West Hartford native Mario Volpe is the second candidate to announce plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the 19th District House seat being vacated by state Rep. Tammy Exum.

By Ronni Newton

Mario Volpe, a West Hartford native and Conard High School graduate, announced Tuesday that he plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the 19th District House seat, which covers portions of West Hartford and Avon and is currently held by state Rep. Tammy Exum, who indicated last week that she will not be running for re-election this fall.

He is the second candidate to announce plans to seek the nomination for the 19th District after Olaleye Onikuyide launched his campaign over the weekend.

Volpe, 24, was raised by a single mother in West Hartford, attending Webster Hill Elementary School and Sedgwick Middle School. He graduated from Conard in 2019, where he played football and credits the coaches with being role models.

Volpe now works as a public policy advocate for a domestic violence prevention nonprofit, and coaches football at his alma mater. A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in economics and urban and community studies, he previously worked as a legislative aide in the Connecticut State Senate (for Jorge Cabrera in the 17th District).

He was always interested in history, Volpe told We-Ha.com, but didn’t really know much about politics or government.

“In 2020, when I was a freshman at UConn, I got sent home because of COVID,” he said in a phone interview. He had previously met Kate Farrar, who represents West Hartford’s 20th District, when she helped his mom with a problem with HUSKY health coverage, and said he was encouraged to join her campaign while he was attending school virtually.

“I wore a mask, I went door-knocking on Kate’s team, and I loved it,” he said. “Every household has a different set of priorities, a different set of needs,” and he was hooked on public service and inspired to make it his career. And after some internships on the federal level, for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, he decided he didn’t like the national political scene and preferred a more local focus.

“I’ve never seen my age as a limitation,” Volpe said. “I have both the professional and the lived experience to be a great state representative.”

In his announcement, he states he is running on a “platform centered on fully funded public education, economic fairness, affordable housing, accessible health care, and meaningful community investment.”

He said he understands firsthand the impact of state programs like HUSKY and free school meals because he participated in them, and knows the impact of thoughtful public policy. “I know what relief those programs provide, and I know how critical it is that our elected leaders understand not just policy, but the real people behind it.” Volpe said in his announcement.

And in addition to his employment in the public sector, he is currently corresponding secretary of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee and helped lead the town’s 2025 Democratic campaign effort. He also serves as vice president of Operations and Development for the Connecticut Young Democrats, working to recruit, train, and mobilize the next generation of Democratic leaders.

“I’m not doing this as a political jump,” Volpe said of launching his campaign for the State House. “I’m running this campaign to be an advocate for this community and this town. … I will be the most dedicated, passionate legislator for West Hartford and Avon,” he added.

In his campaign announcement, Volpe said if elected “he will prioritize lowering everyday costs for families, investing in strong education and career pathways, and ensuring the legislature delivers tangible results for residents of the 19th District,” and for an “economy that works for all residents of Connecticut.”

“Our communities deserve representatives who listen, lead with integrity, and fight for opportunities for everyone,” Volpe said. “I am running to bring fresh energy, zealous advocacy, and a bold commitment to working families to the State Capitol,” he said, stating that he plans to run his campaign with a focus on accessibility and community engagement.

He can be reached at [email protected].

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