A University of Connecticut alumnus will add a new name to the ballot this November as he looks to secure a seat in the state Senate.
Ethan Werstler, who graduated from UConn in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication, is running as a Democratic candidate to represent Connecticut’s 35th state Senate district.
The 35th District, which has been a Republican seat for 30 years, is currently held by incumbent Jeff Gordon and encompasses 13 towns in the northeastern corner of the state: Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Stafford, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington and Werstler’s hometown of Woodstock.
The 26-year-old Woodstock native wants to represent his hometown, the community that raised him and the district he owes so much to, Werstler said in an interview Friday.
In college, Werstler served as the vice president of the UConn Undergraduate Student Body from April 2021 to April 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Also in 2021, Werstler was elected as a full voting and speaking member of the UConn Board of Trustees where he represented 23,000 undergraduate students across all five campuses, according to information posted on his campaign website.
Werstler said these roles placed huge pressures on him that ultimately formed him into a sharper decision maker and a better representative of people.
“I would not be running for office if it wasn’t for the experiences I was exposed to at UConn,” Werstler said.
During his time at UConn, Werstler also spearheaded Husky Market, a “food insecurity initiative that has provided $460,000 worth of grocery store gift cards to thousands of food-insecure students,” according to his campaign website.
Werstler also noted that his involvement in the UConn Women’s Center handling gender-based violence work helped prepare him to run for office.
Werstler said his time at UConn made it possible for him to meet like-minded political professionals, some of whom now work on his campaign, including the former associate director of the UConn Women’s Center, Kathy Fischer, who is now Werstler’s campaign manager.
According to his campaign website, Werstler’s platform prioritizes bringing down the cost of living, supporting education, protecting mental health and child safety, implementing strong leadership in Hartford and serving the residents of the district.
Werstler said due to the different town’s demographics, the 35th district often fails to receive the same resources and attention as other districts in the state.
“Generally, there is a sentiment across this district that we get left behind by Hartford,” Werstler said.
When asked about his attitude running against the incumbent, Werstler said, “Jeff Gordon is a capable opponent, and I don’t think [he’s] a bad guy… I feel just fine about running against him.”
Werstler said he and Gordon disagree on several issues including the state’s role in protecting residents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the regulation of social media and big technology corporations, the state’s role in responding to federal cuts and how to stand up to utility companies.
Werstler said the state legislature would benefit from having a more diverse spread of ages among elected officials and that it is important to him that “young people have a seat at the table.”
“I hope in some way, or another way, that I can be a voice for younger people in this state who want to call Connecticut home,” Werstler said.
Werstler also said he owns a small business in Woodstock through which he mentors thousands of high school students in a program called Model United Nations, which helps students build confidence in public speaking and debate.
Before running for office, Werstler worked for Congressman Joe Courtney, a Democrat, as a campaign field organizer where he said he was first exposed to the realities of politics.
According to his campaign website, Werstler also worked as an associate at a premier government relations firm in Hartford, where he “developed a deep understanding of the state legislature.”
But ultimately, Werstler said he has the Woodstock Middle School Public Speaking Club to thank for sparking his initial interest in politics.
“Politics is the key to unlocking a better future for us,” Werstler said. “The least we can do as young people in this country is stand up and fight for what’s right.”