George Jepsen

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George Jepsen
BornGeorge Christian Jepsen
11/23/1954
BirthplaceHattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLawyer, politician
TitleAttorney General of Connecticut
Known for24th Attorney General of Connecticut
EducationHarvard University (MPP, JD)
Spouse(s)Diana Sousa
Children2

George Christian Jepsen (born November 23, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th Attorney General of Connecticut from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Jepsen built a lengthy career in Connecticut politics that spanned more than three decades, beginning with his election to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1986 and culminating in two terms as the state's chief legal officer. Before ascending to the attorney general's office, he represented Stamford and part of Darien in the Connecticut State Senate from 1991 to 2003, where he rose to the position of Senate Majority Leader. He also served as Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005. As attorney general, Jepsen became involved in significant consumer protection actions at both the state and national levels, including participation in multistate litigation related to foreclosure practices and antitrust settlements. He succeeded Richard Blumenthal, who had held the attorney general's office for two decades before winning election to the United States Senate, and was himself succeeded by William Tong in January 2019.

Early Life

George Christian Jepsen was born on November 23, 1954, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[1] Details regarding his parents, upbringing, and childhood in Mississippi are limited in available sources. At some point, Jepsen relocated to the northeastern United States, where he pursued his higher education and eventually established his career in law and public service in Connecticut. He settled in Stamford, Connecticut, which became the base of his political career for more than three decades.

Education

Jepsen attended Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned both a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Harvard Law School.[1] His dual graduate education in public policy and law provided a foundation for his later career in both elected office and legal practice.

Career

Connecticut House of Representatives (1987–1991)

Jepsen began his career in elected office by winning a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 148th House district, which encompassed part of Stamford. He served in the House from January 1987 to January 1991, succeeding Richard Cunningham in the seat.[2] During his time in the House, Jepsen established himself within the Democratic caucus and gained experience in the state's legislative process. He was succeeded in the 148th district seat by Anne McDonald when he moved on to seek higher office.

Connecticut State Senate (1991–2003)

In 1991, Jepsen won election to the Connecticut State Senate, representing the 27th Senate district, which covered Stamford and part of Darien. He succeeded Richard Blumenthal, who had vacated the seat.[3] Jepsen served in the State Senate for twelve years, becoming one of the chamber's most prominent members.

His rise through the Democratic leadership ranks was steady. In 1997, Jepsen was elected Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until 2003. As Majority Leader, he was responsible for managing the legislative agenda of the Democratic majority in the upper chamber, negotiating with the governor's office, and coordinating with the House of Representatives on the passage of legislation. He succeeded James T. Fleming as Majority Leader and was later succeeded in that role by Martin Looney.[3]

After serving six terms in the Senate, Jepsen departed the chamber in January 2003. He was succeeded in the 27th Senate district by Andrew McDonald, who would later be appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[4]

Chairman of the Connecticut Democratic Party (2003–2005)

Following his departure from the State Senate, Jepsen assumed the position of Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party in 2003. He succeeded John Olsen in the role and was responsible for overseeing party operations, fundraising, and electoral strategy across the state.[5] Jepsen served in this capacity until 2005, when he was succeeded by Nancy DiNardo.[6]

The party chairmanship kept Jepsen active in Connecticut Democratic politics during a period of significant transition. It also helped him maintain his statewide network and public profile, which would prove instrumental in his later campaign for attorney general.

Campaign for Attorney General (2010)

In January 2010, Jepsen announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Connecticut, following the decision of longtime incumbent Richard Blumenthal to run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Christopher Dodd.[7] The attorney general's office had been held by Blumenthal for twenty years, making the 2010 race the first open contest for the position in two decades.

Jepsen won the Democratic nomination for attorney general at the party's convention.[8] He subsequently qualified for public financing under Connecticut's Citizens' Election Program, which provided public funds to candidates who met certain fundraising thresholds and agreed to spending limits.[9]

In the general election held on November 2, 2010, Jepsen defeated his Republican opponent to win the attorney general's office.[10] He took office on January 5, 2011, alongside Governor Dan Malloy, who was also inaugurated that day.

Attorney General of Connecticut (2011–2019)

First Term (2011–2015)

Jepsen was sworn in as the 24th Attorney General of Connecticut on January 5, 2011.[11] He inherited an office with a significant portfolio of ongoing litigation and consumer protection matters from his predecessor, Richard Blumenthal.

One of the early priorities of Jepsen's tenure was addressing the fallout from the national mortgage foreclosure crisis. In early 2013, the attorney general's office reminded qualified borrowers that January 18 was the deadline for filing claims under a foreclosure settlement that had been reached with major mortgage servicers. The settlement provided compensation to borrowers who had lost their homes to foreclosure due to improper practices.[12]

Jepsen's office was also active in consumer protection enforcement. In 2013, state officials issued warnings to Connecticut residents about scams involving purportedly "free" medical alert devices, as part of a broader consumer education effort coordinated by the attorney general's office.[13]

In 2012, a new Connecticut data breach notification law took effect on October 1. Jepsen's office worked to assist business owners in complying with the new computerized data breach notification requirements, reflecting the growing importance of cybersecurity and data privacy issues during his tenure.[14]

In 2014, Jepsen's office encouraged consumers to file claims to recover money from a $310 million settlement related to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) price-fixing. The multistate antitrust action was one of several large-scale consumer recovery efforts pursued during Jepsen's time in office.[15]

Reelection in 2014

Jepsen sought reelection in 2014 and faced Republican challenger Stephen Fournier in the general election.[16] He won a second term in the November 2014 election.[17]

Second Term (2015–2019)

During his second term, Jepsen continued to pursue consumer protection and antitrust matters while also taking on a more prominent national role among state attorneys general. He was elected vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General, raising his profile on the national stage.[18]

One notable area of activity during Jepsen's second term involved the Volkswagen emissions scandal. In 2016, Jepsen, as one of the state attorneys general involved in litigation against Volkswagen over the company's use of defeat devices in diesel vehicles, issued a statement responding to comments made by Volkswagen's CEO at the Detroit Auto Show. The case was part of a broader multistate and federal enforcement action that resulted in billions of dollars in settlements and penalties for the automaker.[19]

Jepsen's office also engaged in matters involving the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and fire department issues in Bethany, Connecticut, among other state-level concerns during his second term.[20]

Decision Not to Run for Governor

In May 2017, Jepsen announced that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut in the 2018 election. Reporting at the time indicated that he had been consulting with friends and political allies about the potential candidacy but ultimately decided against entering the race. In his announcement, Jepsen described the prospect of a gubernatorial campaign as involving "the misery" associated with statewide campaigning.[21]

Jepsen also chose not to seek a third term as attorney general, and his tenure ended on January 9, 2019. He was succeeded by William Tong, who became the first Asian American to serve as Attorney General of Connecticut.

Personal Life

In December 1989, The New York Times announced the engagement of Diana Sousa to George C. Jepsen, with the wedding planned for May of the following year.[1] Jepsen and Sousa married and have two children together. The family has been based in Stamford, Connecticut, where Jepsen built much of his political career.

Jepsen was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, but spent the majority of his adult life and career in Connecticut.[1] Details regarding his activities following the conclusion of his tenure as attorney general in January 2019 are limited in available sources.

Recognition

During his tenure as Attorney General of Connecticut, Jepsen received recognition from his peers in the legal and law enforcement community at the national level. His election as vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General reflected the regard in which he was held among the nation's chief legal officers and gave him a platform to participate in shaping national legal policy on issues including consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, and data privacy.[18]

Jepsen's involvement in significant multistate legal actions — including the national mortgage foreclosure settlement, the $310 million DRAM antitrust settlement, and the Volkswagen emissions litigation — placed Connecticut among the states actively engaged in major consumer protection efforts during the 2010s.[12][15][19]

His work on data breach notification law in 2012 positioned Connecticut as one of the states working to modernize privacy protections for consumers in the digital age.[14]

Legacy

George Jepsen's career in Connecticut politics spanned more than three decades, encompassing service in both chambers of the state legislature, leadership of the state Democratic Party, and two terms as attorney general. His progression from state representative to Senate Majority Leader to attorney general reflected a sustained engagement with Connecticut governance and Democratic Party politics.

As attorney general, Jepsen's office participated in several of the most significant multistate legal actions of the 2010s. The national mortgage foreclosure settlement, the DRAM antitrust recovery, and the Volkswagen emissions case each involved coordination among multiple state attorneys general and federal regulators, and Connecticut's participation under Jepsen's leadership ensured that the state's consumers were included in resulting settlements and recoveries.

Jepsen's decision not to seek the governorship in 2018, as well as his decision not to seek a third term as attorney general, marked the end of an era in Connecticut Democratic politics. His successor, William Tong, brought a new set of priorities to the office while building on the consumer protection and enforcement framework that Jepsen and his predecessor Richard Blumenthal had developed over the preceding decades.

Jepsen's career also illustrated the role of the attorney general's office as a stepping stone and a platform for policy influence at both the state and national levels. His tenure coincided with a period of increased activism among state attorneys general on issues ranging from financial regulation to environmental enforcement, and his participation in multistate coalitions contributed to that broader trend.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Diana Sousa to Wed George C. Jepsen in May".The New York Times.1989-12-17.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/17/style/diana-sousa-to-wed-george-c-jepsen-in-may.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ↑ "Martha Dean". 'Ballotpedia}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hartford Courant.2002-12-15.https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-12-15-0212150859-story.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  4. ↑ "Special Senate Election Connecticut". 'Google Books}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  5. ↑ "There Is No Hiding From Nancy DiNardo".The New York Times.2005-02-13.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/nyregion/there-is-no-hiding-from-nancy-dinardo.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Parties Get New Leaders".The New York Times.2003-03-02.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/02/nyregion/parties-get-new-leaders.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Jepsen's Running". 'New Haven Independent}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  8. ↑ "Jepsen Wins AG Nomination".CT Mirror.http://www.ctmirror.org/story/6112/jepsen-wins-ag-nomination.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  9. ↑ "Jepsen Qualifies for Public Financing in AG's Race".CT Mirror.http://www.ctmirror.org/story/6741/jepsen-qualifies-public-financing-ags-race.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Underticket Election Results 2010".Hartford Courant.2010-11-02.http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-underticket-election-results-2010-20101102,0,2477571.story.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  11. ↑ "Office of the Attorney General". 'State of Connecticut}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Attorney General Reminds Qualified Borrowers Jan 18 is Submission Deadline for Foreclosure Settlement". 'State of Connecticut, Office of the Attorney General}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  13. ↑ "State Officials Warn Residents about "Free Medical Alert" Scams". 'State of Connecticut, Office of the Attorney General}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "New Connecticut Data Breach Law Takes Effect October 1". 'State of Connecticut, Office of the Attorney General}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Attorney General Jepsen: Deadline to File DRAM Settlement Claim is August 1". 'State of Connecticut, Office of the Attorney General}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  16. ↑ "Stephen Fournier". 'Ballotpedia}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  17. ↑ "Westby, Jepsen, Fournier: Attorney General Election 2014".Hartford Courant.2014-11-04.http://www.courant.com/politics/elections/hc-westby-jepsen-fournier-attorney-general-election-2014-20141104-story.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Jepsen Takes On High-Profile National Role Among AGs". 'Law.com}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Statement from Attorney General Jepsen on Comments from Volkswagen CEO at Detroit Auto Show". 'State of Connecticut, Office of the Attorney General}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  20. ↑ "Jepsen, WNBA, Bethany Fire Department, One".Milford Mirror.https://www.milfordmirror.com/news/article/Jepsen-WNBA-Bethany-Fire-Department-One-14511384.php.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  21. ↑ "Jepsen to Skip 'the Misery' of Running for Governor".CT Mirror.2017-05-11.https://ctmirror.org/2017/05/11/jepsen-to-skip-the-misery-of-running-for-governor/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.

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