Ray Collins III Announces 2026 Campaign for Connecticut’s 117th House District

WEST HAVEN/ORANGE/MILFORD - Republican Ray Collins III has officially filed his candidacy for state representative in Connecticut’s 117th District, which includes parts of West Haven, Orange and Milford. He is entering the race because the current representative has failed to take meaningful action on the rising costs affecting families throughout the district.

​“Families are getting hammered by one bad Hartford policy after another, leading to increased taxes, higher electric bills, and state mandates that strip away our local control,” said Collins. “I hear the growing frustration everywhere I go, and this madness has to end. I’m running again because I’m done watching our state representative side with the people who keep making life unaffordable for the rest of us.”

​After decades of one-party Democratic control, Connecticut continues to rank near the bottom nationally in affordability, has some of the highest electricity costs in America, is one of the worst states to retire in, and is among the most expensive places to raise a child.

​“Those rankings are a slap in the face to every family in this district,” said Collins. “One-party control has made Connecticut unaffordable, unretireable, and unbearable for parents. Our freshman representative’s voting record has led us deeper down the wrong road and produced zero results for families getting crushed.”

​Collins is proposing common-sense solutions to turn our state around, which include: 

• Increasing the property tax credit

• Eliminating the Public Benefits charge on your electric bill 

• Restoring full local control over zoning

• Stopping unfunded mandates placed on our communities 

• Repealing the highway-use tax on trucks, which is passed straight on to consumers

“These aren’t radical ideas, they’re plain common sense solutions that put money back in your pocket,” added Collins. “Many of the policies Rep. MJ Shannon supports in Hartford hit homeowners and families the hardest, while the day-to-day impact feels very different for him. I pay those taxes. I feel the same pain you do. It’s time to send someone to Hartford who actually understands what families are going through every single day.”

​A lifelong resident of the 117th district, Collins is the former chairman of the West Haven Police Commission, a past member of the West Haven Board of Education, a proud union shop steward at Brescome Barton Distributing, and a longtime youth sports coach who has given countless hours to our community.

​For more information about the campaign or to get involved, visit Collinsfor117th.com.

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