Democrat Tiffani McGinnis, currently a member of the West Hartford Town Council, has announced her campaign for the 18th District House seat. 

By Ronni Newton

Tiffani McGinnis, who has been a member of the West Hartford Town Council since 2023, has announced that she is officially a candidate for the 18th District seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

“As a town councilor, I’ve seen firsthand how decisions made at the state level shape our everyday lives,” McGinnis said in the announcement of her candidacy. “After careful consideration, I’m excited to announce my campaign for state representative so I can bring my practical, people-first approach to Hartford.”

The seat will be vacant because State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, who currently represents the 18th District, which includes a portion of West Hartford, has stated that she will not be seeking re-election this fall. Gilchrest is running for Congress, and is one of several candidates challenging long-time incumbent John Larson in the 1st District.

“If elected, one of my most important roles will be as an advocate for the 18th district and West Hartford, working to ensure we receive our fair share of funding for education, infrastructure, public safety, and other services families rely on every day.” McGinnis said.

McGinnis is originally from Nashville. She and her husband, Matthew, moved to West Hartford more than 10 years ago from North Carolina and have three adult children. While McGinnis has been politically active locally – serving as vice chair of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee prior to joining the Town Council, and managing local campaigns including for State Rep. Tammy Exum and State Sen. Derek Slap – she also has experience on a broader scale as the campaign treasurer for Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and working on the campaign for Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. She also founded New England Women for Biden-Harris (now Women for Democracy) and GenX for Harris (now GenX for Democracy).

“Those experiences, combined with my degree in healthcare administration, small business ownership, and public service, give me a well-rounded perspective that I think will benefit the residents of the 18th District,” McGinnis added. “In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to meeting with residents and hearing directly from them about the issues that matter most to their families and neighborhoods.”

For more information about McGinnis visit her website.

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