Representative D’Agostino will not seek 7th term.

State Representative Michael D’Agostino (D-Hamden) will not seek re-election to the House seat he was first elected to in 2012, Daily Ructions has learned. D’Agostino is expected to make his announcement at Tuesday’s meet of the Hamden Democratic Town Committee.

D’Agostino has had an unusual career in the House. His reputation as a notably capable legislator was confirmed in 2017 when he was chosen to bring a critical state employee agreement to the floor of the House. The House was closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. There was an argument to be made that the agreement negotiated by the Malloy administration made a terrible 25 year deal an awful 30 year one. The House Republicans, mired in cliches, were no match for D’Agostino’s skill as an advocate. The savings promised by the Malloy administration have often fallen short, as was the custom during the surly Democrat’s eight years as governor.

When there was heavy lifting to be done, Democrats were lucky to have D’Agostino. The accomplished lawyer could argue any brief. That also proved skill a burden for D’Agostino’s ambitions. Few could match his intellectual firepower. Political leaders are often wary of colleagues with brains and no talent for disguising them.

Confident leaders would have promoted D’Agostino to the co-chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Brusque self-confidence accompanied by knowledge proved more frightening than attractive to House leaders. That has been D’Agostino’s burden.

D’Agostino briefly explored a race for attorney general in 2018.

Published March 26, 2024.