equity applicants, (10) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Social Equity Council to submit policies and procedures to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to consumer protection, (11) provide that no retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility shall retain any personal data obtained for purposes of age verification for longer than twenty-four hours, (12) eliminate provisions requiring a hybrid retailer to (A) maintain a pharmacist at its hybrid retailer location, (B) offer pharmacist consultations, and (C) maintain a private consultation space for pharmacists, (13) allow edible cannabis products to exceed five milligrams of THC in certain circumstances, (14) eliminate the dosage, potency and concentration limits for cannabis concentrates, cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material, (15) provide that cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material shall not be required to undergo stability testing once it is in its final packaging, (16) authorize remediation of cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material by exposure to ionizing radiation and require a disclosure label concerning such remediation, (17) authorize the inclusion of additional branding and colors on cannabis packaging, (18) provide that certain information and documents concerning a material change to a cannabis establishment shall be public records, (19) increase the permissible amount of THC in infused beverages and high-THC beverages, (20) authorize out-of-state laboratories to test infused beverages, (21) modify the labeling requirements applicable to infused beverages, (22) authorize infused beverage wholesalers to sell infused beverages to additional liquor permittees, (23) establish a commercial extractor license, (24) establish an infused beverage on premises consumption endorsement for cer
Apr 20, 2026 · Failed 69–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Reallocates state funds; creates a state Seal of Civics Education for diplomas; limits UConn Health neuromodulation center treatment to disabled veterans; bars active-assailant simulations in school crisis drills; creates a 15-member working group on antisemitism in schools.
Feb 26, 2026 · Failed 54–91 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE.
Moves $3 million from the General Fund to a new emergency nonprofit assistance account, if the April 2025 revenue statement shows a surplus, and awards grants of $62,500 to $800,000 to 24 named nonprofits plus $112,500 for administration.
Mar 5, 2025 · Passed 92–51 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION.
To (1) replace "marijuana" with "cannabis", (2) redefine "cannabis", (3) authorize qualifying out-of-state patients to access the state's palliative use cannabis market, (4) provide that no producer shall be required to staff any transport vehicle with more than one employee, (5) establish a cannabis regulatory working group, (6) prohibit a retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility from borrowing money or receiving credit from a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer for more than thirty days, (7) authorize the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to order a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer to issue a written notice of delinquency for any delinquent retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility, (8) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to (A) establish additional licenses and endorsements, and (B) allow for sales of additional palliative use cannabis products to consumers at retailers and hybrid retailers, (9) require the Social Equity Council to review and approve certain sales or transfers involving cannabis establishment licenses issued to social equity applicants, (10) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Social Equity Council to submit policies and procedures to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to consumer protection, (11) provide that no retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility shall retain any personal data obtained for purposes of age verification for longer than twenty-four hours, (12) eliminate provisions requiring a hybrid retailer to (A) maintain a pharmacist at its hybrid retailer location, (B) offer pharmacist consultations, and (C) maintain a private consultation space for pharmacists, (13) allow edible cannabis products to exceed five milligrams of THC in certain circumstances, (14) eliminate the dosage, potency and concentration limits for cannabis concentrates, cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material, (15) provide that cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material shall not be required to undergo stability testing once it is in its final packaging, (16) authorize remediation of cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material by exposure to ionizing radiation and require a disclosure label concerning such remediation, (17) authorize the inclusion of additional branding and colors on cannabis packaging, (18) provide that certain information and documents concerning a material change to a cannabis establishment shall be public records, (19) increase the permissible amount of THC in infused beverages and high-THC beverages, (20) authorize out-of-state laboratories to test infused beverages, (21) modify the labeling requirements applicable to infused beverages, (22) authorize infused beverage wholesalers to sell infused beverages to additional liquor permittees, (23) establish a commercial extractor license, (24) establish an infused beverage on premises consumption endorsement for cer
Apr 20, 2026 · Failed 69–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
To protect patients' access to reproductive health care.
May 1, 2025 · Failed 61–85 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To provide that no manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist, prescribing practitioner or pharmacy shall sell, dispense, transfer or deliver, as applicable, any drug or device with actual knowledge that the person purchasing or receiving such drug or device directly from such manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist, prescribing practitioner or pharmacy intends to use such drug or device to execute a sentence of death.
Apr 20, 2026 · Passed 85–58 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AND THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS PERSONS.
To lower housing costs, increase housing options and better support homeless persons.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 84–67 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING GROWTH.
Nov 12, 2025 · Failed 50–93 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAJORITY LEADER'S ROUNDTABLE.
To implement the recommendations of the Majority Leader's Roundtable on Affordable Housing and make other changes to the affordable housing statutes.
May 1, 2026 · Passed 89–58 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION.
To (1) require the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to develop successor programs for the RRES, NRES and SCEF programs, (2) require a study of consumer protections for solar photovoltaic system leasing and sales, (3) allow the use of portable solar photovoltaic systems, (4) require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to implement an agrivoltaics program, and (5) require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to establish a pilot program concerning the installation of solar photovoltaic systems in environmental justice communities.
May 1, 2026 · Failed 49–90 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING WELL WATER QUALITY.
To allow (1) the Commissioner of Public Health to implement policies and procedures necessary to administer provisions relating to cross connections between water supplies while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures as regulations, and (2) a local health authority or the Department of Public Health to disclose the results or information obtained from an investigation of the results of a water quality test on a private well serving a residential property or a semipublic well to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
May 14, 2025 · Failed 54–93 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To protect the state's environment while providing for the development of renewable energy sources and related job sectors in a manner that reduces costs connected with such protections and development.
May 1, 2025 · Passed 98–47 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Feb 24, 2025 · Failed 49–89 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Reallocates state funds; creates a state Seal of Civics Education for diplomas; limits UConn Health neuromodulation center treatment to disabled veterans; bars active-assailant simulations in school crisis drills; creates a 15-member working group on antisemitism in schools.
Feb 26, 2026 · Failed 54–91 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF PARENT-MANAGED LEARNING.
To address issues relating to the provision of equivalent instruction in the state.
Apr 23, 2026 · Passed 96–53 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
To enact statutory provisions providing for the accountable administration and enforcement of law in the state.
Apr 30, 2026 · Failed 64–86 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To prohibit libraries in the state from entering into contracts or license agreements with publishers of electronic books and digital audiobooks that contain certain restrictions.
May 15, 2025 · Failed 48–97 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To (1) define "virtual currency control services vendor", (2) establish requirements for virtual currency money transmission licensees concerning (A) disclosures, (B) receipts, (C) the use of virtual currency under the control of such licensees, and (D) the engagement of other persons to store or hold custody or control of virtual currency for or on behalf of a customer, (3) establish that certain virtual currency held by such licensees shall be deemed to be property interests of any claimants against such licensees, and (4) prohibit the state, and political subdivisions of the state, from (A) accepting or requiring payment in the form of virtual currency, or (B) purchasing, holding, investing in or establishing a reserve of virtual currency.
May 14, 2025 · Passed 105–42 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
To clarify and amend certain statutes for traffic stops concerning properly displaying a number plate, lamps and illuminating devices, windshields and registration.
May 8, 2025 · Failed 63–79 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To implement the recommendations of the Department of Transportation concerning (1) infrastructure and service connections located in the state's right-of-way, (2) diesel-fueled transit buses, (3) electric vehicle parking at state agencies, (4) the Port Eastside Infrastructure Improvement District, (5) dynamic part-time lanes and control systems, (6) the restricted use of highways during extreme weather conditions, and (7) the memorial naming of a certain bridge.
Apr 29, 2026 · Failed 54–96 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ILLEGAL USE OF CERTAIN VEHICLES AND STREET TAKEOVERS.
To (1) revise provisions regarding forfeiture of certain illegally used vehicles, (2) authorize municipalities to adopt an ordinance related to street takeovers, and (3) revise the time period for suspension of an operator's license and to allow for revocation of a license due to violations related to a street takeover.
May 22, 2025 · Failed 48–100 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
To make minor and technical revisions to a statute concerning ribbons and medals awarded to certain veterans and armed forces reservists with wartime service.
Apr 9, 2026 · Passed 135–9 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To make minor and technical changes in a statute related to military affairs.
Apr 30, 2025 · Passed 139–7 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
To make minor and technical changes in a statute related to veteran's affairs.
May 30, 2025 · Passed 143–5 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 12 of 186 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (6), Jobs & cost of living (3), Housing & rent (1)
AN ACT CONCERNING UTILITY CHARGES FOR RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS.
What it does: To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 101–0, Republicans 11–38
May 6, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NONPROFIT PROVIDER ADVISORY BOARD AND PROHIBITING AUTO INSURANCE PENALTIES ON VOLUNTEER DRIVERS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
What it does: To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 101–0, Republicans 21–27
May 6, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF FINANCE.
What it does: To authorize municipal employees to serve on municipal boards of finance if such employees receive less than ten thousand dollars in salary or wages annually.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 94–6, Republicans 21–28
May 4, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE STATE.
What it does: To increase workforce development efforts and improve working conditions in the state.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 94–5, Republicans 23–24
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.
What it does: To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 97–3, Republicans 20–28
Apr 27, 2026Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION.
With most of their party · Failed 69–75 · Yes 69–No 75 · Democrats 21–75, Republicans 48–0
Apr 20, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AND THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS PERSONS.
With most of their party · Passed 84–67 · Yes 84–No 67 · Democrats 84–18, Republicans 0–49
May 27, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 63–79 · Yes 63–No 79 · Democrats 17–79, Republicans 46–0
May 8, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 64–86 · Yes 64–No 86 · Democrats 15–86, Republicans 49–0
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 86–64 · Yes 86–No 64 · Democrats 86–15, Republicans 0–49
Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
With most of their party · Failed 61–85 · Yes 61–No 85 · Democrats 13–85, Republicans 48–0
May 1, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO VARIOUS STATUTES CONCERNING CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
With most of their party · Failed 59–86 · Yes 59–No 86 · Democrats 11–86, Republicans 48–0
May 21, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF FINANCE.
With most of their party · Passed 88–61 · Yes 88–No 61 · Democrats 88–12, Republicans 0–49
May 4, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: AS AMENDED
To allow certain persons to file for property tax exemptions, notwithstanding certain statutory deadlines.
Motion: AS AMENDED
To authorize the sale and distribution of sterile cultivars of certain plant species and provide for the review of certain energy-related facilities regardless of their use for sterile cultivar propagation.
To (1) increase the financial assistance cap provided in section 32-462, and (2) create an exception to the employment promissory note prohibition in section 31-51r.
Motion: HOUSE AMD A
To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.
Motion: HOUSE AMD B
To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.
To require that a tenant only be charged for utilities if such tenant's dwelling unit has an individual meter.
To amend a prior conveyance of state land in the city of Middletown to clarify what use of the parcel is required and require the Shiloh Baptist Community Development Corporation to repay any mortgage granted on said parcel in case of its reversion to the state.
Motion: AS AMENDED
To restrict private equity ownership of nursing homes.
Motion: AS AMENDED
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
Motion: AS AMENDED
To include the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development in the preparation of any Comprehensive Energy Strategy as provided in section 16a-3d of the general statutes.
Showing 10 of 350 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.