Each state in the U.S. is represented by two senators in Congress, regardless of population size. The number of House members that represent each state receives is based on its population. Connecticut has five house seats and in a presidential election year, Connecticut has seven Electoral College votes.
When do I vote in federal elections?
U.S. Senators are up for reelection every six years, and members of the House of Representatives are reelected every 2 years (in even numbered years). In 2024, one of Connecticut’s two U.S. senate seats is on the ballot—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy is up for reelection against Republican candidate, Matthew Corey.
Why do federal elections matter?
Federal elections matter because your members of Congress vote in Washington, DC on issues that impact children’s health, like those listed below. Children rely on many federal programs to help them grow, learn, and succeed. The President also sets much of the nation’s policies and nominates individuals to run federal agencies, like the U.S. Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Disaster Relief
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed several disaster relief packages that sent funding to the State of Connecticut. Critical funding for schools, hospitals, towns, and cities were part of some of those packages.
Health Care Access
Although many aspects of the Medicaid program are regulated at the state-level, at its core, Medicaid is a federal program regulated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicaid provides children with a comprehensive set of services, including preventative services and medically necessary care.
SNAP Funding and School Nutrition
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps provide food to over 41 million people nationwide, many of them children. Congress sets the funding and eligibility levels for SNAP and other programs that help make sure kids have access to food, like the USDA free and reduced priced lunch program. More than 230,000 households in Connecticut rely on SNAP.
Funding Training and Education for Pediatric Providers
The Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Payment Program (CHGME) provides federal funding for freestanding, children’s hospitals to help them train resident physicians. It is critically important that our state and nation have enough well-trained pediatricians to take care of children in need, and CHGME funding helps make this possible.