Former West Haven State Rep. Charles Ferraro Files Papers to Run for 33rd District State Senate Seat
Ferraro, of Clinton, said he will make Connecticut a more affordable place to live, work, and retire by addressing issues including energy bills and property taxes.
CLINTON, CT – Former State Rep. Charles Ferraro has filed papers to run as the Republican candidate for the 33rd Senate District, which includes Lyme.
Ferraro, of Clinton, pledged in a press release to make Connecticut a more affordable place to live, work, and retire.
“From electricity bills to property taxes, we must do more to lower the cost of living in Connecticut,” Ferraro said. “In Hartford, I’ve proven I can work across the aisle to deliver a balanced, no-tax-increase budget while establishing strong fiscal guardrails on state spending and borrowing.”
The 33rd District seat has been held by state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, since 2019.
A longtime small business owner, Ferraro served from 2015 to 2025 as state representative for the 117th House District serving Milford, Orange, West Haven.
Rep. Ferraro was the ranking member of the Energy and Technology Committee and also served on the Human Services and Veterans committees.
“I am looking forward to meeting with and listening to residents and small business owners across the 33rd District,” Ferraro said. “As your voice in Hartford, I will work to make Connecticut a place where businesses can grow, and families can stay. That means adopting an all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce your energy bills, improving public safety and health care, supporting our veterans and seniors, and cracking down on wasteful spending.”
Ferraro owned and operated the West Haven Academy of Karate for 48 years and has participated in and conducted hundreds of fundraising events to help people in need. He is currently the titular head of the Worldwide Tang Soo Do Family, an international martial art umbrella organization that oversees Tang Soo Do organizations on 6 of the 7 continents. He is a 10th-degree black belt, the highest level of recognition given in the martial arts community. Ferraro was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1996.
Ferraro and his high school sweetheart, the former Geralyn Ann DeMaio, have been married for 47 years. They have two sons, Christopher and Brandon Ferraro, and two grandsons, Roman and Leo.
The 33rd district includes Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.
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