Stamford Rep. Dan Fox expected to leave House

Rep. Dan Fox, D-Stamford, is not expected to take the oath of office when the next term begins on Jan. 4, a sign he is anticipating a nomination by Gov. Ned Lamont as a judge of the Superior Court.

Lawmakers are ineligible to take a position in another branch of state government while serving in the General Assembly, meaning he would be unable to accept a judicial nomination or executive position once he begins the new term.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, effectively outed Fox’s intention to leave the House by leaving him off the list of leadership and committee assignments in the 2023-24 term.

Ritter acknowledged the omission was deliberate in expectation of Fox, who is now co-chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, not being available for assignment on Jan. 4 or beyond.

“It’s up to Dan to make his own announcement,” Ritter said of Fox’s plans.

Ritter noted the omission was not due to any shortcoming on Fox’s part.

“My committee assignments are not a sign of how I feel about Rep. Fox,” Ritter said. “I certainly have really enjoyed serving with him. He’s a dear friend.

And he’s a wonderful public servant.”

Fox, a lawmaker for 12 years who was easily reelected in November from a safe Democratic district, could not be reached Thursday. If Fox relinquishes his seat, a special election will be called.

House Democrats won a 98-53 majority in November.

Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, was named to succeed Fox as co-chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, which will be tasked with drafting the rules for early voting, as now allowed due to a constitutional amendment approved by voters at a referendum in November.