Editor’s Note: HK-Now.com and Haddam Killingworth News asked candidates in the November 2026 election to provide brief biographies as a way of introducing themselves to voters. The statement below is from Congressman Joe Courtney, who is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut’s Second Congressional District. The candidate’s reply is unchanged from the original as submitted. HK-Now.com and Haddam Killingworth News are not responsible for errors in grammar, usage, punctuation or spelling.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, Joe Courtney has served as an independent voice and dedicated advocate for eastern Connecticut.
In Washington, Congressman Courtney has focused heavily on bolstering regional industry and strengthening national defense. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee he secured major multi-billion-dollar construction contracts at the Electric Boat shipyard for Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines. Courtney also served as a primary congressional architect of the trilateral AUKUS security alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The success of the alliance earned him an appointment as an Honorary Office in the Order of Australia; one of only two members of congress with the title.
Through his work on the House Education and Workforce Committee, Courtney helped numerous high schools in eastern Connecticut launch manufacturing pipeline programs – giving students the training and skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. Beyond defense, Courtney continuously delivers key investments and legislative relief to the 2nd District. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, he secured over $826 million to replace the 116-year-old Connecticut River Bridge, along with essential funding for local clean water upgrades, broadband expansion, and clean energy development. He remains a leader in assisting local homeowners impacted by the crumbling foundations crisis caused by pyrrhotite, securing federal tax relief measures and research grants.
Throughout his career, Courtney has prioritized healthcare affordability and workforce development. He spearheaded the successful repeal of the “Cadillac tax” on health insurance plans, authored legislation protecting seniors from surprise medical bills, and backed caps on prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients. Recognized by the non-partisan Lugar Center
as one of Congress’s most bipartisan members, Courtney lives in Vernon with his wife, Audrey, a pediatric nurse practitioner.
