PROUDLY SERVING THE 16TH DISTRICT
State Senator Rob Sampson
Senior Deputy Republican Leader
Rob Sampson, re-elected to a fourth term in 2024, represents Connecticut’s 16th District. He is the Ranking Member on the Government Administration & Elections Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Labor & Public Employees Committee. Rob is widely known as an advocate for America’s core principles, restoring our system of limited, representative, constitutional government, protecting private contracts and defending the natural rights of his constituents.
“I am honored to be chosen by the people of the 16th District as their voice at the State Capitol. I remain committed to defending our American principles of freedom, representation, limited constitutional self-government, and the rule of law. I believe that with hard work and our collective voices, Connecticut can become a safer and more affordable state with a bright future for all. As always, I will put in the hard work to make it happen.”
LATEST COLUMN
'Distraction and Power: A Troubling Start to the 2026 Session' (March 2026)
The 2026 legislative session is underway, and Connecticut residents are already seeing a familiar pattern: distraction at the microphone and consolidation of power in the fine print.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Senator Rob Sampson invites you to attend a Pre-Session Legislative Discussion in the 16th district!
Happy Pi Day! (3-14)
Now I like a good piece of pie as much as the next guy… but last month at the Capitol during the “emergency” certification session I found out $330,000 of taxpayer money was going to be sliced up for an organization called Our Piece of the Pie.
So naturally, I had a few questions.
During our debate I asked Senator Osten a simple one: what exactly is “Our Piece of the Pie,” and why are Connecticut taxpayers being asked to serve up a $330,000 slice?
Don’t get me wrong if a program is doing great work, I’m happy to support it. But before we hand out another piece of the taxpayers’ money, we should probably make sure everyone knows what’s in the recipe.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2026
Sen. Sampson: Democrats Distract from Election Integrity While Opposing Voter ID
Hartford — State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) issued the following statement today in response to a press conference held by Sen. Mae Flexer and Rep. Matt Blumenthal regarding election legislation before the Connecticut Government Administration and Elections Committee.
“Today’s press conference appears to be another attempt by Connecticut Democrats to distract voters with outlandish claims rather than address the real concerns people have about the integrity of our elections.
Democratic leaders continue to suggest that voters are being intimidated or frightened away from the polls. I am not aware of any credible cases of voter intimidation occurring in Connecticut, and I certainly reject the implication that the President of the United States or ordinary voters are somehow threatening our elections.
The reality is that voters in Connecticut have been asking for stronger election integrity protections for years.
Across the country, photo identification requirements are a normal and widely accepted safeguard that helps ensure confidence in the election process. The federal SAVE Act, which Democrats are currently attacking, essentially requires proof of citizenship and photo identification to vote. These are commonsense protections that most Americans support and that I have repeatedly proposed here in Connecticut.
Year after year, however, Connecticut Democrats in both chambers have voted down voter identification proposals on strict party-line votes. Despite overwhelming public support for these safeguards, they refuse to even consider them.
Instead, Republican proposals to strengthen election integrity such as signature verification requirements, stronger penalties for election fraud, and other security measures are routinely ignored.
I support policies that responsibly expand voter access. Access and integrity should go hand in hand. Unfortunately, Connecticut Democrats appear interested in only one side of that equation.
Even more concerning, some of the legislation Democrats are advancing would actually eliminate safeguards that allow voters to have confidence in the system.
For example, Democrats have proposed legislation that would prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from operating within 250 feet of a polling place. That proposal raises an obvious question. If, as Democrats frequently claim, illegal aliens never vote in our elections, why would such a restriction even be necessary?
Instead of engaging in honest discussions about election integrity, Democratic leaders continue to resort to blaming former President Trump and accusing Republicans of voter suppression.
Connecticut voters deserve better than political theater.
They deserve an election system that is secure, transparent, and worthy of their trust. That means protecting access to the ballot while also implementing the safeguards necessary to ensure every legal vote counts and that the public can have confidence in the outcome.”
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Also, check out this article -
Connecticut lawmakers consider new voting rules, including online absentee ballots
www.ctinsider.com
Among the proposals are a provision to allow absentee ballots to be filed over the internet and one to ban guns from polling places.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2026
Sen. Sampson Ranked Most Effective Republican State Senator in Connecticut: Data-Driven Study Places Sampson #1 Among CT Senate Republicans for Legislative Effectiveness
Hartford — State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) has been ranked the most effective Republican State Senator in Connecticut according to the latest State Legislative Effectiveness Scores released by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a research initiative of Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
The ranking places Sen. Sampson #1 among Republican members of the Connecticut State Senate for the 2023–2024 legislative session based on his ability to move legislation through the lawmaking process.
During his time in the legislature, Sen. Sampson has successfully passed more than 200 bills into law, demonstrating a consistent record of advancing legislation and delivering results for the people he represents.
In addition to legislation he has introduced or co-sponsored, Sen. Sampson noted that much of his impact comes through his leadership role as Policy & Screening Chairman for the Senate Republican Caucus, where he works to review, modify, and improve legislation moving through the General Assembly.
“While we often disagree strongly on policy at the Capitol, the job of a legislator is still to do the work and get things done,” Sen. Sampson said. “I’m proud that despite serving in the minority party, I’ve been able to advance meaningful legislation, improve bills that become law, and deliver real results for the people I represent.”
Sen. Sampson also emphasized that effectiveness in the minority party often involves preventing harmful policies from becoming law.
“Just as important as passing good legislation is stopping bad legislation,” Sen. Sampson said. “Serving in the minority means working every day to block proposals that would make Connecticut less affordable, interfere with civil liberties, or drive more families and businesses out of our state. I’m proud of the role I’ve played both in advancing good ideas and preventing harmful ones.”
The Center for Effective Lawmaking evaluates legislators using a data-driven methodology that measures bill sponsorship, committee advancement, floor passage, and laws ultimately enacted.
“I’ll continue working to advance policies that protect freedom, strengthen our communities, and make Connecticut a better place to live and work,” Sen. Sampson said.
All scores can be found on the Center for Effective Lawmaking’s Find Legislators page:
thelawmakers.org/find-representatives