Senator Rob Sampson is currently serving his second term representing the people of Connecticut’s 16th State Senate District including Prospect, Southington, Wolcott and parts of Cheshire and Waterbury. He previously served four terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 2011-2018.
He currently serves as Assistant Minority Leader in the Senate and is the Ranking Republican Member of the Labor and Public Employees and Government Administration and Elections committees and is a member of the Judiciary and Commerce committees. In previous years has also served on the Environment, Appropriations, Finance, Revenue, & Bonding, and as the Ranking Republican Member of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee. He founded the Connecticut General Assembly’s House Conservative Caucus and served as its first Chairman before being elected to the Senate in November 2018.
Senator Sampson is known as Connecticut’s leading voice in state government for protecting our individual rights and has never wavered in his determination to reaffirm our power as free citizens and to restore our American system of limited, representative government. He fights for more transparent and responsive government, protecting the civil rights of all citizens, improving the quality of education, restoring election integrity, defending the rule of law, and reversing the terrible policies adopted in recent years that have drastically raised the cost of living and have undermined our safety and security. He is also a strong advocate for healthcare reform, tackling the opioid epidemic, and thwarting human trafficking.
He strives to set a principled example for his colleagues and to uphold his oath to our Constitution, regardless of the odds against him. He is known as Connecticut’s fiercest freedom fighter, willing to stand alone and against his own party to defend the principles of individual liberty and limited Constitutional government.
Senator Sampson is known for his extraordinary, passionate, and sometimes lengthy speeches in both chambers. He has proven himself as a leader for a new and different direction in Connecticut. While serving in the minority, he has been the most outspoken voice on several causes, challenging the Malloy & Lamont administrations’ budgets and leading the opposition to the Democrat’s most damaging policies including the early release of violent felons, the forced unionization of child-care providers and personal care attendants, the New Britain to Hartford Busway, driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, the Trust Act, and more recently, highway tolls, gas taxes, rising electricity rates, critical race theory, and the police accountability act.
In addition to battling bad policy, he has co-sponsored almost 150 bills that have become law benefitting seniors, veterans, our economy, education, and good government – a remarkable achievement as a member of the minority party.
In late 2021, Senator Rob Sampson was recognized by a leading parental rights organization, Parent’s Choice CT (now Families for Freedom) as their 2021 legislative champion and “Connecticut’s Fiercest Freedom Fighter” for his work protecting parental rights in education and medical freedom.
Also in 2021, The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities named Senator Sampson a Legislative Champion of the Year for his leadership in promoting transparency in government and budget matters during the 2021 legislative session.
In 2019, Sampson’s ardent support for Connecticut’s economic competitiveness and business climate earned Sampson a 100% pro-business voting record according to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). He was one of only two Senators to earn this distinction.
Rob is a member of the NRA, a gun owner, and is active in the sport. He became widely recognized throughout our state and beyond in 2013 for his unyielding defense of Constitutional principles and law-abiding gun owners. He received the Legislator of the Year award in 2012 from the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and received the highly respected NRA Defender of Freedom award in 2014.
Rob Sampson graduated Meriden’s Maloney High School with honors, later attending Central Connecticut State University, majoring in Marketing.
Rob Sampson started work at age 16 as a stock boy in a local department store at $3.37 per hour. As a young man, he also worked as an auto mechanic, a handyman, store clerk, parts counterperson, and a roadie for a deejay company. Starting as an entry level insurance agent, he worked his way up in the independent insurance agency business, including managing several small but profitable offices.
In 2002, Sampson made the decision to dedicate his efforts principally to real estate. He has been a top producer throughout his real estate career and currently works out of the Southington location of Realty 3 of Connecticut as both a Realtor and Regional Recruiter. He has also remained active in insurance, now as an advisor & counselor with more than 20 years of experience.
Over the years, Rob has trained dozens of insurance agents, producers, and customer service representatives to work in the independent insurance agency system. He has also recruited and mentored dozens of professional Realtors.
He is also a landlord, property manager, and real estate investor.
Rob Sampson was born and raised in Meriden, moving to Wolcott in May of 2003 citing its quality school system, sense of community and lower taxes as rationale. He spends his leisure time renovating houses, restoring classic cars and motorcycles, reading, playing the guitar, hiking, and target shooting. Sampson is a member of Wolcott’s Masonic Lodge No. 146.
An avid reader and a student of American History, Rob collects items related to the American Revolution and the Civil War. He cites Abraham Lincoln as his inspiration for politics and becoming a Republican. He is also nationally recognized for his expertise in debating Constitutional principles.