State

State Senator, 32nd District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Connecticut laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Candidates Compare by issue

Matt Knickerbocker

Democratic

Former First Selectman of Bethel

The gist

Supports full state reimbursement of excess special-education costs.
Opposes unfunded state mandates on towns.
Supports a public health insurance option.
Supports protecting access to legal abortion.
Supports policies that keep family farms viable.

More about Matt

View sources (1)

Supports full state reimbursement of excess special-education costs.
Priorities
Campaign website · Matt Knickerbocker for Senate · mattknickerbocker.com
“Matt will push for full reimbursement of excess special education costs”
Opposes unfunded state mandates on towns.
Priorities
Campaign website · Matt Knickerbocker for Senate · mattknickerbocker.com
“The state shouldn’t pass requirements without paying for them.”
Supports a public health insurance option.
Priorities
Campaign website · Matt Knickerbocker for Senate · mattknickerbocker.com
“Matt will support a public option to lower costs, increase competition, and expand coverage”
Supports protecting access to legal abortion.
Priorities
Campaign website · Matt Knickerbocker for Senate · mattknickerbocker.com
“Matt will defend access to safe, legal abortion”
Supports policies that keep family farms viable.
Priorities
Campaign website · Matt Knickerbocker for Senate · mattknickerbocker.com
“Matt will support policies that keep farms viable, preserve open space, and strengthen local agriculture”

Eric C. Berthel

RepublicanIncumbent

State Senator, 32nd District

The gist

Voted against the 2026 state budget adjustment.In office
Supports keeping the state's fiscal guardrails and spending caps.In office
Voted against new state approval rules for homeschooling.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Eric

View sources (2)

Voted against the 2026 state budget adjustment.
Sen. Berthel Votes “No” on Budget, Calls Affordability Claims a “Shell Game”
Public statement · Connecticut Senate Republicans · ctsenaterepublicans.com
“today opposed the 717-page biennium state budget adjustment, warning that the plan increases spending by billions”
Supports keeping the state's fiscal guardrails and spending caps.
Sen. Berthel Votes “No” on Budget, Calls Affordability Claims a “Shell Game”
Public statement · Connecticut Senate Republicans · ctsenaterepublicans.com
“We established fiscal guardrails in 2017 to prevent the kind of reckless spending that once led to massive tax increases”
Voted against new state approval rules for homeschooling.
Sen. Berthel Opposes Homeschool Bill, Raises Concerns Over DCF Role & State Oversight
Public statement · Connecticut Senate Republicans · ctsenaterepublicans.com
“This bill subjects every homeschooling family to a background check just to exercise a basic parental right,”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.