***PRESS RELEASE***STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY EXUM WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2026
Conner, Desmond
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Desmond Conner
Friday, January 16, 2026 (860) 240-0071
STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY EXUM WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2026
Appropriations vice chair, TCB tri-chair, with a focus on children's mental health and healthy hearts.
State Representative Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford/Avon) has announced that she will not seek re-election for a fourth term for the 19th District, choosing to focus more on new projects that have only grown in importance.
Representative Exum was elected during a special election in April 2019 and currently serves as a vice chair of the Appropriations Committee and tri-chair of the Transforming Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB).
During her tenure in the House, Rep. Exum fought hard for policies that strengthened families and supported children, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. After the unexpected loss of her husband of 28 years, Earl, in 2023, Rep. Exum took on a deeply personal challenge as well: increasing awareness of coronary calcium scans.
"After careful consideration, and even more soul-searching, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2026," Rep. Exum said. "This was a difficult decision because I have truly enjoyed serving the 19th district alongside my colleagues in West Hartford and Avon.
"Both towns have been so supportive, and I cannot thank the people in the communities I represent enough because, oftentimes, it's been their support that has sustained me, especially on issues that I am most passionate about: children's mental health and healthy hearts through coronary calcium scans, a preventative tool that can save lives. Continuing to advocate for both is among my goals."
“Tammy Exum is one of the most principled, courageous, and compassionate leaders I have ever had the privilege to serve alongside," said State Representative Corey Paris (D-Stamford), also an Appropriations Committee vice chair. "In a building that can too often reward noise over substance, Tammy has always brought clarity, integrity, and an unshakeable commitment to the people of West Hartford and Avon. Her resilience through personal and professional challenges has been nothing short of extraordinary, and she has never allowed adversity to dim her sense of purpose or her humanity."
"This is very hard," said House Appropriations Committee Chair Toni Walker (D-New Haven). "We're going to miss her. We're going to miss her terribly, especially when it comes to representing kids that have been pushed to the side through some of our own systems, and she's led the charge to say mental health is an issue we've never really tackled and never tried to address it from the child's perspective. We're going to miss her. I don’t know how we're going to fill that space. I hope it stays in the forefront the way she has been able to do that, because we can't afford to let it fall in the background, because we're going to start to neglect our children."
Soon after the pandemic, the Transforming Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB) was formed and became a primary focus for Representative Exum.
She helped create the committee charged with evaluating the availability and efficacy of prevention, early intervention, and behavioral health treatment services and options for children from birth to age 18 and making recommendations to the General Assembly and executive agencies regarding the governance and administration of the behavioral health care system for children.
"I believe the pandemic was a turning point regarding children's mental health. It needed to be addressed with the involvement of several agencies, and it became a focus for me."
Added State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D-Avon/Canton): "It has been the honor of a lifetime to work with Representative Tammy Exum as my delegation member. Her work on children’s behavioral health continues to change lives across Connecticut, as other states look to her work across the country. While I understand her desire to move on to other pursuits, it is a loss we will feel deeply at the legislature."
Also in 2022, Rep. Exum co-wrote or co-sponsored several bills that were signed by the governor, including transformative legislation in HB 5001, An Act Concerning Children’s Mental Health, SB1, An Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services in Schools, and SB2, An Act Expanding Preschool and Mental and Behavioral Services for Children.
"Children’s mental health policy has advanced because Tammy Exum is unstoppable," Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said. “Her knowledge, drive, and determination, coupled with the teaching skills of an educator, make for an incredibly effective legislator."
Rep. Exum also took another challenge following the unexpected death of her husband, to make more people aware of coronary calcium scans, which look for calcium deposits in the heart's arteries. An autopsy showed a blockage in Earl's heart arteries, leading to what is known as a widow-maker heart attack.
Legislatively, Rep. Exum then set her sights on SB1, An Act Concerning the Health and Safety of Connecticut Residents, and ensuring that it would include language requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of calcium scans.
When the bill was passed in 2024, the language was included.
"I am asking doctors to really talk to their patients about it, and to build this awareness amongst the community so you can advocate for yourself,” Exum said at a Heart Awareness Month press conference last spring.
"Rep. Exum has achieved more in a few terms than many legislators accomplish in decades of service,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford). “The mental health bill she wrote, introduced, and passed has been transformational for families across Connecticut, and her leadership on heart screenings will save thousands of lives. She’s been historically effective because she combines expertise with determination and humility.
"She doesn’t care about getting credit - she just wants to make an impact. Mission accomplished. I will deeply miss working with Tammy at the Capitol but am heartened to know that her involvement in the community and our friendship will continue.”
"Representative Tammy Exum has served West Hartford with integrity, compassion, and purpose,” said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor. “Her leadership on children’s mental health and her ability to turn personal loss into meaningful, life-saving advocacy have made a lasting impact on our community and our state. While she will be greatly missed at the Capitol, her commitment to service will continue.”
Rep. Exum is the proud parent of three sons — Evan, Kyle, and Jonathan.
Desmond Conner
Press Department
Connecticut House Democrats
Office: 860-240-0071
Cell: 203-376-0847
Rep. Belton (Middletown), Chair, Black Maternal Health & Infant Care
Rep. Biggins (East Hartford, Manchester)
Rep. Bumgardner (Groton, Stonington), Vice Chair, Environment
Rep. Exum (West Hartford, Avon), Deputy Maj. Leader, Vice Chair, Appropriations, Tri-Chair, Transforming Children’s
Behavioral Health
Rep. Jacobson (Stamford)
Rep. Kavros DeGraw (Avon, Canton), Chair, Planning and Development; Co-chair, Bipartisan Women’s Caucus
Rep. McGee (West Haven), Dep. Maj. Leader, Vice Chair, Black Maternal Health & Infant Care
Rep. Paris (Stamford), Chair, Committee on Children; Vice Chair, Appropriations
Rep. M. Sanchez (New Britain), Chair, Labor and Public Employees Committee
Rep. Wilson (Norwich), Vice Chair, Labor and Public Employees
Rep. Wood (Rocky Hill, Wethersfield), Chair, Insurance and Real Estate
