John P. Santanella
Democratic · CT · Connecticut State Representative, District 58
John Santanella is a state representative and former Enfield town councilor who buys, sells, and advises small businesses after a marketing career at Hasbro. His priorities include schools and children, public safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Where John P. Santanella stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Reduce Wealth Gap (1 record), Immigration (1 record),
Opposes
Labor Rights (1 record), Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Voted yes on a law letting the state health department set its own vaccine standards instead of relying only on federal ones. It also created free vaccines for uninsured adults. It passed the House 89-60.
April 21, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on a climate bill that required state and local plans to prepare for flooding, sea level rise and other climate effects. It passed the House 115-33.
May 28, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 1 support
Joined other Democrats in introducing a bill to create a refundable state child tax credit. It died in the Finance Committee.
February 10, 2026Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 oppose
Voted no on a bill making striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits after two weeks on strike. It passed the House 87-59, but the governor vetoed it.
May 30, 2025Opposes Labor Rights
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 1 support
Voted yes on a law limiting federal immigration arrests at schools, hospitals and churches and letting residents sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights. It passed the House 91-53.
May 1, 2026Supports Immigration
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Voted to add $285,000 to Enfield's school budget for the year. The Town Council approved it 8-3.
January 20, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted yes on an education bill that created an early childhood education fund from state surplus money. It capped child care costs at 7% of family income. It passed the House 101-45.
May 31, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cga.ct.gov
Introduced a bill to raise the base amount of the state's main school funding formula and adjust it for inflation. It died in the Education Committee.
January 22, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Co-sponsored and voted for a law that bars parents from pulling a child out of school to homeschool when an adult in the home is on the child abuse registry or under investigation. It passed the House 96-53.
April 23, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 3 support
Voted yes on a housing growth bill in a November 2025 special session. It passed the House 90-56 and became law.
November 12, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on a housing bill that aimed to lower housing costs, add housing options and help homeless people. It passed the House 84-67. The governor later vetoed it.
May 27, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cga.ct.gov
Seconded and voted for selling the town's Thompsonville transit-oriented development site to a housing developer. The Enfield Town Council approved it 7-4.
July 17, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Joined other Democrats in introducing a bill to create a refundable state child tax credit. It died in the Finance Committee.
February 10, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on an education bill that created an early childhood education fund from state surplus money. It capped child care costs at 7% of family income. It passed the House 101-45.
May 31, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 3 support
Voted to add $285,000 to Enfield's school budget for the year. The Town Council approved it 8-3.
January 20, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted yes on an education bill that created an early childhood education fund from state surplus money. It capped child care costs at 7% of family income. It passed the House 101-45.
May 31, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: cga.ct.gov
Introduced a bill to raise the base amount of the state's main school funding formula and adjust it for inflation. It died in the Education Committee.
January 22, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 2 support
Co-sponsored and voted for a gun law that made selling convertible pistols a felony and limited sales of unfinished gun frames to licensed dealers. It passed the House 86-64.
April 22, 2026Supports Gun Control
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on a bill letting people, towns and the state sue gun companies that fail to use reasonable controls on sales and marketing. It passed the House 100-46.
April 30, 2025Supports Gun Control
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Voted yes on a bill letting minors consent to pregnancy and birth control care without telling their parents. It passed the House 117-27.
May 1, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Election Integrity
Election Integrity · 1 support
Introduced a bill giving the State Elections Enforcement Commission oversight of elections in certain local districts. It died in committee.
January 24, 2025Supports Election Integrity
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 4 support
Co-sponsored and voted for a law letting all voters vote by absentee ballot without giving a reason. It passed the House 101-49.
April 23, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: cga.ct.gov
Co-sponsored and voted for a law banning nursing homes and assisted living facilities from discriminating against residents, including over sexual orientation or gender identity. It passed the House 124-19.
May 8, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted no on an Enfield Town Council policy allowing only American, state and military flags on town property, which ended Pride flag displays. It passed 6-5.
January 8, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
As an Enfield town councilor, asked the council to fly the Pride flag each June and seconded the resolution allowing it. The council passed it 8-2.
May 2, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 2 support
Voted yes on a bill capping fees on paycheck advance products at $4 per advance and $30 per month. It passed the House 101-46.
June 4, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on a bill letting people, towns and the state sue gun companies that fail to use reasonable controls on sales and marketing. It passed the House 100-46.
April 30, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: cga.ct.gov
Track record — General
General · 13 records
Voted to put proposed Enfield Town Charter changes before voters in November 2026. The Town Council approved it 8-3.
August 24, 2026
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Filed a lawsuit to keep challenger Thomas Tyler off the Democratic ballot, arguing his petition forms were issued four days early. A Superior Court judge agreed, but the state Supreme Court reversed that ruling on July 30, 2026.
July 30, 2026
Source: ctmirror.org
Moved and voted for Enfield's town budget for July 2026 through June 2027. The Town Council adopted it 7-4.
May 11, 2026
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted yes on changes to the second year of the state budget, which passed the House 127-21.
May 2, 2026
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted no on a bill changing cannabis and hemp rules, including higher THC limits for infused drinks. It passed the House 83-61.
April 20, 2026
Source: cga.ct.gov
Sponsored an Enfield resolution restoring a property tax credit of up to $400 for seniors who do volunteer work. It passed 8-3 after a similar plan he backed failed 4-7 in May 2025.
December 1, 2025
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Was chosen deputy mayor of Enfield by an 11-0 Town Council vote.
November 10, 2025
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted yes on the two-year state budget, which passed the House 99-49. The budget set state spending and revenue for July 2025 through June 2027.
June 2, 2025
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted yes on a criminal justice bill that changed the state's limits on holding people for federal immigration agents. It covered more officials, allowed cooperation for 13 listed crimes, and let people sue towns that break the rules. It passed the House 96-51.
May 21, 2025
Source: cga.ct.gov
Introduced a bill requiring the Connecticut Siting Council to consider town land-use plans when deciding on energy projects. It died in committee.
January 22, 2025
Source: cga.ct.gov
Voted no on disbanding Enfield's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, saying the town should fix it instead. The council disbanded it 7-4.
January 21, 2025
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted against Enfield's town budget for July 2024 through June 2025. The Republican-led council adopted it 7-4.
May 20, 2024
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Voted against accepting about $196,000 in state and utility grants for electric vehicle chargers in Enfield. The measure failed 3-6.
October 16, 2023
Source: enfieldct.api.civicclerk.com
Past race John P. Santanella ran in:
- State Representative District 58 · November 3, 2026 · State House District 58; Connecticut · incumbent