Blumenthal, Richard

Richard Blumenthal is Connecticut's senior U.S. senator and a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2011. As ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he leads the minority opposition on these committees. The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is one of Congress's most powerful oversight bodies, with authority to investigate federal agencies, waste, fraud, and misconduct. The Veterans' Affairs Committee oversees benefits, healthcare, and services for military veterans. As ranking member, Blumenthal shapes the minority's investigative priorities, questions witnesses, and advances alternative legislation.

Blumenthal's background uniquely positions him for these roles. He served as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut from 1977 to 1981, prosecuting organized crime, drug trafficking, white-collar criminals, and civil rights violators. He later served 20 years as Connecticut's Attorney General, building a reputation for consumer protection and legal advocacy. He also served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 to 1976, giving him direct experience with military service. His legal training includes study at Harvard, Trinity College Cambridge, and Yale Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal.

As ranking member, Blumenthal has focused on government accountability and veteran welfare. He has sponsored legislation including the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans' Benefits Protection Act and the Advancing VA's Emergency Response to Crises Act of 2025, demonstrating active engagement in veterans' policy. His work on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations positions him to scrutinize federal spending and agency performance. Blumenthal has been reelected twice since his initial 2010 victory, winning with 55 percent of the vote against professional wrestling magnate Linda McMahon and securing subsequent terms in 2016 and 2022, indicating strong constituent support.