Jason Rojas (born 1976) is an American politician who is a five term Democratic member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, serving since 2008. He represents parts of East Hartford and Manchester, composing Connecticut's 9th assembly district. He currently chairs the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.[1]

Jason Rojas
Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 6, 2021
Preceded byMatthew Ritter
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 9th district
Assumed office
January 7, 2009
Preceded byChristopher Stone
Personal details
Born1976 (age 47–48)
East Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah
EducationUniversity of Connecticut (BA)
Trinity College (MA)
WebsiteState House website

Early life and family

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Rojas is an East Hartford native, attending East Hartford Public schools, and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He received a degree in history from the University of Connecticut and later received a master's degree in Public Policy from Trinity College. Jason married his high school sweetheart Sarah, and they have three children.[1]

Political career

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He began his public service career serving on the East Hartford Board of Education. After three years he was elected to the town council in East Hartford. Then, in 2008, he ran for State Representative in Connecticut's 9th Assembly District after the incumbent, Christopher Stone, stepped down. Jason Rojas won the election by 2,460 votes against his Republican opponent Clifton Thomson. In 2010, he was reelected, defeating Republican Dennis Brenner by 1056 votes. In 2012 he won by 4,505 votes, and in 2014 by 4,224 votes. In 2016 he ran unopposed.[2]

Political views

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Housing

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In 2015, with representative Minnie Gonzalez, Rojas proposed a housing bill that would require 75 percent of all new affordable housing projects to be built in affluent neighborhoods to counter the current practice of building federally subsidized low-income housing in the poorest neighborhoods. The bill got out-of-state attention by for example the New York Times, but it died without receiving a vote.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Biography | Connecticut House Democrats". www.housedems.ct.gov.
  2. ^ "Jason Rojas". Ballotpedia.
  3. ^ Thomas B. Edsall, Where Should a Poor Family Live?, New York Times, August 5, 2015.
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Colorado House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives
2021–present
Incumbent