Consensus Builder State Rep. Rosario Ponders Run For Mayor, Hazardous To Ganim

He was born 1-28 and has represented the 128th State House District for a dozen years now and if the stars align Deputy Speaker of the House Chris Rosario may even announce his run for mayor this coming 1-28.

This is an intriguing appetizer to the 2027 election cycle in which so far no formally announced challengers to Mayor Joe Ganim who is seeking another four-year term and if successful will become the longest-serving mayor in city history outpacing Socialist Jasper McLevy’s 24 years of service.

Ganim’s chief rival in 2023 John Gomes sounds like he may make another run, the very Gomes who as chief administrative officer appointed by Ganim in 2015 handed Rosario, married with three young children, his walking papers just before Christmas as a holdover from the mayoral administration of Bill Finch who Ganim defeated in a Democratic primary. And so it goes in the cutthroat world of city politics.

Over coffee Friday morning at Frenchie’s Coffee Bar in Bridgeport, Rosario, 48, was circumspect about his options but stated he sees himself as a bridge builder for the community if gets in and shared that his family is behind him.

“We must bring people together in ways that have left out community input with so much potential in the city,” he said, adding that he will ponder his decision during the holidays. Without criticizing the mayor directly Rosario cited lapses in development, misplaced administrative hires and no visionary plan to recruit outside investors.

After his separation from city service in 2015 Rosario joined the administration of Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti where he serves as director of telecommunications and records administrator at the police department in support of emergency communications.

Rosario is a dangerous potential opponent to Ganim. Rosario is well-liked by his political and government peers and has shown dexterity in transcending political squabbles that consume civics in the city.

Rosario checks the boxes on the key categories: raising money, demographics, a Hispanic appealing to the largest registration bloc in the city, a legislative base that covers a portion of the East Side, The Hollow, pieces of the North End and West Side.

Rosario will also play well in Black Rock, the largest voting precinct in the city that has been largely anathema to the mayor.

Despite Rosario’s removal from the Ganim administration 11 years ago he has maintained a cordial relationship with the mayor, shepherding a number of initiatives in his State House role that delivered extra money for city education, financial relief for residents at Success Village fleeced out of their common charges that continues to be an ongoing federal investigation, lobbying for independent monitors to oversee city elections and delivering infrastructure improvements.

If he gets in Rosario will not raise as much money as Ganim who enjoys power of incumbency, but that does not matter. The larger question: can Rosario raise enough to compete? That would place him in the $200,000 range. That’s likely.

Ganim is the heavy favorite for the Democratic Town Committee endorsement, but Rosario could peel some away to help petition his way onto primary ballot, as Gomes did in 2023 waging a tough primary campaign against the incumbent. Or maybe that’s too soon to say? Perhaps the DTC wants something else? Work in progress.

Ganim is running, Gomes looks like he’s getting in. A Rosario entry will toss a grenade into the political machinations across various campaign camps.

Stay tuned.

Rosario bio from his State House page:

Christopher Rosario is a dedicated public servant and community leader with a passion for making a difference. Elected to represent Bridgeport’s 128th Assembly District in 2014, he has become a respected voice in Connecticut’s legislative landscape. Currently serving as Deputy Speaker in the Connecticut House of Representatives, he helps shape House priorities, guide legislative strategy, and build bipartisan consensus on issues that directly impact working families and communities across the state. He also serves as Chair of the Bridgeport Legislative Delegation and previously served as Chair of the Legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.

He serves on the Appropriations, Transportation, and Government Administration & Elections Committees, where he works to advance responsible state budgets, strengthen infrastructure, improve government accountability, and support investments that expand access to early childhood education, maternal health services, affordable housing, and economic opportunity.

Rosario has also been a leading voice on criminal justice and prison reentry reform, advancing efforts to reduce recidivism, strengthen rehabilitation programs, and create meaningful pathways for individuals returning to their communities to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

His public service is grounded in hands-on municipal experience in Bridgeport, where he served as Liaison to the City Council, Deputy Director of Constituent Services, and Director of Anti-Blight and Quality of Life. In those roles, he worked closely with residents to address neighborhood concerns, tackle illegal dumping, improve code enforcement, and strengthen the everyday quality of life in city neighborhoods. He continues this work in public safety administration as Director of Telecommunications and Records Administrator at the Shelton Police Department, where he supports emergency communications and records systems that meet both State POST Tier 1 standards and national CALEA accreditation.

Deeply committed to community service, Rosario serves on the Board of Managers for Alpha Community Services (ACS), a division of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, supporting initiatives such as the Annual Walk to End Homelessness that bring people together in service of those in need.

At the national level, he serves on the Executive Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and on the Executive Board of the Board of Latino Legislative Leaders. He is a Lifetime Member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and chairs the Puerto Rico and Connecticut Trade Commission, advancing meaningful economic and cultural partnerships between the two regions. In 2026, he was honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, reflecting his deep ties to the community.

His leadership has been recognized with inclusion in Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40” Class of 2014, and he served as one of Connecticut’s presidential electors for Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016.

A lifelong Bridgeport native and product of the city’s public schools, Rosario remains deeply rooted in the community he serves. He lives in Bridgeport with his wife, Katherine, and their three children, and remains focused on strengthening neighborhoods, expanding opportunity, and delivering real results for Connecticut families