Elizabeth Esty

Elizabeth Esty was the U.S. Representative for the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut from 2013 to 2019. She announced in April 2018 that she would not seek re-election in 2018. The announcement came after she was criticized for her handling of sexual harassment allegations by her former chief of staff. Elizabeth was elected to Congress on November 6, 2012. She serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Esty also serves on the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. As the Representative for Newtown, CT, Elizabeth believes it is critical for our country to address gun violence and make a strong commitment to keeping families safe Elizabeth served in the Connecticut General Assembly (2009-2011) and the Cheshire Town Council (2005-2008) where she made her mark as an advocate for responsible budgeting and job creation. As an attorney at Sidley Austin she authored Supreme Court briefs for medical providers to protect access to reproductive health services. In the state legislature she proudly voted for full marriage rights and benefits for gay couples. Elizabeth graduated from Harvard University in 1981 and earned her law degree from Yale Law School in 1985. After clerking for US District Judge Robert Keeton of Massachusetts, she joined the firm of Sidley Austin and served as a member of the Supreme Court bar. She later went on to work in health care and Medicare policy as a Senior Research scholar at Yale and to teach as an adjunct professor at American University. Elizabeth lives in Cheshire with her husband of 28 years, Dan Esty. The mother of three - Sarah, Thomas, and Jonathan - Elizabeth has spent her evenings and weekends at PTA meetings, soccer fields, and hockey rinks. She is thankful for the opportunity to serve her church and her community, working with the local Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, Land Trust, Cheshire Public Library, and the United Way.