Susan Bysiewicz

Susan Bysiewicz
Bysiewicz in 2023
Susan Bysiewicz
Born	29 9, 1961
Birthplace	New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, author of Ella: A Biography of Governor Ella Grasso
Education	Yale University (BA) Duke University (JD)
Spouse(s)	David Donaldson
Children	3

Susan Bysiewicz (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born September 29, 1961) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 109th lieutenant governor of Connecticut since January 2019, alongside Governor Ned Lamont. A member of the Democratic Party, Bysiewicz has been a fixture in Connecticut politics for more than three decades, having previously served as the 72nd Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1999 to 2011 and as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 100th district from 1993 to 1999. Born and raised in Connecticut, she is a graduate of Yale University and Duke University School of Law, and is also known as the author of a biography of Ella Grasso, the first woman elected governor in the United States in her own right. Over the course of her career, Bysiewicz has sought higher office on multiple occasions, including bids for governor, attorney general, and the United States Senate, before securing the lieutenant governorship as Lamont's running mate in 2018. In her current role, she has been involved in initiatives related to education, economic development, emergency management, and reproductive rights.

Early Life

Susan Bysiewicz was born on September 29, 1961, in New Haven, Connecticut. She grew up in the state and developed an early interest in public service and Connecticut history. Her connection to the state's political heritage is reflected in her later authorship of Ella: A Biography of Governor Ella Grasso, a book about Ella Grasso, the governor of Connecticut from 1975 to 1980 and the first woman in United States history to be elected governor without succeeding her husband in the role. The book, published through Connecticut educational resources, demonstrated Bysiewicz's scholarly engagement with the state's political legacy and women in government well before she herself entered elected politics.

Bysiewicz's upbringing in Connecticut shaped her political identity, and she remained rooted in the state throughout her educational and professional career. Her Polish-American heritage is reflected in her surname, which is pronounced "BYE-zə-wits." She has been described in Connecticut media as a lifelong resident of the state, and her political career has been entirely focused on Connecticut governance and policy.

Education

Bysiewicz attended Yale University in New Haven, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the Class of 1983. She subsequently attended Duke University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Her legal education provided the foundation for her career as an attorney and informed her subsequent work in public office, particularly in matters relating to election law and state governance.

Career

Connecticut House of Representatives (1993–1999)

Bysiewicz began her career in elected office as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 100th district. She served in the state legislature from January 3, 1993, to January 3, 1999, succeeding David Lavine in the seat. During her three terms in the state House, Bysiewicz established herself within the Democratic caucus and built a profile that positioned her for statewide office. She was succeeded in the 100th district by Theodore Raczka upon her departure to assume the office of Secretary of the State.

Secretary of the State of Connecticut (1999–2011)

In 1998, Bysiewicz was elected as the 72nd Secretary of the State of Connecticut, succeeding Miles S. Rapoport. She took office on January 3, 1999, and served for twelve years, spanning the administrations of Governors John G. Rowland and Jodi Rell. As Secretary of the State, Bysiewicz was responsible for overseeing elections in Connecticut, maintaining the state's official records, and managing business registrations.

During her tenure, Bysiewicz pursued several election-related initiatives, including efforts to expand voter access and modernize the state's electoral processes. One notable proposal she supported was a constitutional amendment that would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in certain elections, which was placed on the ballot for voter consideration.

One of the most significant events during her final year as Secretary of the State occurred during the 2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election. On Election Day in November 2010, a controversy erupted in Bridgeport, Connecticut, when the city ran out of printed ballots and a bag of uncounted ballots was subsequently discovered. The incident drew national attention and raised questions about election administration in the state. Bysiewicz publicly stated that the Bridgeport ballot problems were not her fault, attributing the logistical failures to local election officials rather than the Secretary of the State's office. The gubernatorial race between Democrat Dan Malloy and Republican Tom Foley was extremely close, and the Bridgeport ballot issues added further complexity to the count. Bysiewicz was succeeded as Secretary of the State by Denise Merrill on January 3, 2011.

2010 Gubernatorial and Attorney General Campaigns

In 2009 and early 2010, Bysiewicz was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Connecticut. Polling during this period showed her performing competitively within the Democratic primary field. A Quinnipiac University poll placed Bysiewicz in the lead among Democratic candidates for governor. Additional polling data showed her maintaining a substantial lead in the Democratic race through late 2009. In announcing her candidacy, Bysiewicz emphasized her record of public service and her knowledge of state government.

However, Bysiewicz withdrew from the gubernatorial race and instead entered the contest for Connecticut Attorney General. This shift proved to be consequential, as the Connecticut Supreme Court ultimately disqualified her from running for attorney general, ruling that she did not meet the statutory qualifications for the office, which required a certain number of years of active law practice. The court's decision was a significant setback for Bysiewicz's political career, effectively removing her from the 2010 election cycle entirely after she had already abandoned her gubernatorial campaign.

Following the court ruling, Bysiewicz completed her final months as Secretary of the State and oversaw the November 2010 general election, which included the closely contested gubernatorial race and the Bridgeport ballot controversy.

2012 United States Senate Campaign

In 2011, Bysiewicz announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Joe Lieberman in the 2012 election. She entered a competitive Democratic primary field that included U.S. Representative Chris Murphy. Bysiewicz campaigned on her record as a statewide officeholder and her experience in Connecticut government. However, she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Murphy, who went on to win the general election and has served in the Senate since January 2013.

Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut (2019–present)

After several years out of elected office, Bysiewicz re-entered Connecticut politics in 2018. She initially filed papers to run for governor of Connecticut but withdrew from the gubernatorial race shortly before the Democratic state convention. Instead, she joined the ticket of Ned Lamont as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Bysiewicz was nominated for lieutenant governor during the state primary, and the Lamont-Bysiewicz ticket won the November 2018 general election. She was inaugurated as the 109th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut on January 9, 2019, succeeding Nancy Wyman.

As lieutenant governor, Bysiewicz has taken on a range of policy portfolios and representational duties. She has been involved in initiatives related to education, working with the State Department of Education and local officials on programs affecting Connecticut communities. In 2026, she participated in the kickoff of the Lieutenant Governor's Council on Children, working with Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker and local officials on children's policy matters.

Bysiewicz has also taken on a role in interstate coalition-building. She launched a 22-state reproductive caucus composed of lieutenant governors from across the country, with the stated goal of sharing legislative and executive proposals to protect reproductive rights at the state level. The initiative was described in media coverage as an effort to coordinate state-level responses to changing federal policies on reproductive health care.

In the area of economic development and sports, Bysiewicz was involved in the state's efforts to retain the Connecticut Sun, a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise, within the state. In August 2025, she spoke publicly about the state's commitment to keeping the team, stating, "We're doing our best."

In February 2026, Bysiewicz played a public role in the state's emergency response to Blizzard Calvin, a major winter storm that affected Connecticut. She appeared in multiple television interviews discussing the state's emergency declaration and subsequent cleanup efforts, reiterating the administration's preparedness measures and response plans.

Bysiewicz also participated in announcements regarding federal funding for Connecticut, including a $3.15 million federal grant to construct the first active shooter training facility for first responders in New England, located in Bristol, Connecticut. She joined Congressman John B. Larson and Bristol Mayor Jeff Zoppo-Sassu in making the announcement in February 2026.

Bysiewicz and Lamont were re-elected in 2022, and she has continued to serve in the role into 2026.

Personal Life

Susan Bysiewicz is married to David Donaldson. The couple has three children. Bysiewicz has maintained her residence in Connecticut throughout her career in public service.

In addition to her political career, Bysiewicz is known as the author of Ella: A Biography of Governor Ella Grasso, a book about Connecticut's first female governor and the first woman in American history elected governor in her own right (i.e., not as a successor to her husband). The book has been used as an educational resource in Connecticut.

Recognition

Bysiewicz's career in Connecticut politics spans more than three decades, encompassing service in the state legislature, as a constitutional officer, and as lieutenant governor. Her tenure as Secretary of the State from 1999 to 2011 made her one of the longer-serving holders of that office in recent Connecticut history. Her authorship of the Ella Grasso biography has been recognized as a contribution to the documentation of Connecticut's political history and the role of women in American government.

Her profile as a Yale alumna has been noted in Yale Daily News coverage, which has followed her career from her gubernatorial candidacy announcement through her work as lieutenant governor.

As lieutenant governor, Bysiewicz's launch of a multi-state reproductive caucus represented an effort to build a national network among state-level officials, an initiative that drew attention in both state and university media.