Bipartisan baby boy born to state rep

Democratic State Rep. Caroline Simmons of Stamford and her husband, a Republican state senator, gave birth to their first child on Friday as the season’s first snow storm blanketed Connecticut.

Simmons and Sen. Art Linares of Westbrook looked to their favorite president Republican Theodore Roosevelt as inspiration for the name of their son, Theodore (Teddy) Arthur Linares.

“We are just so overjoyed and feel so blessed to have this happy bundle of joy in our lives,” said Simmons, in an interview Monday. She shared news of the birth on Twitter Sunday.

Simmons, whose pregnancy was announced at the state Capitol in May, was re-elected to her third term on Nov. 6. Over the next month, her legislative activities will be minimal, she said, but she will be ready to return to the Capitol when the legislative session officially resumes in January.

“We are so lucky that he came right after the campaign season was over,” she said.

Linares, who mounted a campaign for state treasurer but lost in the Republican primary, will conclude his term as state Senator in January. He has accepted a job at the Norwalk-based TaxCloud, a free online sales tax compliance service, he said.

“Right now I plan to dedicate my time to being a supportive husband and father and support Caroline in her efforts in serving Stamford,” said Linares.

Baby Teddy was born at 7 pounds 1 ounce at Stamford Hospital. Simmons praised the work of the doctors and nurses who supported her through labor overnight Thursday and into Friday as snow fell outside.

Capturing headlines with their bipartisan love story, Simmons, 32, and Linares, 30, married in October 2017.

Contributed photo State Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-Stamford, tweeted this photo after the birth of her son on Friday. Standing with her is her husband state Sen. Art Linares, R-Westbrook.