Stephanie Thomas (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephanie Thomas
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Thomas in 2023
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| 75th Secretary of the State of Connecticut | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2023 |
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| Governor | Ned Lamont |
| Preceded by | Mark Kohler |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 143rd district |
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| In office January 6, 2021 – January 4, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Gail Lavielle |
| Succeeded by | Dominique Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968/1969 (age 56–57) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | New York University (BS) New School (MS) |
| Website | |
Stephanie Thomas was born in 1968 or 1969. She is an American politician and a former leader in nonprofit organizations. Since January 2023, she has served as the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before this role, she represented the 143rd district in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023.
Stephanie Thomas is an important figure in Connecticut's history. She is the fourteenth woman to hold the position of Secretary of the State. She is also the first African-American woman to serve in this role.
Contents
Education and Early Life
When Stephanie Thomas was in high school, she spent her time helping others. ..... She also helped with the Special Olympics.
She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from New York University. Later, she continued her studies. She received a master's degree in nonprofit management from The New School.
Career Before Politics
Before becoming a state lawmaker, Stephanie Thomas worked as a consultant. For 26 years, she helped many nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits are groups that work for a cause, not for profit.
She started her own company called Stetwin Consulting. This company is based in Norwalk, Connecticut. It helps nonprofits find ways to raise money for their important work. Before running for office, she was also a member of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee. This committee helps guide the local Democratic Party.
Serving in the Connecticut House of Representatives
First Election Campaigns
In 2018, Stephanie Thomas decided to run for office. She wanted to represent the 143rd district in the Connecticut House of Representatives. She was new to politics at the time. She ran against the Republican lawmaker who was already in office, Gail Lavielle.
Thomas ran again in the 2020 election for the same district. She announced her plan to run in February 2020. This time, Gail Lavielle decided not to run again. Instead, Lavielle supported another Republican candidate.
Winning the Election and Her Work
Stephanie Thomas won the general election in 2020. She officially took office on January 6, 2021. As a member of the state house, she worked on several important committees. These included the Commerce Committee and the Transportation Committee. She also served on the Government Administration and Elections Committee.
Becoming Secretary of the State
The 2022 Election
In 2022, Stephanie Thomas ran for the job of Secretary of the State. The person who held the job before, Denise Merrill, decided not to run again.
Stephanie Thomas competed against Maritza Bond in the Democratic primary election. Thomas received support from the state Democratic Party. She won the nomination and then ran in the main election.
During her campaign, Stephanie Thomas promised to make it easier for people to vote. She won the general election against her Republican opponent, Dominic Rapini. Her victory was a big moment because she became the first African-American person to hold the office of Secretary of the State in Connecticut.
A Historic Victory
Stephanie Thomas's victory was very important. It made her the first African-American person to serve as Secretary of the State in Connecticut.
Her Work as Secretary of the State
Since taking office, Stephanie Thomas has worked on important issues. After the 2023 Bridgeport mayoral election, there were concerns about voting problems. Thomas supported new state laws to improve how elections are watched.
In 2024, Thomas started the NextGen Elections program. This program encourages college students to become election workers. These workers help make sure elections run smoothly.
Thomas has also spoken to the state legislature about protecting election workers. She wants to make sure they are safe from threats. Her office also helps Connecticut residents learn how to spot false information about elections.
