Robin Comey

Robin Elaine Comey (born September 16, 1967) is an American Democratic politician and small business owner serving as the state representative for Connecticut's 102nd House District, which encompasses Branford, since her election in 2018.^[1][2] A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Comey has a background in community leadership, including founding the Branford Artist Cooperative to provide arts and literacy activities for young children and earning induction into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in 2019.^[3][4] As Assistant Majority Leader and Vice Chair of the Human Services Committee, Comey serves on the Committees on Children and Education, where she has prioritized policies related to early childhood development, food allergy safety, and special education inclusivity.^[1] Notable legislative achievements include leading the passage of a statewide stock-epinephrine law, restaurant allergy safety measures, and policies for food allergies in schools and childcare settings, as well as securing funding for local counseling services, housing, behavioral health care, and education initiatives in Branford.^[1] She co-chairs the Early Childhood Caucus and advocates for expanded access to early care and Birth to Three programs.^[1] Comey encountered legal controversy in March 2023 when she was arrested for driving under the influence following a rollover crash of her vehicle on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, where police reported her blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit.^[5][6] She entered Connecticut's impaired driving intervention program in lieu of trial, which, if successfully completed, would allow the charge to be erased from her record after one year.^[7] In February 2024, a Hartford resident filed a lawsuit against her seeking damages for injuries allegedly sustained in the same incident.^[8]

Early life and education

Upbringing and family background

Robin Elaine Comey was born on September 16, 1967, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[9] Her parents were Charles Henry Comey III and Cathleen Janes Comey, both of whom are deceased.^[4] The family relocated to Connecticut when Comey was three years old, where she spent the majority of her childhood.^[4] Comey's family background includes a tradition of involvement in human services, which she later referenced as influencing her own career path in nonprofit work.^[3] Specific details about her parents' professions or her siblings, if any, are not publicly documented in available biographical sources. Her early life in Connecticut preceded her attendance at Southern Connecticut State University, though pre-collegiate education remains unelaborated in records.^[1] Comey is married to David Comey and has two children; the family resides in Branford, Connecticut.^[9]

Academic and early professional experiences

Comey earned her bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 1990.^[3][10] Following graduation, she co-founded a small business with her husband in the early 1990s amid economic recession conditions.^[3] For a limited period, she owned and operated a children's art studio in Branford, where she conducted classes focused on artistic development.^[11] During her child-rearing years, Comey established the Branford Artist Cooperative to deliver arts and literacy programs tailored to preschool-aged children.^[4] She also assumed leadership positions within the Parent-Teacher Associations at Mary T. Murphy Elementary School and Branford High School, contributing to school-based initiatives.^[4] These efforts preceded her formal entry into elective politics in 2018.^[1]

Community and professional career

Business ownership and economic activities

Comey co-owns Starprompt, LLP, a teleprompting and production services company founded with her husband in 1992 in Branford, Connecticut.^[12][13] The firm specializes in providing teleprompting equipment and services for network, corporate video, and events, operating both locally and nationwide.^[13][9] The business was established in the early 1990s amid economic recession, reflecting Comey's entrepreneurial experience in the media production sector.^[3] As a partner, she has contributed to its operations for over 30 years, emphasizing services that support public speaking and video production needs.^[14][15] Prior to her political career, Comey's economic activities centered on this small business ownership, which she has cited as informing her advocacy for business-friendly policies in Connecticut.^[16] No other for-profit ventures are documented in public records.^[17]

Involvement in education and arts initiatives

Prior to entering politics, Comey owned a children's art studio in Branford, Connecticut, where she integrated arts and literacy classes for young children.^[11] As executive director of a local nonprofit, she organized an annual Art Walk event targeted at preschoolers to promote creative engagement.^[11] She also contributed to large-scale arts programming through fundraising and production for Projects for a New Millennium, which focused on outdoor multimedia environmental and arts installations.^[11] Comey has participated in theater activities both on stage and behind the scenes in Branford and across Connecticut, supporting local performing arts.^[11] Her community roles include serving on the board of the Branford Historical Society, where she handles publicity and development, aiding cultural preservation efforts that intersect with arts initiatives.^[11] These activities reflect her early professional focus on blending arts with community building, stemming from her small business ownership established in the early 1990s.^[3] In education, Comey was inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in 2019 for her contributions to local improvement efforts, including leadership roles in the PTA such as presidency of the Mary R. Tisko PTA and advocacy outside formal school systems.^[1] She advocated for over a decade on food allergy policies, culminating in statewide laws requiring stock epinephrine in schools and childcare centers, as well as restaurant training and allergy protocols.^[1] As co-chair of the Early Childhood Caucus, she advanced frameworks for early care and increased funding for Birth to Three programs.^[1] Comey authored House Bill 5002, passed on May 10, 2024, which established the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund to support childcare and early education programs, created an advisory commission for resource recommendations, invested in teachers for state-funded readiness and childcare initiatives, mandated a study on using state properties for such programs, and piloted a Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program in New London County to divide costs among employees, employers, and the state.^[18]

Political career

Entry into politics and 2018 election

Comey, a small business owner and executive director of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative, entered elective politics at the local level as a member of Branford's Representative Town Meeting prior to seeking higher office.^[19] In early 2018, following the retirement announcement of incumbent Democratic State Representative Lonnie Reed for Connecticut's 102nd House District—encompassing parts of Branford—Comey declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination, receiving Reed's endorsement.^[19] On May 29, 2018, Comey secured the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement at a convention in Branford, receiving 35 votes against John Prins (13 votes) and Adrian Bonenberger (8 votes), surpassing the required majority threshold in a single ballot round.^[19] Although Bonenberger initially indicated plans for a primary challenge via petition for the August 14, 2018, Democratic primary, he withdrew his candidacy on June 11, 2018, leaving Comey unopposed and advancing her automatically to the general election ballot.^[20] In the November 6, 2018, general election, Comey defeated Republican Robert Imperato, capturing 6,097 votes (55 percent) to Imperato's 4,984 votes (45 percent) out of 11,081 total votes cast, securing the seat for the Democratic Party.^[21] She was sworn into the Connecticut House of Representatives on January 9, 2019, beginning her tenure representing the district.^[1]

Subsequent elections and electoral performance

Comey secured re-election to the Connecticut House of Representatives District 102 in the November 3, 2020, general election, defeating Republican challenger Marc Riccio by a margin of 57.7% to 42.3%, with Comey receiving 8,097 votes to Riccio's 5,932 out of 14,029 total votes cast.^[17][22] She faced no Democratic primary opponent.^[17] In the November 8, 2022, general election, Comey again won re-election against Republican Ray Ingraham, capturing 56.7% of the vote (5,991 votes) to Ingraham's 43.3% (4,566 votes) from a total of 10,557 votes.^[17][23] No primary challenge occurred.^[17] Voter turnout in the district was lower than in 2020, reflecting statewide trends amid a midterm cycle focused on national issues. Comey's most recent re-election came on November 5, 2024, where she narrowly defeated Ingraham once more, earning 53.7% (7,267 votes) to his 46.3% (6,260 votes) out of 13,527 total votes, a closer contest amid delays in ballot counting in Branford due to local voting machine issues affecting approximately 10,000 absentee and early ballots.^[17][24][25] She advanced unopposed in the Democratic primary.^[17] Across these cycles, Comey's vote share declined from 57.7% in 2020 to 53.7% in 2024, indicating a tightening race in the Branford-based district, which has shown competitive tendencies in recent state legislative contests.^[26] No independent or third-party candidates appeared on the general election ballots in these years.^[17]

Legislative roles, committees, and policy positions

Robin Comey has served as a Democratic member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 102nd District, encompassing Branford, since assuming office on January 9, 2019, following her election on November 6, 2018.^[1] In this capacity, she holds the position of Assistant Majority Leader within the House Democratic caucus.^[1] Comey serves on the House Committee on Children, the Education Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Human Services Committee.^[27] She also co-chairs the Early Childhood Caucus and participates as a member of the State Advisory Council for Special Education.^[1] Her policy positions emphasize human services, education, and child welfare initiatives. Comey has advocated for expanded access to early childhood care, including increased funding for Birth to Three programs and efforts to make childcare more affordable and accessible.^[1] In education, she supports investments in mental health services within schools and inclusive special education practices, drawing from her 2019 induction into the Branford Education Hall of Fame for related contributions.^[1] On public health measures, she sponsored and helped enact legislation requiring statewide stocking of epinephrine in schools and promoting food allergy training in restaurants and childcare settings, addressing anaphylaxis risks after over a decade of advocacy.^[1] Additionally, she has prioritized environmental preservation, senior protections, and securing state grants for local services such as counseling, housing, and traffic safety improvements in her district.^[1] Comey's sponsored bills reflect these focuses, including measures for equitable compensation in nonprofit human services contracts and policies enhancing organ donor medical histories to ease family burdens.^[28]

Key legislative actions and voting record

Comey sponsored or co-sponsored bills emphasizing housing affordability, early childhood education, and family support measures during the 2025 legislative session. Notable examples include HB 5002, "An Act Concerning Housing and the Needs of Homeless Persons," which sought to reduce housing costs, expand options, and enhance support for homeless individuals, though it was vetoed; and HB 5003, "An Act Concerning Early Childhood Care and Education," aimed at improving access to such programs.^[29][30] She also backed HB 5986 to establish a refundable child tax credit against personal income tax and HB 5845 for funding school meals, reflecting priorities in social welfare and education funding.^[29] In her voting record, Comey demonstrated high attendance, achieving 100% presence on roll call votes during the 2019 session with 392 recorded votes.^[31] On major fiscal matters, she voted yea on HB 7288, appropriating funds for the FY 2027 state budget and related bonds, on June 4, 2025; however, she opposed HB 7287, the core state budget funding bill, diverging from business interests as noted by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA).^[32][33] Comey's votes aligned frequently with progressive policies, earning a 75% score from CBIA on pro-business measures—supporting reforms in permitting (HB 6868), occupational licensing (SB 611), and workers' compensation (HB 7141), but opposing expansions in wage liability (HB 6955) and health plan mandates (SB 11).^[33] Conversely, the conservative-leaning Freedom Index rated her at 5% overall, citing her yea votes on bills like SB 8 as favoring government intervention over fiscal restraint.^[34] She also supported SB 1405 to limit the independence of the elections enforcement unit and HB 6857 for social media protections targeting minors.^[32]

Controversies and legal issues

2021 State Capitol drinking allegations

On May 28, 2021, during a Connecticut House of Representatives debate on H.B. 6558, State Representative Robin Comey (D-Branford) appeared impaired while speaking, struggling to maintain coherence, repeatedly losing her place, and halting proceedings multiple times.^[35][36] Colleagues, including House Speaker Matt Ritter and Rep. William Petit, assisted her from the podium, after which Capitol police responded to the chamber; the incident was broadcast live on CT-N public access television.^[35] Comey issued a public apology on June 2, 2021, attributing her condition to a combination of anxiety, exhaustion from the legislative session, and "wine I had with dinner," while emphasizing that she took full responsibility, did not drive home that evening, and remained in Hartford until the following morning.^[35][36] The episode drew attention amid broader allegations, reported by Hartford Courant columnist Kevin Rennie, that multiple lawmakers had been drinking alcohol on State Capitol complex grounds during the session, potentially exacerbating such incidents under pandemic-era conditions of extended idle time and remote voting allowances.^[36] House Speaker Matt Ritter responded on June 2, 2021, stating that the allegations of excessive drinking at the Capitol were "being taken very, very seriously" and warning of "significant consequences" for violations, potentially including removal from committee assignments, while clarifying that such behavior was not representative of the body's norms.^[35][36] No formal investigation or disciplinary action against Comey was publicly documented from the 2021 incident, though Governor Ned Lamont urged lawmakers to respect the "people's house."^[36]

2023 DUI arrest, crash, and subsequent lawsuit

On March 16, 2023, Connecticut State Representative Robin Comey (D-Branford) was arrested in Hartford after her vehicle flipped in a crash near the State Capitol.^[37][5] According to police, Comey was driving a Honda Civic southbound on Main Street when she veered into a parked vehicle, causing her car to flip and land on a black SUV driven by another individual, resulting in injuries to the SUV's driver.^[38][39] Officers reported observing signs of intoxication, including the smell of alcohol and slurred speech, and body camera footage showed Comey struggling during field sobriety tests.^[40] She was charged with operating under the influence (OUI), failure to drive in the proper lane, and evading responsibility in the operation of a motor vehicle.^[37] Comey was suspended from her legislative duties the following day and stripped of her committee assignments and leadership roles by House Speaker Matt Ritter.^[41] In a statement, she acknowledged the incident, stating she took "full responsibility" and had been drinking at a nearby restaurant before driving.^[5] Surveillance video captured the crash moment, showing the vehicle overturning after striking the parked car.^[42] On May 5, 2023, Comey appeared in Hartford Superior Court, where she applied for an accelerated rehabilitation program for first-time offenders, pleading guilty to the OUI charge as part of the plea; successful completion would allow the charge to be erased from her record after one year, by May 2024.^[43][7] In January 2024, the driver of the struck SUV, identified as Green, filed an eight-count civil lawsuit against Comey in Hartford Superior Court, seeking $15,000 in damages for alleged negligence, recklessness, and injuries sustained, including pain and suffering.^[38][39] The suit also named the owner of the Honda Civic Comey was driving and Donald Green, owner of Kenny's Restaurant/Red Rock Tavern, claiming the establishment served her alcohol despite her visible intoxication, invoking dram shop liability.^[44][8] As of early 2025, the lawsuit remained pending in court, with no reported resolution.^[45]

Personal life

Family, residence, and ongoing community ties

Comey resides in Branford, Connecticut, the town she represents in the state's 102nd House District.^[1][3] She is married and has children; alongside her husband, she established a small business in Branford during the early 1990s following a recession.^[3] When her children were preschool-aged, Comey founded the Branford Artist Cooperative to provide arts and literacy programs for young children.^[4] Comey sustains active involvement in Branford's civic organizations, including past service on the Branford Board of Education, Branford Arts Council, and Branford Land Trust.^[3] She currently holds a position on the board of directors for the Branford Historical Society.^[46]