Joe Courtney

Joe Courtney and his wife, Audrey, a pediatric nurse practitioner, raised two children in Vernon.¹ His interests away from work include golf, reading and following the UConn Huskies and Boston Red Sox.¹ He grew up with four brothers, and his parents met while working for the FBI in New York during World War II.¹

Courtney graduated from Tufts in 1975 and earned his University of Connecticut law degree in 1978.¹ He worked as a public defender in Vernon before moving into private practice and serving as town attorney.¹ In Connecticut's legislature, he chaired committees dealing with public health and human services.¹

He won his first House election in 2006 by 83 votes and has represented eastern Connecticut since 2007.² He is now the senior Democrat on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, working on shipbuilding and naval programs important to the district.² He has also supported federal legislation limiting surprise medical bills.¹

Courtney's current housing agenda includes support for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, proposing more construction, conversion of unused properties and expanded manufactured housing.² He also supports restrictions on masked immigration agents and changes to arrest warrant practices.² He faces Republican George Austin in the November 3 election.³