Steve Stafstrom

Party: Democratic
District: 129th
Hometown: Orange, Connecticut

Steve Stafstrom is an American attorney and politician representing the Bridgeport neighborhoods of Black Rock, Brooklawn, and the West End in the Connecticut General Assembly. Born November 2, 1982, in Hartford, Connecticut, he was raised in Orange, Connecticut. He has been a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, gun control, property tax reform, education access, and economic development in urban centers throughout his tenure in public service.

Education

Stafstrom earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University in 2005. He subsequently obtained his J.D. degree from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2008, where he served as an articles editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. During law school, he worked as a clerk in the office of the Connecticut Attorney General.

Political Experience

Stafstrom began his political career when he was elected to the Bridgeport City Council in 2013. He was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in a special election on February 24, 2015, representing the 129th district. Since 2019, he has served as co-chair of the House Judiciary Committee and also serves on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

As a partner at Pullman & Comley law firm in Bridgeport since 2008, Stafstrom has maintained his legal practice while serving in elected office.

Notable Legislative Achievements

As co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, Stafstrom has led passage of most of Connecticut's gun safety legislation, including laws that ban bump stocks, outlaw ghost guns, bar open carry of firearms, limit monthly gun purchases, expand the assault weapon ban, and impose strict safe storage requirements. He authored Connecticut's "red flag law," considered nation-leading legislation.

Additionally, Stafstrom championed passage of the Clean Slate Act, groundbreaking criminal justice reform legislation that allows formerly incarcerated citizens to have certain offenses erased from their criminal records after specified periods, facilitating reentry to society and improving access to employment, education, and housing.