Westport Republican John Bolton begins campaign for Attorney General. Ran against Jonathan Steinberg in 2024.

Westport zoning commission member John Bolton filed a campaign committee on Friday evening, March 20th for attorney general. Bolton has practiced law for more than 35 years.
Bolton is unlikely to face any competition for the Republican nomination for the job when it meets in May to select a candidate.

Bolton will face incumbent William Tong, the Stamford Democrat seeking a third term. Republican Party leaders have been searching for a nominee. They will need to give Bolton a hand if he is to qualify for the state’s generous public finance program. When he ran against veteran incumbent State Representative Jonathan Steinberg in 2024, Bolton raised only $4,660.

Westport seems headed to providing two candidates for the Republican under-ticket. Jennifer Tooker is running for comptroller after abandoning her campaign for governor.

Bolton, if his 2024 campaign for the House is an indication of what issues interest him, will concentrate on local zoning as sacrosanct and maintaining barriers to affordable housing.

Bolton begins his campaign in time to visit local party committees as they choose delegates for nominating conventions.

Published March 22, 2026.