Standing Tall After a Tough Fight: The Political Journey of Cheshire’s Jim Jinks
By Richard "Reggie" Smith Research/Editor Cheshire Ct Phoenix News
Cheshire Connecticut Phoenix News — Special Political Report August 12, 2026
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Democratic voters across Connecticut’s 13th State Senate District went to the polls in a contested primary for an open seat. The district covers all of Meriden plus portions of Cheshire, Middletown, and Middlefield. When the unofficial tallies from the Secretary of the State’s office were complete, party-endorsed State Representative Jonathan “Jack” Fazzino of Meriden had secured the nomination with 3,157 votes (63.2 percent). Cheshire Town Councilor Jim Jinks finished with 1,841 votes (36.8 percent) out of 4,998 total ballots cast.
The numbers tell two stories. District-wide, Fazzino’s strength in the larger population centers of Meriden and Middletown proved decisive. On home turf, however, Jinks dominated. He carried Cheshire by a substantial margin and also won Middlefield, underscoring the depth of local support he has built over nearly a decade of community work and elected service. The seat becomes open because Sen. Jan Hochadel chose not to seek re-election. Fazzino now advances to the November 3 general election; at present no Republican candidate is on the ballot.
From Bike Paths to Town Hall: Deep Local Roots
Jim Jinks was born in Norwich, Connecticut. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut in 1994 and a master’s in public policy from Trinity College in 2016. For more than 25 years he has worked in advertising and marketing, including operating his own direct-marketing business and serving as vice president at Mediabids, a leading direct-response agency. He is also a longtime youth sports coach.
Jinks first became a household name in Cheshire through hands-on advocacy rather than traditional politics. In 2018 he founded Bike Cheshire, a nonprofit dedicated to improving cycling infrastructure, safety education, and community access. The group has run a popular community bike-share program, organized Bike to School Days and group rides, taught bike-safety classes in elementary schools, and advocated for mountain-bike trails, including those under development at Yankee Highlands. Jinks has repeatedly testified at the State Capitol in support of bonding for bikeways, greenways, and municipal bike programs.
He co-founded the Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire, helped the town achieve Sustainable CT bronze-level certification, and previously served on the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Cheshire Youth Services Committee. He has also been involved with the regional public-health district (Chesprocott) and served as vice chair of the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee.
On November 5, 2019, Jinks won election to the Cheshire Town Council from District 2, defeating Republican Guy Darter 920–841. He was the first Democrat to hold that seat in 14 years. Voters returned him in 2021, 2023, and 2025. He has served as council vice chairperson, chair of the Budget Committee, and chair of the Sustainability Committee, and has sat on the School Modernization Committee and other panels. His current term runs through 2027. He lives in Cheshire with his wife, Marie, their four children, and their dog, Claudia Jean (“CJ”).
A Near-Miss That Still Resonates
Jinks’ most dramatic earlier campaign came in 2020, when he challenged incumbent Republican State Representative Craig Fishbein in the 90th House District. Running on both the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, Jinks lost by just seventeen votes — 7,048 to 7,055 — in a race that drew more than 14,000 ballots. The razor-thin margin remains part of local political lore and demonstrated that a Democrat could mount a serious challenge in the district.
Campaign Themes and the 2026 Primary
In the Senate race Jinks positioned himself as a full-time public servant rather than a career politician.
He emphasized lowering costs for working families — property taxes, utility bills, housing, childcare, and education funding — and called for stronger state support for municipalities through mechanisms such as the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula. He argued that modest tax increases on the highest earners and capital gains could generate revenue that would reduce the burden on local property taxpayers. Campaign materials and statements repeatedly returned to the theme of “standing tall” for everyday residents and delivering concrete results without distractions from special interests or personal ambition.
Jinks met the 15-percent threshold at the Democratic district convention, automatically qualifying for the primary against the party-endorsed Fazzino. The contest was hard-fought and, by all accounts, civil. Both candidates spoke of grassroots efforts and the need for Democrats to address affordability.
Reactions to the Primary Outcome
In the hours after the results became clear, Jinks released a reflective statement that captured both
disappointment and resolve:
“More to say in the days ahead but I’m proud of our campaign. I’m proud of the issues we fought on and for being a voice for all the Democrats who know we have to do better and deliver more. Primaries are very hard under the best of conditions. It’s never easy going against the grain. We fought a long, uphill battle right through to the very end. We won Cheshire by a huge margin and won Middlefield but came up too short in Meriden and Middletown. You win some. You lose some. I can’t say thank you enough to my family, all my old friends, new friends, colleagues, voters, supporters, volunteers and donors that made this run possible. I’m truly grateful. My heart is full and I’m still, as always, standing tall.”
A shorter public comment carried a similar tone of congratulations: “(We) fought a hard, uphill battle right through to the end. I congratulate Jack on a strong race and wish him all the best.”
Community response was swift and warm. State Representative Mary Mushinsky, a longtime legislative voice in the region, posted: “Two fine candidates; the district is well served by 2 honorable competitors.”
Supporters and neighbors flooded social media and private messages with encouragement:
Francisco P: “Thank you for everything you have done for your community. We’ll be with you Jim!”
Ray P: “Jim, You’re a class act. Best of luck in the future!”
Kristi D: “Stand tall indeed! You and the team should be very proud. Thank you for all that you do for our communities.”
Cecil A: “You should be proud of the effort you put in.”
Anne V: “Always fighting the good fight! A great campaign!”
Terri A: “Standing tall indeed! I’m grateful for representatives like you.”
Casey D: “Well done.”
Judith B: “Good luck in the future! You fought a good fight. Thank you for running.”
George M: “Thank you for everything you always do for Cheshire and the neighboring communities!”
Dawn T: “So proud of you!!! What a great campaign.”
Edward D: “You will get it next time. Keep up the good work.”
John : “Disappointed but I think I know you well enough to know you will continue to be a strong voice for equality, fairness and integrity in our government at all levels. I admire your energy and effort … continued success in ALL that you do!”
Family members added personal notes. Elaine Smith Jinks wrote: “Well done Jim.” Later she added: “I just want to say thank you to all the people who have said kind things about Jim. I am very proud of him and what he has accomplished. He won’t give up.”
Looking Ahead
Although the 13th Senate nomination goes to Fazzino, Jim Jinks remains an active presence in Cheshire
government and community life. His Town Council term continues through 2027, and he shows no sign of stepping back from Bike Cheshire, sustainability work, or the budget and planning issues that have defined his local service. Supporters repeatedly noted that his record of close races, consistent re-election, and visible neighborhood advocacy suggests he is unlikely to disappear from public life for long.
For official and certified results, readers can consult the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Election Results Portal, the Cheshire Town Clerk and Elections Department, and Ballotpedia’s page for Connecticut State Senate District 13.
In a primary season that tested candidates across the state, Jinks’ campaign left a clear imprint in Cheshire and Middlefield: a candidate rooted in local institutions, willing to challenge the party-endorsed favorite, and determined — win or lose — to keep standing tall.
— Cheshire Connecticut Phoenix News staff report
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