William Tong

William Tong
Born	William Morten Tong 2 5, 1973
Birthplace	Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	First Asian Pacific-American elected to statewide constitutional office in Connecticut
Education	Brown University (BA) University of Chicago Law School (JD)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Hotchkiss
Children	3
Awards	President, National Association of Attorneys General (2026)
Website	[https://portal.ct.gov/AG Official site]

William Morten Tong (Template:Zh; born May 2, 1973) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 25th Attorney General of Connecticut since January 9, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Tong made history upon his election in 2018 as the first Asian Pacific-American attorney general and the first Asian Pacific-American constitutional officer elected statewide in Connecticut. Prior to his election as attorney general, Tong represented the 147th district in the Connecticut House of Representatives for six terms from 2007 to 2019, during which he chaired both the banking committee and the judiciary committee. Born in Hartford to a family of Chinese descent, Tong attended Brown University and the University of Chicago Law School before practicing corporate law at prominent firms. In December 2025, Tong was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General. As attorney general, Tong has been active in multistate litigation involving pharmaceutical pricing, consumer protection, data privacy, and challenges to federal executive actions.

Early Life

William Morten Tong was born on May 2, 1973, in Hartford, Connecticut. He grew up in a family of Chinese heritage. Tong's background in Hartford shaped his connection to the state where he would build both his legal career and his political life. His upbringing in Connecticut's capital city provided him with an early exposure to the state's political and civic institutions.

Tong has spoken publicly about his Chinese-American identity and cultural heritage. In a Connecticut Post feature about Chinese New Year celebrations, Tong discussed the importance of cultural traditions, including dim sum, to his family life. His identity as an Asian Pacific-American would later become a significant aspect of his political career, particularly when he became the first person of Asian Pacific descent to win a statewide constitutional office in Connecticut.

Education

Tong attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree as part of the class of 1995. After completing his undergraduate studies, Tong enrolled at the University of Chicago Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2000. Both institutions are among the most selective in the United States, and Tong's time at the University of Chicago Law School provided him with a foundation in legal scholarship and practice that would inform his subsequent career in corporate law and public service.

Career

Legal Career

After graduating from the University of Chicago Law School, Tong began his legal career in the private sector. He worked as an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, a major New York-based law firm known for its corporate and financial practices. Tong subsequently moved to Finn Dixon & Herling, a Stamford-based law firm, where he practiced law focused on corporate matters.

In 2009, Tong was reported to be among the finalists considered for the position of United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, a federal appointment that would have placed him in one of the top federal law enforcement positions in the state. Although he was not ultimately selected for the position, the consideration underscored his standing within Connecticut's legal community.

Connecticut House of Representatives (2007–2019)

Tong entered electoral politics in 2006, winning election to the Connecticut House of Representatives to represent the 147th district, which encompasses most of North Stamford. He succeeded Donald Sherer in the seat and took office on January 3, 2007.

Tong served six consecutive terms in the Connecticut House, representing the 147th district from 2007 to 2019. During his tenure, he took on increasing leadership roles within the General Assembly. From 2011 to 2015, Tong chaired the banking committee, where he oversaw legislative matters related to financial institutions and consumer lending in Connecticut. In 2015, he was appointed cochairman of the judiciary committee, a role he held until his departure from the House in 2019. The judiciary committee chairmanship placed Tong at the center of major legal and judicial policy debates in the state legislature, including matters related to gun safety legislation and criminal justice reform.

During his time in the legislature, Tong was involved in efforts related to firearms regulation. He was associated with legislative efforts concerning lost and stolen firearms and gun trafficking in Connecticut. Tong also engaged with constituents on a range of local and state issues, providing testimony and advocating for policies affecting his North Stamford district.

At various points during his legislative career, Tong explored opportunities beyond the state House. He entered the race for higher office, with the Stamford Advocate noting his potential to make history as an Asian-American candidate for statewide office. He was also reported as a prospective candidate for the United States Senate.

Election as Attorney General (2018)

In 2018, Tong ran for the office of Attorney General of Connecticut following the decision of incumbent Attorney General George Jepsen not to seek re-election. The race drew significant attention, both for its competitiveness and for the historic nature of Tong's candidacy as an Asian Pacific-American seeking a statewide constitutional office in Connecticut.

The general election proved to be a closely contested race. The Connecticut Post reported that while several other statewide Democratic candidates won their races more decisively, the attorney general contest remained too close to call on election night. The Hartford Courant also covered the tightly fought contest in detail.

Tong ultimately prevailed and was elected the 25th Attorney General of Connecticut. He took office on January 9, 2019, succeeding George Jepsen. The Brown Daily Herald, the student newspaper of his undergraduate alma mater, reported on the historic significance of his victory, noting that Tong became the first Asian-American attorney general in Connecticut's history and the first Asian Pacific-American to be elected to a statewide constitutional office in the state.

Attorney General of Connecticut (2019–present)

Pharmaceutical Litigation

One of Tong's most prominent areas of focus as attorney general has been the pharmaceutical industry. In 2019, a sweeping lawsuit was announced accusing major generic drug companies and their executives of fixing prices. CBS News reported on the breadth of the litigation, which involved attorneys general from multiple states. Connecticut's Office of the Attorney General played a leading role in these multistate pharmaceutical pricing cases.

In February 2026, Tong led a coalition of 48 states and territories in announcing settlements with Lannett Company and Bausch related to pharmaceutical pricing practices. The settlements reflected Tong's continued involvement in holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for pricing practices.

Public Health

In February 2026, Tong joined a coalition of 15 states in filing a lawsuit to block the Trump Administration's overhaul of vaccine policy led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The suit sought to prevent what the attorneys general described as a radical restructuring of the nation's vaccine programs.

Challenges to Federal Executive Actions

As attorney general, Tong has been active in multistate litigation challenging federal executive actions. In February 2026, Tong released a statement following a 6–3 decision from the United States Supreme Court that invalidated tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, affirming the legal challenges that Tong and other attorneys general had brought.

Also in February 2026, Tong joined a coalition of 13 attorneys general in suing the Trump Administration for what they alleged was the unlawful termination of funding for energy and infrastructure programs.

Additionally, Tong joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in urging the United States Senate to reject the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.

Data Privacy and Consumer Protection

Tong has been involved in the implementation and enforcement of the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA). In February 2026, his office released an updated report detailing actions taken under the CTDPA, reflecting the attorney general's focus on protecting consumer data in the digital age.

Tong also submitted testimony in support of legislation concerning direct-to-consumer genetic testing, advocating for enhanced genetic privacy protections for Connecticut residents.

Personal Life

William Tong is married to Elizabeth Hotchkiss. The couple has three children. Tong has resided in the Stamford area, consistent with his long tenure representing North Stamford in the state legislature. He has spoken publicly about his Chinese-American heritage and its influence on his life and career.

Recognition

In December 2025, Tong was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), a bipartisan organization representing the attorneys general of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The election to the presidency of NAAG placed Tong in a national leadership role among the country's state-level chief legal officers.

Tong's 2018 election as attorney general was noted as a historic milestone. The Brown Daily Herald reported that his election made him the first Asian-American to serve as Connecticut's attorney general and the first Asian Pacific-American elected to a statewide constitutional office in the state. His candidacy and victory were covered by media outlets across Connecticut and nationally as a significant moment for Asian-American political representation.

The University of Chicago Law School highlighted Tong's career achievements, including his appointment as cochairman of the Connecticut General Assembly's judiciary committee, as notable accomplishments for an alumnus of the law school.

Legacy

As the first Asian Pacific-American to be elected to a statewide constitutional office in Connecticut, Tong's career represents a milestone in the state's political history. His election in 2018 expanded the representation of Asian-Americans in high-level state government positions and contributed to broader trends of increasing diversity among elected officials in the United States.

Tong's tenure as attorney general has been defined by active participation in multistate coalitions addressing pharmaceutical pricing, consumer protection, data privacy, and challenges to federal executive authority. His leadership of the 48-state coalition in pharmaceutical pricing settlements and his election as president of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2025 placed him among the more prominent state attorneys general of his era.

His legislative career in the Connecticut House of Representatives, spanning six terms and including leadership of both the banking and judiciary committees, established him as a significant figure in Connecticut state government prior to his elevation to the attorney general's office. His work on issues including firearms regulation, financial regulation, and judicial policy contributed to the legislative record of the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2007–2019 period.