View source for Richard Blumenthal

{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Richard Blumenthal
| image               = Senator Richard Blumenthal at the White House, 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Blumenthal in 2024
| office              = Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2025
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Jerry Moran]]
| successor           = 
| jr/sr1              = United States Senator
| state1              = [[Connecticut]]
| alongside1          = [[Chris Murphy]]
| term_start1         = January 5, 2011
| term_end1           = 
| predecessor1        = [[Chris Dodd]]
| successor1          = 
| office2             = 23rd [[Attorney General of Connecticut]]
| governor2           = {{ubl |[[Lowell Weicker]] |[[John G. Rowland|John Rowland]] |[[Jodi Rell]]}}
| term_start2         = January 9, 1991
| term_end2           = January 5, 2011
| predecessor2        = [[Clarine Nardi Riddle]]
| successor2          = [[George Jepsen]]
| state_senate3       = Connecticut
| district3           = [[Connecticut's 27th State Senate district|27th]]
| term_start3         = November 4, 1987
| term_end3           = January 3, 1991
| predecessor3        = Anthony Truglia
| successor3          = [[George Jepsen]]
| state_house4        = Connecticut
| district4           = [[Connecticut's 145th House of Representatives district|145th]]
| term_start4         = April 11, 1984
| term_end4           = November 4, 1987
| predecessor4        = Anthony Truglia
| successor4          = [[Nicholas Pavia]]
| office5             = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Connecticut|District of Connecticut]]
| president5          = {{ubl |[[Jimmy Carter]] |[[Ronald Reagan]]}}
| term_start5         = June 22, 1977
| term_end5           = November 1, 1981
| predecessor5        = [[Peter Dorsey]]
| successor5          = [[Alan Nevas]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1946|2|13}}
| birth_place         = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Cynthia Malkin Blumenthal|1982}}
| children            = 4, including [[Matt Blumenthal|Matt]]
| relatives           = {{ubl |[[David Blumenthal]] (brother) |[[Peter L. Malkin]] (father-in-law) |[[Scott D. Malkin]] (brother-in-law)}}
| education           = {{ubl |[[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) |[[Trinity College, Cambridge]] |[[Yale University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| website             = {{URL|blumenthal.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br>{{url|richardblumenthal.com|Campaign website}}
| signature           = Richard Blumenthal Signature.svg
| allegiance          = {{flag|United States}}
| branch              = {{tree list}}
*{{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
**[[United States Marine Corps Reserve|Marine Corps Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| branch_label        = Branch
| serviceyears        = 1970–1976
| serviceyears_label  = Service&nbsp;years
| rank                = [[Sergeant (United States)|Sergeant]]
| module              = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Richard Blumenthal on his support for the Inflation Reduction Act.ogg
|title       = Blumenthal's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Blumenthal supporting the [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022|Inflation Reduction Act]].<br>Recorded August 6, 2022}}
}}
'''Richard Blumenthal''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|l|uː|m|ə|n|θ|ɑː|l}} {{respell|BLOO|mən|thahl}}; born February 13, 1946) is an American politician and attorney serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Connecticut]]. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he has been a member of the Senate since 2011. Blumenthal previously served as [[United States attorney|U.S. attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Connecticut|District of Connecticut]], as a member of the [[Connecticut General Assembly]], and as the 23rd [[Connecticut attorney general]].

Blumenthal graduated from [[Harvard University]], where he was chair of ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]''. He then studied for a year at [[Trinity College, Cambridge]] before attending [[Yale Law School]], where he was editor-in-chief of the ''[[Yale Law Journal]]''. From 1970 to 1976, Blumenthal served in the [[United States Marine Corps Reserve]], attaining the rank of [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]]. After graduating from Yale Law School, Blumenthal passed the bar and served as administrative assistant and law clerk for several [[Washington, D.C.]] figures. He served as [[U.S. attorney]] for the District of Connecticut from 1977 to 1981. In the early 1980s, he worked in private law practice, including as volunteer counsel for the [[NAACP Legal Defense Fund]].

Blumenthal served one term in the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]], from 1985 to 1987. He was elected to the [[Connecticut Senate]] in 1986 and began service in 1987. In 1990, Blumenthal was elected [[Connecticut Attorney General|Attorney General of Connecticut]]; he served in that capacity for 20 years. Blumenthal announced his [[2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2010]] run for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] after [[incumbent]] Senator [[Chris Dodd]] announced his retirement. He defeated Republican nominee [[Linda McMahon]], a [[professional wrestling]] magnate, with 55% of the vote. After [[Joe Lieberman]] retired from the Senate in 2013, Blumenthal became Connecticut's senior senator. He was reelected in [[2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2016]] and [[2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2022]].
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Early life and education==
Richard Blumenthal{{efn|Blumenthal's middle initial has sometimes been reported as "A."'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=6378136&default=candidate|title=Blumenthal, Richard A.|website=Follow the Money|publisher=Open Secrets|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref> and has sometimes been reported as "L."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/11/nyregion/westport-lawyer-prepares-for-us-role.html|title=Westport Lawyer Prepares for U.S. Role|first=Robert E.|last=Tomasson|date=October 11, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>}} was born into a [[Jewish]] family in [[Brooklyn, New York]], the son of Jane (''née'' Rosenstock) and Martin Blumenthal. At age 17, Martin Blumenthal immigrated to the United States from [[Frankfurt, Germany]]; Jane was raised in [[Omaha, Nebraska]], graduated from [[Radcliffe College]], and became a social worker.<ref name="courant">{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Elizabeth |date=October 3, 2004 |title=The Public and Private Life of Dick Blumenthal |work=[[The Hartford Courant]] |url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-richard-blumenthal-profile-2004-story.html |access-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ctmirror.org/2010/05/22/richard-blumenthals-acceptance-speech/|title=Richard Blumenthal's acceptance speech|date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Martin Blumenthal had a career in financial services and became president of a commodities trading firm.<ref name=ny81>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/29/style/miss-malkin-plans-bridal.html | work=The New York Times | title=Miss Malkin Plans Bridal | date=November 29, 1981 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>Hladky, Gregory B. [http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/featured-news/see-dick-run A Closer Look At Richard Blumenthal.] ''Hartford Advocate.'' April 27, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Richard_Blumenthal.html Jewish Virtual Library: Richard Blumenthal], retrieved December 22, 2011</ref> Jane's father, Fred "Fritz" Rosenstock, raised cattle, and as youths Blumenthal and his brother often visited their grandfather's farm. Blumenthal's brother [[David Blumenthal]] is a doctor and health care policy expert who became president of the [[Commonwealth Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Bios/B/Blumenthal-David.aspx|title=David Blumenthal, M.D.|website=commonwealthfund.org|access-date=January 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301165215/http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Bios/B/Blumenthal-David.aspx|archive-date=March 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Blumenthal attended [[Riverdale Country School]] in the [[Riverdale, The Bronx|Riverdale]] section of [[the Bronx]]. He then attended [[Harvard College]], from which he graduated in 1967 with an [[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]] degree ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in [[Political science|government]] and membership in [[Phi Beta Kappa]]. As an undergraduate, he was editorial chairman of ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]''.<ref>Plotz, David. [http://www.slate.com/id/2240729 Just Call Him Senator: An assessment of Richard Blumenthal, the man most likely to replace Connecticut's Christopher Dodd.] ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]].'' January 6, 2010.</ref> Blumenthal was a summer intern reporter for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in the London Bureau.<ref name="ctpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Attorney-General-Richard-Blumenthal-timeline-311842.php|title=Attorney General Richard Blumenthal timeline|work=Connecticut Post |date=January 7, 2010}}</ref> He was selected for a Fiske Fellowship, which allowed him to study at the [[University of Cambridge]]'s [[Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]] in England for one year after graduation from Harvard.

In 1973, Blumenthal received his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from [[Yale Law School]], where he was editor-in-chief of the ''[[Yale Law Journal]]''.<ref>[http://yalelawjournal.org/images/mastheads/82.pdf Volume 82, Number 4, March 1973.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602235503/http://www.yalelawjournal.org/images/mastheads/82.pdf |date=June 2, 2011}} ''The Yale Law Journal.''</ref> At Yale, he was the classmate of future [[US President|president]] [[Bill Clinton]] and future [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>[http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/bill_clinton_stumps_for_richar.html "Bill Clinton stumps for Richard Blumenthal in Conn. Senate race"], The Associated Press, September 26, 2010.</ref> One of his co-editors of the ''Yale Law Journal'' was future [[United States Secretary of Labor]] [[Robert Reich]]. He was also a classmate of future Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]] and future [[radio host]] [[Michael Medved]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/reich.html |title=Interviews – Robert Reich &#124; The Clinton Years &#124; FRONTLINE |publisher=PBS |date=January 16, 2001 |access-date=May 26, 2012}}</ref>

==Military service and controversy==

Blumenthal received five [[Selective Service System#1969 to 1975|draft deferments]] during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last=Pershing |first=Ben |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/18/AR2010051802208.html |title=Senate Hopeful Richard Blumenthal Addresses Report He Lied About Vietnam Record |newspaper=Washington Post |date=May 19, 2010}}</ref> At first, he received educational deferments; later, he received deferments based on his occupation.<ref name="Dick Blumenthal, Reporting for Duty">{{Cite news |last=Taranto |first=James |date=May 18, 2010 |title=Dick Blumenthal, Reporting for Duty |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |location=New York, NY |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703957904575252483864076618 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref> In April 1970, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps Reserve]], which, as ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted, "virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam".<ref name="Dick Blumenthal, Reporting for Duty" /><ref name="NYT Vietnam">{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Raymond |date=May 17, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2023|title=Candidate's Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He served in units stationed in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut from 1970 to 1976,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dixon |first=Ken |url=http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Blumenthal-an-easy-victor-495994.php |title=Blumenthal an easy victor |newspaper=Connecticut Post |date=May 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=He served in the Marine Reserve. |at=Photo page |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 28, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal_CA4.html |access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref> attaining the rank of [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]].<ref>[http://news.yale.edu/2012/04/02/senator-blumenthal-honored-yale-graduate-school-diversity-conference "Senator Blumenthal Honored at Yale Graduate School Diversity Conference"], ''Yale News'', April 2, 2012.</ref> During his [[2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2010 Senate campaign]], news report videos that showed Blumenthal claiming he had served in Vietnam created a controversy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Richard |date=May 18, 2010 |title= Richard Blumenthal's Vietnam fight-back: Democratic candidate Richard Blumenthal is battling on over accusations he falsely claimed military service in Vietnam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/may/18/richard-blumenthal-vietnam-connecticut-senate |work=The Guardian |location=New York, NY}}</ref> He denied having intentionally misled voters, but acknowledged having occasionally "misspoken" about his service record.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mann |first=Ted |date=May 19, 2010 |title=Blumenthal defends service record |url= https://www.theday.com/article/20100519/NWS12/305199926 |work=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]] |location=New London, CT |quote="Attorney General Richard Blumenthal Tuesday acknowledged having "misplaced words" in 2008 when describing his service during the Vietnam War, but he forcefully denied that he had intentionally misled voters into thinking he saw combat in Southeast Asia."}}</ref> He later apologized to voters for remarks about his military service that he said had not been "clear or precise".<ref>{{cite news |last=Condon |first=Stephanie |date=May 24, 2010 |title=Richard Blumenthal Apologizes for Exaggerating Military Service |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-blumenthal-apologizes-for-exaggerating-military-service/ |work=CBS.com |location=New York, NY}}</ref>

==Early career==
Blumenthal served as an administrative assistant to Senator [[Abraham A. Ribicoff]], as an aide to [[Daniel P. Moynihan]] when Moynihan was Assistant to President [[Richard Nixon]], and as a law clerk to Judge [[Jon O. Newman]], [[United States District Court for the District of Connecticut|U.S. District Court of the District of Connecticut]], and to [[Supreme Court Justice]] [[Harry A. Blackmun]].

Blumenthal was a partner in the law firm of Cummings & Lockwood, and subsequently in the law firm of Silver, Golub & Sandak.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-richard-blumenthal-timeline,0,7470484.htmlpage |work=Hartford Courant |title=Timeline: Richard Blumenthal |access-date=April 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229134648/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-richard-blumenthal-timeline,0,7470484.htmlpage |archive-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref> In December 1982, while still at Cummings & Lockwood, he created and chaired the Citizens Crime Commission of Connecticut, a private, nonprofit organization.<ref name=SA01/> From 1981 to 1986, he was a volunteer counsel for the [[NAACP Legal Defense Fund]].<ref name="ctpost.com"/>

At age 31, Blumenthal was appointed [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Connecticut|District of Connecticut]], serving from 1977 to 1981.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/17/archives/long-island-opinion-interview-us-attorney-at-age-31.html |work=The New York Times |title=Interview |date=July 17, 1977 |access-date=March 20, 2024 |last1=Illson |first1=Murray }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/02/nyregion/a-look-at-record-for-connecticut-s-us-attorney.html |work=The New York Times |title=A Look at Record for Connecticut's U.S. Attorney |date=November 2, 1981 |access-date=March 20, 2024}}</ref> As the chief federal prosecutor of that state, he successfully prosecuted many major cases involving [[drug trafficking|drug traffickers]], [[organized crime]], [[white-collar crime|white collar criminals]], [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] violators, [[consumer fraud]], and environmental pollution.<ref name="ctpost.com"/>

In 1984, when he was 38, Blumenthal was elected to the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]], representing the [[Connecticut's 145th assembly district|145th district]]. In 1987, he won a special election to fill a vacancy in the 27th district of the [[Connecticut Senate]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=961725 | title=Our Campaigns − CT State House 145 − Special Election Race − Apr 10, 1984}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=742700 | title=Our Campaigns − CT State House 145 Race − Nov 04, 1986}}</ref><ref name="SA01">Walsh, Erin. [http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Attorney-General-Richard-Blumenthal-timeline-311842.php Attorney General Richard Blumenthal timeline.] ''Stamford Advocate.'' January 6, 2010.</ref> 

In the 1980s, Blumenthal testified in the state legislature in favor of abolishing Connecticut's [[death penalty]] statute. He did so after representing Joseph Green Brown, a Florida death row inmate who was found to have been [[wrongful conviction|wrongly convicted]]. Blumenthal succeeded in staving off Brown's execution just 15 hours before it was scheduled to take place, and gained a new trial for Brown.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/nyregion/20conn.html| work=The New York Times| title=Murder Trial Puts Death Penalty in Spotlight in Connecticut Campaigns| date= October 19, 2010| access-date=April 3, 2011| first=Paul| last=Bass}}</ref>

==Attorney General of Connecticut==
Blumenthal was elected the 23rd attorney general of Connecticut in 1990 and reelected in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. On October 10, 2002, he was awarded the [[Raymond E. Baldwin Award for Public Service]] by the [[Quinnipiac University School of Law]].<ref>[http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x8470.xml ''quinnipiac.edu''].  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040912232909/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x8470.xml |date=September 12, 2004}}</ref>

=== Tenure ===

====Pequot land annexation bid====
In May 1995, Blumenthal and the state of Connecticut filed lawsuits challenging a decision by the Department of the Interior to approve a bid by the federally recognized [[Mashantucket Pequot]] for annexation of 165 acres of land in the towns of [[Ledyard, Connecticut|Ledyard]], [[North Stonington, Connecticut|North Stonington]] and [[Preston, Connecticut|Preston]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1772&Q=282522 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221121136/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1772&Q=282522 | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 21, 2006 |title= Blumenthal Argues State's Challenge of Federal Approval of Mashantucket Pequots' Annexation Bid| work=ct.gov| date= November 24, 1997| access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref> The Pequot were attempting to have the land placed in a federal trust, a legal designation to provide them with land for their sovereign control, as long years of colonization had left them landless. Blumenthal argued that the Interior Department's decision in support of this action was "fatally, legally flawed, and unfair" and that "it would unfairly remove land from the tax rolls of the surrounding towns and bar local control over how the land is used, while imposing [a] tremendous burden."<ref name=zielbauer /> The tribe announced the withdrawal of the land annexation petition in February 2002.<ref name=zielbauer>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/26/nyregion/pequot-tribe-withdraws-annexation-plan-opposed-by-neighboring-towns.html| work=The New York Times | title= Pequot Tribe Withdraws Annexation Plan Opposed by Neighboring Towns| first=Paul | last= Zielbauer | date= February 26, 2002| access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref>

====Interstate air pollution====
In 1997, Blumenthal and Governor [[John G. Rowland]] petitioned the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) to address interstate [[air pollution]] problems created from Midwest and southeastern sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/AG/cwp/view.asp?a=1778&q=284034|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705055536/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1778&Q=284034|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2006|title=Connecticut Municipalities Join Blumenthal, Eight Other States In Lawsuit Against Bush Administration For Gutting Clean Air Act|publisher=CT Office of the Attorney General|date=January 16, 2003|access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> The petition was filed in accordance with Section 126 of the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]], which allows a state to request pollution reductions from out-of-state sources that contribute significantly to its air quality problems.

In 2003, Blumenthal and the attorneys general of eight other states (New York, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont) filed a federal lawsuit against the Bush administration for "endangering air quality by gutting a critical component of the federal Clean Air Act."<ref>{{cite web|author=U.S.Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works|url=http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=bc838bf9-2db1-4ab1-b043-aee3adf558cd |title=AGS to sue Bush administration for gutting Clean Air Act |publisher= epw.senate.gov |date=November 22, 2002 |access-date=March 23, 2011}}</ref> The suit alleged that changes in the act would have exempted thousands of industrial air pollution sources from the act's New Source Review provision and that the new rules and regulations would lead to an increase in air pollution.<!-- Result? Outcome of suit? -->

====Tobacco====
While attorney general, Blumenthal was one of the leaders of a 46-state lawsuit against the [[tobacco industry]], which alleged that the companies involved had deceived the public about the dangers of smoking.<ref name=Cummings>{{cite news| title = Blumenthal: The 'A' in AG is for Activist| first = Bill |last=Cummings| newspaper = [[Connecticut Post]] | date = August 16, 2010| url = http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Blumenthal-The-A-in-AG-is-for-Activist-617917.php#ixzz1QLKf0ZwT | access-date = July 25, 2011}}</ref> He argued that the state of Connecticut should be reimbursed for [[Medicaid]] expenses related to smoking. In 1998, the tobacco companies reached a [[Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement|$246 billion national settlement]], giving the 46 states involved 25 years of reimbursement payments. Connecticut's share of the settlement was estimated at $3.6 billion.

In December 2007, Blumenthal filed suit against [[R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company|RJ Reynolds]], alleging that a 2007 Camel advertising spread in ''[[Rolling Stone magazine]]'' used cartoons in violation of the master tobacco settlement, which prohibited the use of cartoons in cigarette advertising because they entice children and teenagers to smoke.<ref name=OAG120407>{{cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?q=400320&a=2788&tx=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165254/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?q=400320&a=2788&tx=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2012|title= Attorney General, Seven Other States, Sue Tobacco Maker For Illegal Cartoon Camel Ad In Rolling Stone|publisher=CT Office of the Attorney General|date= December 4, 2007|access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> The company paid the state of Connecticut $150,000 to settle the suit and agreed to end the advertising campaign.

====Microsoft lawsuit====
In May 1998, Blumenthal and the attorneys general of 19 other states and the District of Columbia filed an [[anti-trust]] [[United States v. Microsoft Corp. (2001)|lawsuit]] against [[Microsoft]], accusing it of abusing its monopoly power to stifle competition.<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url= http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1773&Q=282668|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060408075515/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1773&Q=282668|url-status= dead|archive-date= April 8, 2006|title= Blumenthal Files Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Microsoft|publisher=CT Office of the Attorney General|date= May 18, 1998 |access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> The suit, which centered on Microsoft's [[Windows 98]] operating system and its contractual restrictions imposed on [[personal computer]] manufacturers to tie the operating system to its [[Internet Explorer]] browser, was eventually merged with a federal case brought by the [[United States Department of Justice]] (DOJ) under Attorney General [[Janet Reno]].<ref name=Rooney>{{cite news|title=Connecticut Attorney General Open to Settlement, Wants Tough Remedy |first=Paula |last=Rooney |publisher=CRN.com |date=June 29, 2001 |url=http://www.crn.com/18836171/printablearticle.htm |access-date=June 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918014701/http://www.crn.com/18836171/printablearticle.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref>

A 2000 landmark federal court decision ruled that Microsoft had violated antitrust laws, and the court ordered that the company be broken up. In 2001, the federal appeals court agreed, but rather than break up the company, it sent the case to a new judge to hold hearings and determine appropriate remedies.<ref name=OAG073007>{{cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?a=2788&q=393742 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016153035/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=393742&A=2788 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |title= Blumenthal, Six Other Attorneys General, Say Microsoft Maintains Monopolistic Power In Software Market |publisher=CT Office of the Attorney General|date= August 30, 2007|access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2001-07-13-week.htm | work=USA Today | title=Week in Review − July 9–13, 2001 | date=July 16, 2001 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Remedies were later proposed by Blumenthal and eight other attorneys general; these included requiring that Microsoft license an unbundled version of Windows in which middleware and operating system code were not commingled.<ref name=OAG120711>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.ct.gov/AG/cwp/view.asp?a=1776&q=283190|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705073651/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=1776&Q=283190|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2006|title= Blumenthal, Eight Other States File Proposed Remedies In Microsoft Case|publisher=CT Office of the Attorney General|date= December 7, 2001|access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref>

In 2001, the Bush administration's DOJ settled with Microsoft in an agreement criticized by many states and other industry experts as insufficient.<ref name=OAG073007/> In November 2002, a federal court ruling imposed those same remedies.<!-- <!-- Which same? --> In August 2007, Blumenthal and five other states and the District of Columbia filed a report alleging that the federal settlement with Microsoft and court-imposed Microsoft remedies had failed to adequately reduce Microsoft's monopoly.<ref name=OAG073007/>

====Stanley Works====
On May 10, 2002, Blumenthal and Connecticut State Treasurer [[Denise L. Nappier]] helped to stop the hostile takeover of [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain-based]] [[Stanley Works]], a major Connecticut employer, by filing a lawsuit alleging that the move to reincorporate in [[Bermuda]] based on a shareholder's vote of May 9<ref>Baue, William. [http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article878.html Connecticut Fights to Keep Stanley Works from Disappearing to Bermuda.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120910190529/http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article878.html |date=September 10, 2012}} ''Social Funds.'' July 9, 2002.</ref> was "rife with voting irregularities." The agreement to temporarily halt the move was signed by New Britain Superior Court Judge Marshall Berger.<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/stanley.htm |title=CT Attorney General |publisher=Cslib.org |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223931/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/stanley.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref> On June 3 Blumenthal referred the matter to the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) for further investigation<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/sec.htm |title=CT Attorney General |publisher=Cslib.org |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223920/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/sec.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref> and on June 25 he testified before the [[U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means]] that "Longtime American corporations with operations in other countries can dodge tens of millions of dollars in federal taxes by the device of reincorporating in another country" by "simply [filing] incorporation papers in a country with friendly tax laws, open a post-office box and hold an annual meeting there" and that Stanley Works, along with "[[Cooper Industries]], [[Seagate Technology|Seagate Technologies]], [[Ingersoll-Rand]] and [[PricewaterhouseCoopers|PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting]], to name but a few, have also become pseudo-foreign corporations for the sole purpose of saving tax dollars." Blumenthal said, "Corporations proposing to reincorporate to Bermuda, such as Stanley, often tell shareholders that there is no material difference in the law", but said that this was not the case and was misleading to their shareholders.<ref>[http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legacy/srm/107cong/6-25-02/6-25blum.htm Statement of the Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, Connecticut Attorney General's Office.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825004942/http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Legacy/srm/107cong/6-25-02/6-25blum.htm |date=August 25, 2004}} ''Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.'' June 25, 2002.</ref> In order to rectify this situation he championed the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act to close tax loopholes.<ref>[http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legacy/fullcomm/107cong/6-6-02/records/blumenthal.htm Statement of the Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Attorney General, Hartford, Connecticut.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825000717/http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Legacy/fullcomm/107cong/6-6-02/records/blumenthal.htm |date=August 25, 2004}} ''Committee on Ways and Means, Full Committee.'' June 6, 2002.</ref>

====Tomasso Group and Rowland corruption====
Blumenthal was involved in a series of lawsuits against associates of Connecticut governor Rowland and the various entities of the [[Tomasso Group]] over Tomasso's bribing of state officials, including Rowland, in exchange for the awarding of lucrative state contracts.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Tomasso, Blumenthal at odds over subpoenas in probe |url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Tomasso-Blumenthal-at-odds-over-subpoenas-in-11689547.php |work=New Haven Register |access-date=June 3, 2019|date=December 9, 2003}}</ref> Blumenthal subpoenaed Tomasso Brothers Inc.; Tomasso Brothers Construction Co.; TBI Construction Co. LLC; Tunxis Plantation Country Club; Tunxis Management Co.; Tunxis Management Co. II; and Tenergy Water LLC (all part of the Tomasso Group). Lawyers for the Tomasso Group argued that the attorney general had no special power to look into the operations of private firms under whistleblower law as no actual whistleblowers had come forward and all incriminating testimony was in related federal cases. Connecticut law requires the attorney general to both be the attorney for the state and investigate the state government's misdeeds, and the rules governing the office did not adequately address this inherent conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |title=Defense lawyers: Where was Blumenthal? |url=https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Defense-lawyers-Where-was-Blumenthal-12137237.php |website=registercitizen.com |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=June 3, 2019|date=October 4, 2004}}</ref> The state's case against the Tomasso Group failed but federal investigations ended in prison sentences for the Group's president, for Rowland, and for a number of his associates. The Tomasso Group stopped bidding on state contracts to avoid a substantial legal challenge from Blumenthal under newly written compliance statutes.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=$400,000 contract pulled Tomasso subsidiary won't detail gifts given to state officials |url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/400-000-contract-pulled-Tomasso-subsidiary-11680895.php |work=New Haven Register |access-date=June 3, 2019|date=February 2004}}</ref>

====Charter schools lawsuit====
In September 1999, Blumenthal announced a lawsuit against Robin Barnes, the president and treasurer of New Haven-based [[charter school]] the Village Academy, for serious financial mismanagement of the state-subsidized charitable organization.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Connecticut Attorney General's Office |title=Officer Of Village Academy Charter School Sued By State (Press Release) | date=September 16, 1999 | url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?a=1774&q=282884&tx=1| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017123845/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?a=1774&q=282884&tx=1| url-status=dead| archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> Citing common law, the suit sought to recover money misspent and serious damages resulting from Barnes's alleged breach of duty.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

In a [[Connecticut Supreme Court]] decision, ''Blumenthal v. Barnes'' (2002), a unanimous court determined that the state attorney general could act using only the powers specifically authorized by the state legislature, and that since the attorney general's jurisdiction is defined by statute rather than common law, Blumenthal lacked the authority to cite common law as the basis for filing suit against Barnes.<ref name=QPLJ>{{cite news| title = Case comment: Blumenthal v. Barnes: civil common law powers of the state attorney general in the charitable sector | first = Jennifer|last= Katz | publisher = Quinn Prob Law Jour | year = 2004| url = https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=17+Quinn.+Prob.+Law+Jour.+383&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=5f406e0d71c9931d588a4ae571d801c2 | access-date = June 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name=CourantBarnes>{{cite news| title = Court Restricts Blumenthal's Reach| first = Lynne |last=Tuohy| newspaper = [[Hartford Courant]] | date = August 10, 2002| url = https://www.courant.com/2002/08/10/court-restricts-blumenthals-reach/| access-date = June 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.jud.state.ct.us/external/supapp/Cases/AROcr/261cr122.pdf ''Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General v. Robin Barnes'' (SC 16597)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007111929/http://www.jud.state.ct.us/external/supapp/Cases/AROcr/261cr122.pdf |date=October 7, 2006 }}, Sullivan, C. J., and Norcott, Palmer, Vertefeuille and Zarella, Js., Argued March 19—officially released August 20, 2002.</ref><ref name = NYTBarnes1>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E6DD103AF931A2575BC0A9649C8B63 | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=Attorney General Reacts To Ruling | date=August 12, 2002 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Despite this ruling, Blumenthal announced that he intended to pursue a separate 2000 lawsuit against the school's trustees filed on behalf of the State Department of Education.<ref name=NYTBarnes2>{{cite news| title=Blumenthal To Persist In School Action| work = [[The New York Times]]| date=August 20, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/nyregion/metro-briefing-connecticut-new-haven-blumenthal-to-persist-in-school-action.html|access-date=June 13, 2012}}</ref>

====Regional transmission organization====
In 2003 Blumenthal, former [[Massachusetts Attorney General]] [[Thomas Reilly (Massachusetts politician)|Tom Reilly]], [[Rhode Island]] [[State attorney general|Attorney General]] [[Patrick C. Lynch]], and consumer advocates from Connecticut, [[Maine]], and [[New Hampshire]] opposed "the formation of a regional transmission organization (RTO) that would merge three Northeast and mid-Atlantic power operators, called Independent Service Operators (ISOs), into a single super-regional RTO."<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2001/util/rtoferc.htm |title=CT Attorney General |publisher=Cslib.org |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223926/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2001/util/rtoferc.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref> In a press release, he said, "This fatally flawed RTO proposal will raise rates, reduce accountability and reward [[market manipulation]]. It will increase the power and profits of transmission operators with an immediate $40&nbsp;million price tag for consumers."<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2003/coniss/rtoraiserates.htm |title=CT Attorney General |publisher=Cslib.org |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219224009/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2003/coniss/rtoraiserates.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref> The opposition was due to a report authored by [http://www.synapse-energy.com/aboutus/ Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527150637/http://www.synapse-energy.com/aboutus/ |date=May 27, 2010 }}, a [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]-based energy consulting firm, that alleged that consumers would be worse off under the merger.<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/consumer/synapse%20report.pdf |title=CT Attorney General |publisher=Cslib.org |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223946/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/consumer/synapse%20report.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}</ref>

====Gina Kolb lawsuit====
In 2004, Blumenthal sued Computer Plus Center of East Hartford and its owner, Gina Kolb, on behalf of the state.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 12, 2010 |title=Damage award reduced in computer case |url=http://archives.rep-am.com/2010/06/12/damage-award-reduced-in-computer-case/ |newspaper=Republican-American |location=Waterbury, CT |ref={{sfnRef|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}}}}</ref> It was alleged that CPC overcharged $50 per computer, $500,000 in total, on a three-year, $17.2 million contract to supply computers to the state.{{sfn|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}} Blumenthal sued for $1.75 million.{{sfn|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}} Kolb was arrested in 2004 and charged with first-degree larceny.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olson |first=Walter |date=February 12, 2010 |title=$18 million verdict: black eye for Connecticut's Blumenthal |url=http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/18-million-verd.php |newspaper=Point of Law.com |location=New York, NY}}</ref> Kolb later countersued, claiming the state had grossly abused its power.{{sfn|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}} Kolb was initially awarded $18.3 million in damages, but Blumenthal appealed the decision and the damages initially awarded were reduced to $1.83 million.{{sfn|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}} Superior Court judge Barry Stevens described the jury's initial award of $18.3 million as a "shocking injustice" and said it was "influenced by partiality or mistake."{{sfn|"Damage award reduced in computer case"}}

====Big East and ACC====
Blumenthal played a pivotal role in the expansion of the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] and the departures of [[Boston College]], [[University of Miami|Miami]], and [[Virginia Tech]] from the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]]. He led efforts by the Big East football schools (Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia) in legal proceedings against the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]], the University of Miami and Boston College, accusing them of improper disclosure of confidential information and of conspiring to dismantle the Big East. According to Blumenthal, the case was pursued because "the future of the Big East Conference was at risk—the stakes huge for both state taxpayers and the university's good name."<ref name=ESPNACC>{{cite news|title=Conferences schedule games as part of settlement |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=2052787|access-date=April 17, 2011|publisher=ESPN|date=May 4, 2005}}</ref> The suits cost the schools involved $2.2 million in the first four months of litigation.<ref>Lee, Jennifer. [http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2003/11/10/story6.html Big East legal fees add up for Pitt, others.] ''Pittsburgh Business Times''. November 7, 2003.</ref> The lawsuit against the ACC was initially dismissed on jurisdictional grounds but was subsequently refiled.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=1743104 ACC thwarts Big East again.] Associated Press. February 24, 2004.</ref> A declaratory judgment by the [[Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts]] exonerated [[Boston College]] in the matter. [[Virginia Tech]] accepted an invitation from the ACC and withdrew from the suit to remove itself from the awkward position of suing its new conference. An out-of-court $5 million settlement was eventually reached, which included a $1 million exit fee that Boston College was required to pay the Big East under the league's constitution.<ref name=ESPNACC/>

====Interstate 84====
On October 2, 2006, Blumenthal launched an investigation of a botched reconstruction project of [[Interstate 84 (east)|Interstate 84]] in [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]] and [[Cheshire, Connecticut|Cheshire]]. The original contractor for the job, L.G. DeFelice, went out of business and it was later revealed that hundreds of storm drains had been improperly installed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?q=320614&a=2426&tx=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016232426/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?q=320614&a=2426&tx=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |title=Office Of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal Confirms Ongoing Investigation Into I-84 Project|publisher=Connecticut Attorney General's Office| date=October 2, 2006|access-date=March 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/east/2006/10/03/72959.htm |title=Feds, Conn. AG Probing I-84 Highway Construction Defects |publisher=Daily Report| date=October 3, 2006 |access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> Blumenthal subsequently announced lawsuits against L.G. DeFelice and the Maguire Group, the engineering firm that inspected the project. United States Fidelity & Guaranty, the insurer behind the performance bond for the I-84 construction, agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle the claims. Under the agreement, the state of Connecticut retained the right to sue L.G. DeFelice for additional funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2007/03/23/78053.htm |title=Insurer to Pay $17.5 Million in Conn. I-84 Faulty Construction Claim |publisher=Insurance Journal | date=March 23, 2007 |access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> In 2009, the bonding company agreed to pay an additional $4.6 million settlement, bringing the total award to $22.1 million ($30,000 more than the repair costs).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=441110&A=3673 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603184716/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=441110 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |title=Governor, Attorney General Announce Final $4.6 Million Settlement For Defective I-84 Storm Drains|publisher=Connecticut Attorney General's Office| date=June 4, 2009|access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref>

====Lyme disease guidelines investigation====
In November 2006, Blumenthal tried, as [[Paul A. Offit]] described it, "to legislate a disease, [[Chronic Lyme]], into existence".<ref>{{Cite book|first=Paul A.|last=Offit|date=2013|title=Do You Believe in Magic?|publisher=[[Harper (publisher)|Harper]]|page=143ff}}</ref> He launched an antitrust investigation into the [[Infectious Diseases Society of America]]'s (IDSA's) 2006 guidelines regarding the treatment of [[Lyme disease]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Attorney General's Investigation Reveals Flawed Lyme Disease Guideline Process, IDSA Agrees To Reassess Guidelines, Install Independent Arbiter |newspaper=Connecticut Attorney General's Office Press Release |date=May 1, 2008|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?a=2795&q=414284|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507152044/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2795&Q=414284|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2008|access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref> Responding to concerns from [[chronic Lyme disease]] advocacy groups, Blumenthal claimed the IDSA guidelines would "severely constrict choices and legitimate diagnosis and treatment options for patients."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Landers|first=Susan|title=Lyme disease debate provokes treatment divide, legal action|newspaper=American Medical News|date=December 25, 2006|url=http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/12/25/hlsa1225.htm|access-date=September 16, 2010}}</ref> The medical validity of the IDSA guidelines was not challenged,<ref name=idsa_2008>{{cite press release|url= http://www.idsociety.org/Templates/nonavigation.aspx?pageid=32212256693|title= Agreement Ends Lyme Disease Investigation By Connecticut Attorney General: Medical Validity of IDSA Guidelines Not Challenged|publisher= [[Infectious Diseases Society of America]]|date= May 1, 2008|access-date= May 19, 2017|archive-date= January 19, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175423/http://www.idsociety.org/Templates/nonavigation.aspx?pageid=32212256693|url-status= dead}}</ref> and a journalist writing in ''[[Nature Medicine]]'' suggested some IDSA members may not have disclosed potential conflicts of interest,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Ballantyne C |title=The chronic debate over Lyme disease|journal=Nat. Med. |volume=14 |issue=11 |pages=1135–9 |date=November 2008 |pmid=18989271 |doi=10.1038/nm1108-1135|s2cid=36510820}}</ref> while a ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'' piece described Blumenthal's investigation as "intimidation" of scientists by an elected official with close ties to Lyme advocacy groups.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Whelan |first=David |date=February 23, 2007 |title=Lyme Inc. |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0312/096.html#1b1101b3476c |magazine=Forbes |location=New York, NY}}</ref> The ''[[Journal of the American Medical Association]]'' described the decision as an example of the "politicization of health policy" that went against the weight of scientific evidence and may have a [[Chilling effect (term)|chilling effect]] on future decisions by medical associations.<ref name=Kraemer_2009>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kraemer JD, Gostin LO |title=Science, politics, and values: the politicization of professional practice guidelines |journal=JAMA |volume=301 |issue=6 |pages=665–67 |date=February 2009 |pmid=19211474 |doi=10.1001/jama.301.6.665}}</ref> In 2008, Blumenthal ended the investigation after the IDSA agreed to conduct a review of the guidelines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Landers|first=Susan|title=Panel hears conflicting views on Lyme disease treatment|newspaper=American Medical News|date=August 17, 2009|url=http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/17/prsb0817.htm|access-date=September 16, 2010}}</ref> In 2010, an eight-member independent review panel unanimously agreed that the original 2006 guideline recommendations were "medically and scientifically justified" in the light of the evidence. The committee did not change any of the earlier recommendations but did alter some of the language in an executive summary of the findings.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Michael|title=Lyme Disease Guidelines Fine, IDSA Says|newspaper=Medpage Today|date=April 22, 2010|url=http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/19699|access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref> Blumenthal said he would review the final report.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chamoff|first=Lisa|title=Panel upholds controversial Lyme treatment guidelines|newspaper=Greenwich Time|date=April 22, 2010|url=http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Panel-upholds-controversial-Lyme-treatment-459321.php|access-date=September 16, 2010}}</ref>

====MySpace/Facebook====
In March 2006, Blumenthal noted that more than seven incidents of sexual assault in Connecticut had been linked directly to [[MySpace]] contacts.<ref name=businessweek>{{cite news |title=Making MySpace Safe for Kids |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060306_315174.htm |access-date=May 17, 2011 |newspaper=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=March 6, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412135743/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060306_315174.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> Earlier that year, Blumenthal and attorneys general in at least five other states were involved in discussions with MySpace that resulted in the implementation of technological changes aimed at protecting children from pornography and child predators on the company's website.<ref name=businessweek/> At Blumenthal's urging, MySpace installed a link to free blocking software ("K9 Web Protection"), but in May 2006, Blumenthal announced that the site had failed to make the program easy to find and that it was not clearly labeled.<ref name=CTGOVMay06>{{cite press release|title=Attorney General Demands MySpace Prominently Display Blocking Software, Do More To Protect Kids|url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=313522&A=2426 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705053507/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2426&Q=313522 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2006 |publisher=State of Connecticut Attorney General's Office |access-date=May 17, 2011|date=May 3, 2006}}</ref> He also urged MySpace to take further steps to safeguard children, including purging deep links to pornography and inappropriate material, tougher age verification, and banning users under 16.<ref name=CTGOVMay06/>

Blumenthal was co-chair, along with North Carolina Attorney General [[Roy Cooper]], of the State Attorney General Task Force on Social Networking. In 2008, the attorneys general commissioned the Internet Safety Technical Task Force report, which researched "ways to help squash the onslaught of sexual predators targeting younger social-networking clients".<ref name=PCMag>{{cite news|last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |title=MySpace Identifies 90K Sex Offender Profiles |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2340328,00.asp |access-date=May 17, 2011|newspaper=[[PC Magazine]]|date=February 3, 2009}}</ref>

Blumenthal's office subpoenaed MySpace for information about the number of registered sex offenders on its site. In 2009, MySpace revealed that over a two-year span it had roughly 90,000 members who were registered sex offenders (nearly double what MySpace officials had originally estimated one year earlier).<ref name=PCMag/><ref name=CNN>{{cite news |title=MySpace kicks out 90,000 sex offenders, Connecticut AG says |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-03/tech/myspace.sex.offenders_1_hemanshu-nigam-myspace-sexual-predators?_s=PM:TECH |access-date=May 17, 2011 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=February 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008055805/http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-03/tech/myspace.sex.offenders_1_hemanshu-nigam-myspace-sexual-predators?_s=PM%3ATECH |archive-date=October 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name=CTGOVFeb09>{{cite press release|title=CT, NC Attorneys General Say MySpace Response To Subpoena Reveals 90,000 Registered Sex Offenders With Profiles |url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=433228 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212003900/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=433228 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |publisher=State of Connecticut Attorney General's Office |access-date=May 17, 2011|date=February 3, 2009}}</ref> Blumenthal accused MySpace of having "monstrously inadequate counter-measures" to prevent sex offenders from creating MySpace profiles.

Blumenthal and Cooper secured agreements from MySpace and [[Facebook]] to make their sites safer. Both implemented dozens of safeguards, including finding better ways to verify users' ages, banning convicted sex offenders, and limiting the ability of older users to search for members under 18.<ref name=[[MSNBC]]>{{cite news|last=Walker |first=Marlon A.|title=MySpace removes 90,000 sex offenders | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/28999365 |access-date=May 17, 2011|work=NBC News|date=February 3, 2009}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2024, Blumenthal helped lead the [[Kids Online Safety Act]] to address depression, sexual exploitation, bullying, harassment, and other harms children experience online.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lima-Strong |first1=Christiano |title=Senate poised to pass biggest piece of tech regulation in decades |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/15/kids-online-safety-act-kosa-senate/ |website=Washington Post |access-date=February 15, 2024}}</ref>

====Craigslist====
In March 2008, Blumenthal issued a letter to Craigslist attorneys demanding that the website cease allowing postings for erotic services, which he claimed promoted prostitution, and accused the site of "turning a blind eye" to the problem.<ref name=norwich>{{cite news|last=Gannon |first=Michael |title=Blumenthal tells Craigslist to remove ads for sex |url=http://www.norwichbulletin.com/casinos/x1059920935#axzz1MRIutJzf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130123827/http://www.norwichbulletin.com/casinos/x1059920935%23axzz1MRIutJzf |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |newspaper=[[Norwich Bulletin]] |date=March 28, 2008}}</ref> He worked with Craigslist and a group of 40 attorneys general to create new measures on the site designed to thwart ads for prostitution and other illegal sexual activities. In April 2009, Craigslist came under the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies following the arrest of [[Philip Markoff]] (the "Craigslist Killer"), suspected of killing a 25-year-old masseuse he met through Craigslist at a Boston hotel.<ref name=CNET>{{cite web |last=Musil |first=Steven |title=Connecticut AG subpoenas Craigslist over sex ads |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20004052-93.html |access-date=May 17, 2011 |website=CNET |date=May 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504102717/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20004052-93.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Marks>{{cite news|last=Marks |first=Alexandra |title=Craigslist under fire over erotic ads |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/0423/p02s04-usgn.html |access-date=May 17, 2011|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=April 23, 2009}}</ref> Blumenthal subsequently called for a series of specific measures to fight prostitution and pornography on Craigslist—including steep financial penalties for rule breaking, and incentives for reporting wrongdoing.<ref name=CTGOVApr09>{{cite press release |title=Attorney General Seeks Stronger Measures -- Including Financial Penalties and Incentives -- To Fight Prostitution and Pornography on Craigslist |url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=438868&A=3673 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212064924/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=438868&A=3673 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |publisher=State of Connecticut Attorney General's Office |access-date=May 17, 2011|date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> He said, "Craigslist has the means—and moral obligation—to stop the pimping and prostituting in plain sight."

Leading a coalition of 39 states, in May 2010 Blumenthal subpoenaed Craigslist as part of an investigation into whether the site was taking sufficient action to curb prostitution ads and whether it was profiting from them.<ref name=CNET/> He said that prostitution ads remained on the site despite previous assurances that they would be removed.<ref name=CNET/> The subpoena sought documents related to Craigslist's processes for reviewing potentially objectionable ads, as well as documents detailing the revenue gained from ads sold to Craigslist's erotic services and adult services categories.<ref name=Silk>{{cite news|last=Silk|first=Ezra|title=Federal Law Allowing Craigslist Prostitution Ads Should Change, Blumenthal Argues |url=https://www.courant.com/2010/09/08/federal-law-allowing-craigslist-prostitution-ads-should-change-blumenthal-argues/ |access-date=May 17, 2011|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=September 8, 2010}}</ref> In August 2010, Blumenthal called on Craigslist to shut the section down permanently and take steps to eradicate prostitution ads from other parts of the site. He also called on Congress to alter a landmark communications law (the [[Communications Decency Act]]) that Craigslist has cited in defense of the ads.<ref name=Silk/>

Following continued pressure, Craigslist removed the adult services sections from its U.S. sites in September 2010<ref name=Bray>Bray, Chad, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703720004575477522932119204 "Blumenthal Pressures Craigslist on Prostitution Ads"], ''The Wall Street Journal'', September 7, 2010. Accessed May 17, 2011.</ref><ref name=FOX2010>{{cite news|title=Conn. AG Blumenthal, anti-child trafficking groups want Craigslist to remove adult services |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/conn-ag-blumenthal-anti-child-trafficking-groups-want-craigslist-to-remove-adult-services/|access-date=May 17, 2011|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> and from its international sites in December 2010.<ref name=SFGate>{{cite news|last=Reitz |first=Stephanie |title=Craigslist drops its adult listings around world |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/craigslist-drops-its-adult-listings-around-world-2452446.php |access-date=May 17, 2011|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=December 22, 2010}}</ref> Blumenthal called the decision a victory against sexual exploitation of women and children, and against human trafficking connected to prostitution.<ref name=SFGate/>

Blumenthal and other state attorneys general reached a settlement with Craigslist on the issue; the settlement called for the company to charge people via credit card for any ads that were suggestive in nature so the person could be tracked down if they were determined to be offering prostitution. But Blumenthal remarked that after the settlement, the ads continued to flourish using code words.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Terrorist surveillance program====
In October 2007, Blumenthal and the attorneys general of four other states lobbied Congress to reject proposals to provide immunity from litigation to telecommunications firms that cooperated with the federal government's [[terrorist surveillance program]] following the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2788&Q=398498 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723203822/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2788&Q=398498 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title=Attorney General: Attorney General, Four Other States Urge U. S. Senate To Reject Immunity For Telecoms That Cooperated With Warrantless Wiretapping |publisher=Ct.gov |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> In 2008 Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law a new terrorist surveillance bill including the telecom immunity provisions Blumenthal opposed.

====Countrywide Financial====
In August 2008, Blumenthal announced that Connecticut had joined California, Illinois and Florida in suing subprime mortgage lender [[Countrywide Financial]] (now owned by [[Bank of America]]) for fraudulent business practices.<ref name=AGcountrywide>{{cite web|publisher=Office of the Attorney General |url=http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=420722&A=2795 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021032929/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2795&Q=420722 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2009 |title=Attorney General: State Sues Countrywide For Allegedly Deceptive Loans And Loan Renegotiations, Unjustified Legal Fees |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/consumers/countrywidelawsuit.pdf "countrywidelawsuit"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909220456/http://www.ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/consumers/countrywidelawsuit.pdf |date=September 9, 2008}}, ''ct.gov''.</ref> The suit alleged that Countrywide pushed consumers into "deceptive, unaffordable loans and workouts, and charged homeowners in default unjustified and excessive legal fees." According to Blumenthal, "Countrywide conned customers into loans that were clearly unaffordable and unsustainable, turning the American Dream of homeownership into a nightmare" and when consumers defaulted, "the company bullied them into workouts doomed to fail." He also claimed that Countrywide "crammed unconscionable legal fees into renegotiated loans, digging consumers deeper into debt" and "broke promises that homeowners could refinance, condemning them to hopelessly unaffordable loans."<ref name=AGcountrywide/> The lawsuit demanded that Countrywide make restitution to affected borrowers, give up improper gains and rescind, reform or modify all mortgages that broke state laws. It is also sought civil fines of up to $100,000 per violation of state banking laws, and up to $5,000 per violation of state consumer protection laws.<ref name=USATodaycountrywide>{{cite news|first=Susan |last= Hagh|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-08-06-connecticut-sues-countrywide_N.htm |title=Conn. sues Countrywide over lending practices |newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=August 6, 2008 |access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref>

In October 2008, Bank of America initially agreed to settle the states' suits for $8.4 billion, and in February 2010, Countrywide mailed payments of $3,452.54 to 370 Connecticut residents.<ref name=Courantcountrywide>{{cite news| title = Countrywide Financial Issues Checks In Subprime Mortgage Settlement | first = Eric | last= Gershon|url= https://www.courant.com/2010/02/16/countrywide-financial-issues-checks-in-subprime-mortgage-settlement/|journal = [[Hartford Courant]]| date = February 16, 2010|access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> The settlement forced Bank of America to establish a $150 million fund to help repay borrowers whose homes had been foreclosed upon, $1.3 million of which went to Connecticut.

Blumenthal commented in defense of U.S. senator and [[Senate Banking Committee]] chair [[Christopher Dodd]], who had been harshly criticized for accepting a [[Chris Dodd#Countrywide Financial loan controversy|VIP loan from Countrywide]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123508724716027847 |title=Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal Defends Senator Chris Dodd |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=February 20, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> "there's no evidence of wrongdoing on [Mr. Dodd's] part any more than victims who were misled or deceived by Countrywide." In August 2010, Dodd was cleared by the [[Senate Ethics Committee]], which found "no credible evidence" that he knowingly tried to use his status as a U.S. senator to receive loan terms not available to the public.<ref name=Courantcountrywide/>

====Global warming====
Blumenthal has been a vocal advocate of the [[scientific consensus on climate change]], that human activity is responsible for [[global warming|rising global temperatures]] and that prompt action to reduce [[greenhouse gas emissions]] must be taken. He has urged the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] to declare [[carbon dioxide]] a dangerous air pollutant. "I urge the new Obama EPA to declare carbon dioxide a danger to human health and welfare so we can at last begin addressing the potentially disastrous threat global warming poses to health, the environment and our economy. We must make up for lost time before it's too late to curb dangerous warming threatening to devastate the planet and human society."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100603184727/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=433464 Attorney General, 17 States, Two Cities Call On EPA To Determine If CO<sub>2</sub> Endangers Human Health, Welfare.] Connecticut Attorney General's Office. February 5, 2009.</ref> He has brought suit against a number of [[Electric utility|electric utilities]] in the Midwest, arguing that [[coal]]-burning [[power plants]] are generating excess {{CO2}} emissions. In 2009, the [[Second Circuit Court of Appeals]] agreed to allow Blumenthal's lawsuit to proceed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100603184812/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=447400 Attorney General Praises Appeals Court Ruling Reinstating Global Warming Lawsuit.] Connecticut Attorney General's Office. September 21, 2009.</ref> Blumenthal has said, "no reputable climate scientist disputes the reality of global warming. It is fact, plain and simple. Dithering will be disastrous."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100603182342/http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=3673&Q=451852 Attorney General Applauds EPA Finding That Greenhouse Gas Pollution Threatens Human Health, Environment.] Connecticut Attorney General's Office. December 7, 2009.</ref>

==Prospect of gubernatorial candidacy==
Blumenthal was often considered a top prospect for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[governor of Connecticut]], but never ran for the office.

On March 18, 2007, ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' columnist Kevin Rennie reported that Blumenthal had become seriously interested in running for governor in 2010.<!--
 --><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/columnists/hc-rennie0318.column,0,7104718.column?coll=hc-utility-opinion |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728205451/http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/columnists/hc-rennie0318.column,0,7104718.column?coll=hc-utility-opinion |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |title=Topic Galleries |publisher=Courant.com |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref><!--
 --> On February 2, 2009, Blumenthal announced he would forgo a gubernatorial run and seek reelection that year as attorney general.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hcu-blumenthal-0202,0,6466372.story |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121041846/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hcu-blumenthal-0202,0,6466372.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |title=Topic Galleries |publisher=Courant.com |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==

===Elections===

==== 2010 ====
{{Main|2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut}}
[[File:2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut results map by county.svg|left|thumb|Election results by county]]
After [[Christopher Dodd|Chris Dodd]] announced on January 6, 2010, that he would retire from the Senate at the end of his term, Blumenthal told the [[Associated Press]] that he would run in [[United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010|the election]] for Dodd's seat in November 2010.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_democrats2010 "us_democrats2010"], ''news.yahoo.com''. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105150750/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_democrats2010 |date=January 5, 2010}}</ref> Later that day, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden called Blumenthal to express their best wishes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0110/boosting_blumenthal_52cd033d-5da0-4424-97ad-6d6703328e45.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120911043806/http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0110/boosting_blumenthal_52cd033d-5da0-4424-97ad-6d6703328e45.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2012 |title=Boosting Blumenthal: Obama, Biden call Conn. AG |author=Matt Negrin |work=Politico |date=January 7, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref>

The same day, [[Public Policy Polling]] released a poll they took on the two preceding evenings, including races where Blumenthal was paired against each of the three most-mentioned Republicans contending for their party's nomination for the seat. He led by at least 30% in each hypothetical race: against [[Rob Simmons]] (59%&ndash;28%), against [[Linda McMahon]] (60%&ndash;28%), and against [[Peter Schiff]] (63%&ndash;23%), with a 4.3% [[margin of error]] cited.<ref>[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_CT_106925424.pdf "Blumenthal starts with commanding lead"], p. 3, Q12 – Q14.</ref> [[Rasmussen Reports]] also polled after Blumenthal announced his candidacy and found a somewhat more competitive race, but with Blumenthal holding a strong lead.

A February poll by Rasmussen found that Blumenthal held leads of 19 against Simmons and 20 against McMahon, and that Republicans had made up little ground since the initial Rasmussen poll after Blumenthal announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/connecticut/toplines/toplines_election_2010_connecticut_senate_election_january_6_2010/ |title=Toplines − Election 2010: Connecticut Senate Election − January 6, 2010 |publisher=Rasmussen Reports |date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> On May 21, Blumenthal received the Democratic nomination by acclamation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Riz |first=Joe |url=http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/05/merrick-alpert-blocked-from-sp.html |title=Capitol Watch Blog |publisher=Blogs.courant.com |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701171928/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/05/merrick-alpert-blocked-from-sp.html |archive-date=July 1, 2012}}</ref>

''The New York Times'' reported that Blumenthal misspoke on at least one occasion by saying he'd served with the military "in Vietnam".<ref name="NYT Vietnam"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-richard-blumenthal-lie-about-serving-in-vietnam/|title=Did Richard Blumenthal Lie About Serving in Vietnam?|author=Montopoli, Brian|date=May 18, 2020|website=CBSNews.com|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> Video emerged of him speaking to a group of veterans and supporters in March 2008 in [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]], saying, in reference to supporting troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/1247467839994/blumenthal-says-he-served-in-vietnam.html|title=Blumenthal Says He Served in Vietnam|first=None|last=None|date=May 18, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> There were also other occasions where he accurately described his military service. At a 2008 ceremony in Shelton, Connecticut, he said, "I served during the Vietnam era... I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse."<ref name="NYT Vietnam"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-blumenthal-regrets-misplaced-words-on-vietnam-service/|title=Richard Blumenthal Regrets "Misplaced Words" on Vietnam Service|website=CBSNews.com|date=May 18, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref>

Blumenthal's commanding officer in 1974 and 1975, Larry Baldino of [[Woodbridge, Connecticut|Woodbridge]], addressed the controversy in a [[letter to the editor]] in the ''[[New Haven Register]]''. Baldino wrote that the misleading statement was too "petty" to be the basis for supporting or not supporting Blumenthal. Baldino further called Blumenthal "good-natured" and "one of the best Marines with whom I ever worked".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/05/23/opinion/doc4bf74a77aa671911518437.txt |title=Letter: Using 'in' instead of 'during' was a blunder, but petty |date=May 23, 2010 |work=New Haven Register |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829142222/http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/05/23/opinion/doc4bf74a77aa671911518437.txt |archive-date=August 29, 2012}}</ref>

Days after the nomination, [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]] polling indicated that Blumenthal held a 25-point lead over McMahon.<ref>{{cite news|last=Condon |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006120-503544.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530083034/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006120-503544.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 30, 2010 |title=Blumenthal Still Leads McMahon After Vietnam Misstatements − Political Hotsheet |work=CBS News |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> The Cook Political Report changed its assessment of the race to ''Leans Democratic'', making Blumenthal the favored candidate over McMahon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/3343 |title=2010 Senate − CT &#124; The Cook Political Report |work=Cookpolitical.com |access-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620000937/http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/3343 |archive-date=June 20, 2010}}</ref>

Blumenthal won the November 2 election, defeating McMahon 55% to 43%.

====2016====
{{Main|2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut}}
[[File:CT 16Sen results no title.png|500px|thumb|Results of the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Connecticut by town]]

[[Augie Wolf|August Wolf]], a bond salesman and former Olympian, was the only declared Republican candidate running against Blumenthal in the [[United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2016|2016 Senate election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Haigh |first=Susan |agency=Associated Press |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Connecticut's 2016 Senate Race A Quieter Contest Than Past |url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-connecticut-us-senate-2016-0901-20150831-story.html |newspaper=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, CT}}</ref>

In August 2015, economist [[Larry Kudlow]] threatened to run against Blumenthal if Blumenthal voted in favor of the Iran Nuclear Deal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hattem |first=Julian |date=August 30, 2015 |title=Larry Kudlow threatens Senate run over Iran |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/252289-larry-kudlow-threatens-senate-run-over-iran/ |newspaper=The Hill |location=Washington, DC}}</ref>

According to a pair of Quinnipiac polls on October 15, 2015, Blumenthal had a 34-point lead over Kudlow<ref>{{cite news |date=October 15, 2015 |title=Connecticut Senate − Kudlow vs. Blumenthal |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/senate/ct/connecticut_senate_kudlow_vs_blumenthal-5730.html |newspaper=Real Clear Politics |location=Chicago, IL}}</ref> and a 35-point lead over Wolf.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 15, 2015 |title=Connecticut Senate − Wolf vs. Blumenthal |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/senate/ct/connecticut_senate_wolf_vs_blumenthal-5731.html |newspaper=Real Clear Politics |location=Chicago, IL}}</ref>

Blumenthal was reelected with 63% of the vote against Republican state representative [[Dan Carter (American politician)|Dan Carter]], becoming the first person in Connecticut's history to receive over a million votes in a single election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Election Center: 2016 |url=http://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/home |newspaper=Connecticut Secretary of State |location=Hartford, CT |access-date=January 14, 2017}}</ref>

====2022====
{{Main|2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut}}
In November 2020, Blumenthal announced that he would seek reelection in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Emilie|last=Munson|date=November 4, 2020|title=A campaign begins: Blumenthal will seek re-election in 2022|url=https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/A-campaign-begins-Blumenthal-will-seek-15701943.php|access-date=November 14, 2020|newspaper=[[Connecticut Post]]|language=en}}</ref> In the general election, he defeated [[Leora Levy]], who defeated former Connecticut House Minority Leader [[Themis Klarides]] in the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Endorsed by Trump, Leora Levy Wins GOP U.S. Senate Primary in Connecticut |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/decision-2022/endorsed-by-trump-leora-levy-wins-gop-u-s-senate-primary-in-connecticut/2849434/ |access-date=August 10, 2022 |work=[[WVIT|NBC Connecticut]] |date=August 9, 2022}}</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Richard Blumenthal portrait.jpg|thumb|left|Blumenthal during the [[112th United States Congress|112th Congress]]]]

Blumenthal was sworn into the [[112th United States Congress]] on January 5, 2011. He announced plans to return to Connecticut every weekend to join a "listening tour" of his home state.<ref name="sworn in">{{cite news|last=Mahony|first=Edmund H.|title=Richard Blumenthal Joins Senate In D.C. Ceremony, Plans 'Listening Tour'|url=https://www.courant.com/2011/01/05/richard-blumenthal-joins-senate-in-dc-ceremony-plans-listening-tour/|access-date=January 25, 2011|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=January 5, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal Awardee Richard Blumenthal.jpg|thumb|Secretary of the Navy [[Ray Mabus]] presents the [[Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal]] to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal in 2012.]]
In March 2012, Blumenthal and New York senator [[Chuck Schumer]] gained national attention after they called upon Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] and the Department of Justice to investigate practices by employers to require Facebook passwords for employee applicants and workers.<ref>{{cite news|last=AP|title=Senators push for Facebook password request probe|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/25/MNQP1NQ1SM.DTL|access-date=March 30, 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 26, 2012}}</ref>

Blumenthal worked with Senator [[Mark Kirk]] to eliminate pensions for members of Congress who are convicted of felonies while serving in office.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/1854#biography|website=National Journal Almanac|access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref>

In ''[[Blumenthal v. Trump]]'', Blumenthal and Representative [[John Conyers|John Conyers Jr.]] led a group of 196 congressmen in filing a federal lawsuit accusing [[Donald Trump|President Trump]] of violating the [[Title of Nobility Clause|emoluments clause]] of the [[United States Constitution|US Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/us/politics/democrats-in-congress-to-sue-trump-over-foreign-business-dealings.html|title=Democrats in Congress Sue Trump Over Foreign Business Dealings|last=Lafraniere|first=Sharon|date=June 14, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 15, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In the wake of the [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol]], Blumenthal blamed Trump, saying that Trump "incited, instigated and supported" the attack. He called for Vice President [[Mike Pence]] to invoke the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skahill |first1=Patrick |title=Following Chaos And Death At Capitol, Connecticut Lawmakers Call For Immediate Removal Of President |url=https://www.wnpr.org/post/following-chaos-and-death-capitol-connecticut-lawmakers-call-immediate-removal-president |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=WNPR |date=January 7, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Blumenthal also requested an investigation into the lack of response from law enforcement and the military.<ref>{{cite news |title=Murphy, Blumenthal call for investigation of Capitol's security, response to riots |url=https://www.theday.com/national-politics/20210107/murphy-blumenthal-call-for-investigation-of-capitols-security-response-to-riots |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=The Day |date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

In December 2021, Blumenthal gave a speech honoring three local labor activists at an awards ceremony in New Haven that was hosted by the Connecticut People's World Committee, an affiliate of the [[Communist Party USA|Connecticut Communist Party]].<ref name="Stuart">{{cite news |last=Stuart |first=Christine |date=December 20, 2021 |title=Blumenthal Gets Pushback For Attending Event Tied to Communist Party |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/politics/blumenthal-gets-pushback-for-attending-event-tied-to-communist-party/2676199/ |work=NBC Connecticut |location=West Hartford, Connecticut |access-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref> After criticism from national Republican politicians and conservative media outlets, Blumenthal said that he is "a strong supporter and believer in American capitalism" and would not have attended had he known of the group's Communist ties.<ref name="Keating">{{cite news |last=Keating |first=Christopher |date= |title=U.S. Sen. Blumenthal says would not have attended New Haven awards ceremony if he knew it was tied to Communist Party |url=https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-sen-blumenthal-criticized-awards-ceremony-20211217-rsde3elozfgs3awgnscllbwyju-story.html |work=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Connecticut |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===

* [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htmm|access-date=May 24, 2023|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland|Subcommittee on Airland]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel|Subcommittee on Personnel]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on SeaPower]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Subcommittee on Investigations]] (chairman)
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management|Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights|Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights|Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law|Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law|Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution|Subcommittee on the Constitution]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
* [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Black Maternal Health Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
|author=|url=https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/about-caucus/caucus-members|format=|publisher=Black Maternal Health Caucus|date=|accessdate=10 July 2025}}</ref>
*[[Expand Social Security Caucus]]
*[[Senate Oceans Caucus]]
*[[Senate Ukraine Caucus]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus|url=http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|publisher=Rob Portman United States Senator for Ohio|access-date=February 11, 2015|date=February 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073945/http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|archive-date=February 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Coalition on Adoption]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}</ref>

==Political positions==
=== Abortion ===
Blumenthal is [[United States abortion-rights movement|pro-choice]]. He supports efforts to make it a crime for demonstrators to block access to health clinics. He opposed efforts by [[Walmart]] to ban the sale of [[emergency contraception]] and supports requirements that pharmacies fill birth control prescriptions. He supports federal funding for family planning clinics.<ref name="OTAbortion">{{cite web|title=Richard Blumenthal on Abortion|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Richard_Blumenthal_Abortion.htm|website=On the Issues|access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> After ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' was [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|overturned]] in June 2022, Blumenthal said the decision "strips women of the freedom to make their own health care decisions & puts that power in the hands of the government."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blumenthal |first1=Richard |title="In overturning #Roe, the Court strips women of the freedom to make their own health care decisions & puts that power in the hands of the government." |url=https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/1540343663213043713 |website=Twitter |access-date=June 24, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===Animal welfare===
In 2024, Blumenthal and U.S. representatives [[Earl Blumenauer]] and [[Brian Fitzpatrick (American politician)|Brian Fitzpatrick]] introduced the [[Captive Primate Safety Act]], legislation that would prohibit private ownership of [[chimpanzees]] and other [[Pet monkey|primates as pets]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2024 |title=Blumenthal, Blumenauer, & Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Ban Private Possession of Primates |url=https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-blumenauer-and-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-ban-private-possession-of-primates |access-date=September 3, 2024 |website=Richard Blumenthal}}</ref> The legislation was endorsed by [[animal rights]] and [[animal welfare]] groups and [[Law enforcement in the United States|law enforcement]] associations.<ref name=":0" />

=== Foreign relations ===

==== China ====
In April 2018, Blumenthal stated his support for "strong efforts to crack down on intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices by [[China]] or any other nation", but said that Trump was implementing "trade policy by tweet, reaction based on impulse and rash rhetoric that can only escalate tensions with all economic powers and lead to a trade war" and that U.S. actions through trade without a strategy or an endgame seemed "highly dangerous" to the American economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/blumenthal-warns-us-path-trade-war-china|title=Blumenthal Warns U.S. Is On Path To A Trade War With China|date=April 6, 2018|publisher=wcbs880.radio.com}}</ref>

In June 2018, Blumenthal cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would reinstate penalties on [[ZTE]] for export control violations in addition to barring American government agencies from either purchasing or leasing equipment or services from ZTE or [[Huawei]]. The bill was offered as an amendment to the [[John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019|National Defense Authorization Act for 2019]] and was in direct contrast to the Trump administration's announced intent to ease sanctions on ZTE.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-zte-senate/u-s-lawmakers-plan-legislation-to-block-trump-deal-with-zte-idUSKCN1J32HQ|title=U.S. lawmakers scramble for way to block Trump deal with China's ZTE|first=Patricia|last=Zengerle|date=June 7, 2018|work=Reuters}}</ref>

In August 2018, Blumenthal and 16 other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against [[Communist Party of China|Chinese officials]] who are responsible for [[Xinjiang re-education camps|human rights abuses]] against the [[Uyghurs|Uyghur]] [[Islam in China|Muslim]] minority in the [[Xinjiang]] region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chairs Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Sanction Chinese Officials Complicit in Xinjiang Abuses |url=https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairs-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-administration-to-sanction-chinese |website=cecc.gov |publisher=Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)}}</ref> They wrote, "The detention of as many as a million or more Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers or camps requires a tough, targeted, and global response."<ref>{{cite news |title=China rejects US lawmakers' sanctions call over Muslim camps |url=https://www.apnews.com/22e2fb42383a401ab9a401aa69f79257 |work=Associated Press |date=August 30, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, a bipartisan bill reintroduced by [[Marco Rubio]] and [[Ben Cardin]] that was intended to disrupt China's consolidation or expansion of its claims of jurisdiction over both the sea and air space in disputed zones in the South China Sea.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/bill-introduced-to-deter-china-in-south-china-east-china-seas|title=US Bill reintroduced to deter China in South China, East China seas|first=Nirmal|last=Ghosh|date=May 24, 2019|publisher=The Straits Times}}</ref>

In July 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Defending America's 5G Future Act, a bill that would prevent Huawei from being removed from the "entity list" of the Commerce Department without an act of Congress and authorize Congress to block administration waivers for U.S. companies to do business with Huawei. The bill would also codify Trump's executive order from the previous May that empowered his administration to block foreign tech companies deemed a national security threat from conducting business in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/453290-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-block-us-companies-from-doing-business-with/|title=Lawmakers introduce bill to block U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei|first=Maggie|last=Miller|date=July 16, 2019|work=The Hill}}</ref>

In 2025, Blumenthal supported [[secondary sanctions]] against Russia that would impose 500% [[Tariffs in the second Trump administration|tariffs]] on countries that buy [[Petroleum industry in Russia|Russian oil]], [[Natural gas in Russia|natural gas]], [[Mining industry of Russia|uranium]] and other exports. [[China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine|China]] is one of the major consumers of Russian energy.<ref>{{cite news |title=US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-may-work-russia-sanctions-bill-this-month-2025-06-02/ |work=Reuters |date=June 2, 2025}}</ref>

==== Middle East ====
[[File:United States Congressional Delegation visit to Israel on October 22, 2023 - 84.jpg|thumb|Blumenthal with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in Israel on October 22, 2023 ]]
In March 2017, Blumenthal co-sponsored the [[Israel Anti-Boycott Act]] (S.270), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/senate-bill-would-make-it-a-federal-crime-to-boycott-israel.html|title=43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements|last=Levitz|first=Eric|date=July 19, 2017|website=Intelligencer|language=en}}</ref> for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and [[Israeli settlement]]s in the occupied [[Israeli-occupied territories|Palestinian territories]] if protesting actions by the Israeli government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors|title=Cosponsors − S.720 − 115th Congress (2017–2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act|date=March 23, 2017|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

In March 2019, Blumenthal was one of nine Democratic senators to sign a letter to [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]] requesting the release of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair and writer [[Raif Badawi]], women's rights activists [[Loujain al-Hathloul]] and Samar Badawi, and Dr. Walid Fitaih. The senators wrote, "Not only have reputable international organizations detailed the arbitrary detention of peaceful activists and dissidents without trial for long periods, but the systematic discrimination against women, religious minorities and mistreatment of migrant workers and others has also been well-documented."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434752-senate-dems-petition-saudi-king-to-release-dissidents-us-citizen/|title=Senate Dems petition Saudi king to release dissidents, US citizen|first=Zack|last=Budryk|date=March 19, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In October 2022, Saudi Arabia, with Russia, announced a cut of 2 million barrels a day of oil production at the OPEC+ meeting. Blumenthal accused [[Saudi Arabia]] of undermining U.S. efforts and helping to boost [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. In an opinion piece, he and [[Ro Khanna]] proposed to promptly pause the massive transfer of American warfare technology to Saudi Arabia and take a tougher stance against the kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/11/democratic-senator-robert-menendez-threatens-to-freeze-weapons-sales-to-saudi-arabia-over-support-of-russia|title=Democratic senator threatens to freeze weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over support of Russia|accessdate=October 11, 2022|website=The Guardian|date=October 11, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/09/the-u-s-has-leverage-over-saudi-arabia-its-time-to-use-it-00061082|title=The Best Way to Respond to Saudi Arabia's Embrace of Putin|accessdate=October 9, 2022|website=Politico|date=October 9, 2022 }}</ref>

=== Government shutdown ===
In March 2019, Blumenthal was one of 39 senators to sign a letter to the Appropriations Committee opining that contractor workers and by extension their families "should not be penalized for a government shutdown that they did nothing to cause" while noting that there were bills in both chambers of Congress that would provide back pay to compensate contractor employees for lost wages, urging the Appropriations Committee "to include back pay for contractor employees in a supplemental appropriations bill for FY2019 or as part of the regular appropriations process for FY2020."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-urges-inclusion-of-contractor-back-pay-in-upcoming-disaster-package/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Urges Inclusion of Contractor Back Pay in Upcoming Disaster Package|date=March 11, 2019|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

===Gun control===
[[File:Blumenthal Guns (34368837663) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Blumenthal speaks in favor of gun control in 2017]]
Blumenthal supports [[gun control]]. He supports a national assault weapons ban and introduced such a ban in 2017 and 2023.<ref name="weaponban">{{cite web |title=Sens. Blumenthal, Murphy re-introduces assault weapons ban |url=https://bronx.news12.com/sens-blumenthal-murphy-re-introduces-assault-weapons-ban |access-date=January 27, 2023 |ref=45}}</ref><ref name="banconsensus">{{cite web |title=Blumenthal, Murphy join other Democratic senators to introduce assault weapons ban |date=November 8, 2017 |url=https://www.wtnh.com/news/politics/blumenthal-murphy-join-other-democratic-senators-to-introduce-assault-weapons-ban/ |access-date=November 8, 2017 |ref=45}}</ref> 

In response to the [[2015 San Bernardino attack]], Blumenthal gave his support for improved access to [[mental health]] resources and [[universal background checks]].<ref name="Frumin1003">{{cite web|last1=Frumin|first1=Aliyah|title=Sen. Blumenthal: It's time to revive the gun control debate|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/richard-blumenthal-revive-gun-control-debate|website=MSNBC|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=May 25, 2014}}</ref>

In January 2016, Blumenthal was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to [[Thad Cochran]] and [[Barbara Mikulski]] requesting that the Labor, Health and Education subcommittee hold a hearing on whether to allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fund a study of gun violence and "the annual appropriations rider that some have interpreted as preventing it" with taxpayer dollars. The senators noted their support for taking steps "to fund gun-violence research, because only the United States government is in a position to establish an integrated public-health research agenda to understand the causes of gun violence and identify the most effective strategies for prevention."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/265241-senate-dems-want-hearing-on-gun-violence-research/|title=Senate Dems call to revisit gun violence research|first=Jordain|last=Carney|date=January 8, 2016|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In the wake of the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]], Blumenthal said, "The Senate's inaction on commonsense gun violence prevention makes it complicit in this public health crisis. Prayers and platitudes are insufficient. The American public is beseeching us to act on commonsense, sensible gun violence prevention measures, and we must heed that call."<ref name="Berkowitz61616">{{cite news|last1=Berkowitz|first1=Bonnie|last2=Cai|first2=Weiyi|last3=Lu|first3=Denise|last4=Gamio|first4=Lazaro|title=Everything lawmakers said (and didn't say) after the Orlando mass shooting|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/how-lawmakers-responded-to-the-orlando-mass-shooting/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2016, Blumenthal participated in the [[Chris Murphy gun control filibuster]], speaking in support of the Feinstein Amendment, which would have banned people known to be or suspected of being terrorists from buying guns.<ref name="Drabold1003">{{cite magazine|last1=Drabold|first1=Will|title=How Connecticut Politicians Are Leading Fight on Gun Control|url=https://time.com/4370337/orlando-shooting-gun-control-filibuster-connecticut/|magazine=Time|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> That same year, he stated his support for efforts to require toy or fake firearms to have orange parts so they could more easily be distinguished from real guns.<ref name="NHR104">{{cite web|title=In New Haven, Blumenthal calls on paintball gun makers to stop making them look like assault rifles|url=http://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/In-New-Haven-Blumenthal-calls-on-paintball-gun-11326354.php|work=New Haven Register|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=October 10, 2016}}</ref>

In response to the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]], Blumenthal declared in an interview with [[Judy Woodruff]], "we must break the grip of the NRA". He continued, "we can at least save lives. Would it have prevented the Las Vegas atrocity, that unspeakable tragedy? We will never know. But it might have, and we can definitely prevent such mass shootings by adopting these kinds of commonsense measures."<ref name="Woodruff1003">{{cite web|last1=Woodruff|first1=Judy|title=Sen. Blumenthal: 'We must break the grip of the NRA'|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sen-blumenthal-must-break-grip-nra|website=PBS NewsHour|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the NICS Denial Notification Act,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-now/school-safety-bill-introduced-by-bipartisan-senators-in-response-to-florida-shooting/465-12ad93e2-e807-4f78-aafe-8df29fcb6ab0|title=School safety bill introduced by bipartisan senators in response to Florida shooting|date=March 5, 2018|first=Nicole|last=Gaudiano|publisher=wfmynews2.com}}</ref> legislation developed in the aftermath of the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]] that would require federal authorities to inform states within a day after a person failing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System attempted to buy a firearm.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180310/collins-backed-push-to-keep-criminals-from-guns-progresses|title=Collins-backed push to keep criminals from guns progresses|date=March 10, 2018|publisher=seacoastonline.com}}</ref>

In January 2019, Blumenthal was one of 40 senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, legislation that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a temporary basis, providing firearms as gifts to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-background-check-expansion-act-to-reduce-gun-violence/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence|date=January 9, 2019|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of four senators to cosponsor the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, legislation that would ban suppressors being imported, sold, made, sent elsewhere or possessed and grant a silencer buyback program as well as include certain exceptions for current and former law enforcement personnel and others. The bill was intended to respond to the [[2019 Virginia Beach shooting|Virginia Beach shooting]], where the perpetrator used a .45-caliber handgun with multiple extended magazines and a suppressor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/450178-dem-senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-gun-silencers/|title=Democratic senator introduces bill to ban gun silencers|author=Frazin, Rachel|date=June 25, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

=== Health care ===
In February 2019, Blumenthal was one of 23 Democratic senators to introduce the State Public Option Act, legislation that would authorize states to form a [[Medicaid]] buy-in program for all residents and thereby grant all denizens of the state the ability to buy into a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan if they wished. [[Brian Schatz]], a bill cosponsor, said the legislation would "unlock each state's Medicaid program to anyone who wants it, giving people a high-quality, low-cost public health insurance option", and that its goal was "to make sure that every single American has comprehensive health care coverage."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-state-public-health-care-option/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Create State Public Health Care Option|date=February 15, 2019|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of eight senators to cosponsor the Territories Health Equity Act of 2019, legislation that would remove the cap on annual federal Medicaid funding and increase federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures of territories along with more funds being provided for prescription drug coverage to low-income seniors in an attempt to equalize funding for American territories Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands with that of U.S. states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/448059-2020-dem-senators-introduce-bill-to-expand-health-care-in-territories/|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|title=Democratic White House hopefuls push to expand health care in US territories|date=June 11, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In June 2019, Blumenthal and 14 other senators introduced the Affordable Medications Act, legislation that would promote transparency by mandating that pharmaceutical companies disclose the amount of money going to research and development, marketing and executives' salaries. The bill also abolished the restriction that stopped the federal Medicare program from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug prices for beneficiaries and hinder drug company monopoly practices used to keep prices high and disable less expensive generics entering the market.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-comprehensive-reform-to-address-skyrocketing-prescription-drug-prices/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Comprehensive Reform to Address Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices|date=June 12, 2019|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

In August 2019, Blumenthal was one of 19 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]] [[Steve Mnuchin]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Health and Human Services Secretary]] [[Alex Azar]] requesting data from the Trump administration in order to help states and Congress understand the potential consequences in the event that the ''Texas v. United States Affordable Care Act'' (ACA) lawsuit prevailed in courts, claiming that an overhaul of the present health care system would form "an enormous hole in the pocketbooks of the people we serve as well as wreck state budgets".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-requests-data-from-trump-administration-on-consequences-of-texas-v-united-states-prevailing/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Requests Data from Trump Administration on Consequences of Texas V. United States Prevailing|date=August 1, 2019|publisher=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref> That same month, Blumenthal, three other Senate Democrats, and [[Bernie Sanders]] signed a letter to acting FDA commissioner Ned Sharpless in response to [[Novartis]] falsifying data as part of an attempt to gain the FDA's approval for its new gene therapy Zolgensma, writing that it was "unconscionable that a drug company would provide manipulated data to federal regulators in order to rush its product to market, reap federal perks, and charge the highest amount in American history for its medication."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-to-fda-hold-avexis-accountable-for-falsifying-data/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin to FDA: Hold AveXis Accountable for Falsifying Data|first=Tammy|last=Baldwin|date=August 9, 2019|publisher=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
In August 2018, Blumenthal was one of 17 senators to sign a letter spearheaded by [[Kamala Harris]] to [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Homeland Security Secretary]] [[Kirstjen Nielsen]] demanding that the Trump administration take immediate action in attempting to reunite 539 migrant children with their families, citing each passing day of inaction as intensifying "trauma that this administration has needlessly caused for children and their families seeking humanitarian protection."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/401999-senate-democrats-demand-immediate-reunification-of-remaining-separated/|title=Senate Dems demand immediate reunification of remaining separated children|first=Nathaniel|last=Weixel|date=August 15, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In April 2019, Blumenthal was one of six Democratic senators to sign a letter to acting defense secretary [[Patrick M. Shanahan]] expressing concern over memos by Marine Corps general [[Robert Neller]] in which Neller critiqued deployments to the southern border and funding transfers under Trump's national emergency declaration as having posed an "unacceptable risk to Marine Corps combat readiness and solvency" and noted that other military officials had recently stated that troop deployment did not affect readiness. The senators requested Shanahan explain the inconsistencies and that he provide both "a staff-level briefing on this matter within seven days" and an explanation of how he would address Neller's concerns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/437932-warren-gillibrand-among-senate-democrats-asking-defense-whether-border/|title=Warren, Gillibrand ask Defense whether border deployments hurt troop readiness|first=Michael|last=Burke|date=April 8, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In June 2019, following the Housing and Urban Development Department's confirmation that DACA recipients did not meet eligibility for federal backed loans, Blumenthal and 11 other senators introduced The Home Ownership Dreamers Act, legislation that mandated that the federal government was not authorized to deny mortgage loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Agriculture Department solely due to an applicant's immigration status.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/06/21/bob-menendez-cory-booker-bill-home-loans-daca-holders/1513659001/|title=Bob Menendez, Cory Booker and others introduce bill to protect home loans for DACA holders|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=northjersey.com}}</ref>

In June 2019, Blumenthal and six other Democratic senators led by [[Brian Schatz]] sent letters to the Government Accountability Office along with the suspension and debarment official and inspector general at the US Department of Health and Human Services citing recent reports that showed "significant evidence that some federal contractors and grantees have not provided adequate accommodations for children in line with legal and contractual requirements" and urging government officials to determine whether federal contractors and grantees were in violation of contractual obligations or federal regulations and should thus face financial consequences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mauinow.com/2019/06/26/schatz-urges-investigation-of-contractors-in-charge-of-migrant-children/|title=Schatz Urges Investigation of Contractors In Charge of Migrant Children|date=June 26, 2019|publisher=mauinow.com}}</ref>

In July 2019, following reports that the Trump administration intended to end protections of spouses, parents and children of active-duty service members from deportation, Blumenthal was one of 22 senators to sign a letter led by [[Tammy Duckworth]] arguing that the program allowed service members the ability "to fight for the United States overseas and not worry that their spouse, children, or parents will be deported while they are away" and that the program's termination would cause personal hardship for service members in combat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wset.com/news/nation-world/senate-democrats-to-trump-dont-deport-military-families|title=Senate Democrats to Trump: don't deport military families|first=Ida|last=Domingo|date=July 11, 2019|publisher=wset.com}}</ref>

In July 2019, Blumenthal and 15 other Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which mandated that ICE agents get approval from a supervisor before engaging in enforcement actions at sensitive locations except in special circumstances and that agents receive annual training in addition to being required to annually report enforcement actions in those locations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.10news.com/news/bill-would-block-immigration-raids-at-schools-courthouses|title=Bill would block immigration raids at schools, courthouses|date=July 11, 2019|first=Zac|last=Self|publisher=10news.com}}</ref>

=== LGBT rights ===
In September 2014, Blumenthal was one of 69 members of the US House and Senate to sign a letter to then-FDA commissioner [[Sylvia Burwell]] requesting that the FDA revise its policy banning donation of [[corneas]] and other tissues by men who have had sex with other men in the preceding five years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/9.8.14%20Bicameral%20Letter%20to%20HHS%20on%20MSM%20Policies.pdf |title=Letter to The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell Secretary of the Dept. of Health and Human Services |publisher=Congress of the United States |date=September 8, 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite journal|url=https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/biologics-guidances/tissue-guidances|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319073505/https://www.fda.gov/Cber/gdlns/tissdonor.htm#iv|title=Tissue Guidances|first=Center for Biologics Evaluation and|last=Research|date=December 4, 2020|archivedate=March 19, 2008|journal=FDA|via=www.fda.gov}}</ref>

In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]] requesting an explanation of a State Department decision not to issue an official statement that year commemorating [[Gay pride#LGBT Pride Month|Pride Month]] or the annual cable outlining activities for embassies commemorating Pride Month. They also asked why the LGBTI special envoy position had remained vacant and asserted that "preventing the official flying of rainbow flags and limiting public messages celebrating Pride Month signals to the international community that the United States is abandoning the advancement of LGBTI rights as a foreign policy priority."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2019/06/us-sens-markey-warren-question-state-department-refusal-to-fly-rainbow-flags-at-embassies-during-pride-month.html|title=US. Sens. Markey, Warren question State Department refusal to fly rainbow flags at embassies during Pride month|date=June 14, 2019|first=Ray|last=Kelly|publisher=masslive.com}}</ref>

In 2022, Blumenthal voted for the [[Respect for Marriage Act]], a bill intended to codify [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage rights]] into federal law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mourtoupalas and Blanco |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Here’s which senators voted for or against the Respect for Marriage Act |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2022/senator-vote-count-respect-for-marriage-act/}}</ref>[[File:WASHINGTON, DC -- JULY 25 2016 Senators addresses crowds outside the Capitol protesting the GOP health bill. (35776941730).jpg|thumb|Protest against the GOP health bill at the United States Capitol in July 2017]]

=== Special Counsel investigation ===
In March 2019, after Attorney General [[William Barr]] released a summary of the [[Mueller report]], Blumenthal said the issue was about "obstruction of justice, no exoneration there, and the judgment by William Barr may have been completely improper" and that he did not "deeply respect and trust the Barr summary, which was designed to frame the message before the information was available."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/435788-dem-senator-i-do-not-deeply-respect-and-trust-the-barr-summary/|title=Dem senator: 'I do not deeply respect and trust the Barr summary'|author=Budryk, Zack|date=March 26, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref> After the Justice Department publicly released the redacted version of the report the following month, Blumenthal said, "What's demonstrated in powerful and compelling detail in this report is nothing less than a national scandal. This report is far from the end of the inquiry that this country needs and deserves. It is the beginning of another chapter."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Mueller-report-provides-new-details-on-Manafort-13779211.php|title=Mueller report provides new details on Manafort, Hicks|author=Freedman, Dan|date=April 18, 2019|publisher=ctpost.com}}</ref>

In April 2019, Blumenthal was one of 12 Democratic senators to sign a letter led by [[Mazie Hirono]] that questioned Barr's decision to offer "his own conclusion that the President's conduct did not amount to obstruction of justice" and called for both the Justice Department's inspector general and the Office of Professional Responsibility to launch an investigation into whether Barr's summary of the Mueller report and his April 18 news conference were misleading.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/30/william-barr-investigation-mueller-1293214|title=Senate Dems call on DOJ watchdog to investigate Barr|first=Marianne|last=Levine|date=April 30, 2019|work=Politico}}</ref>

===2024 New Jersey drone sightings===
In 2024, Blumenthal said suspicious [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]] found flying over areas in the [[New Jersey]] and [[North Atlantic]] region should be shot down if necessary and that "We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they're flying over airports or military bases".<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2024 |title=US senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary' |url=https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-8bfe84cf2678400181292b75f9193395 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
On June 27, 1982, Blumenthal married Cynthia Malkin.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 28, 1982 |title=Miss Malkin Is Married |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/28/style/miss-malkin-is-married.html}}</ref><ref name="courant" /> Blumenthal and Malkin were engaged during her senior year at Harvard and married the following year.<ref name="Morrow">{{Cite news |last=Morrow |first=Brendan |date=February 9, 2017 |title=Cynthia Malkin, Richard Blumenthal's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |language=en-US |work=Heavy.com |url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/02/cynthia-malkin-age-richard-blumenthal-wife-family-children-son-daughter-peter-empire-state-building-real-estate-claire-david-michael-matthew-home-house-connecticut-net-worth/ |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> She is the daughter of [[Peter L. Malkin]] and maternal granddaughter of [[Lawrence Wien]].<ref name="Morrow" /> They have four children. Their son [[Matt Blumenthal]] was elected to the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]] from the 147th district in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carella |first=Angela |date=May 19, 2018 |title=Blumenthal's son rises fast in Stamford district |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Blumenthal-s-son-rises-fast-in-Stamford-district-12927397.php |website=StamfordAdvocate}}</ref>

Blumenthal's wealth exceeds $100 million, making him one of the Senate's richest members. His family's net worth derives largely from his wife; the Malkins are influential real estate developers and property managers with holdings including an ownership stake in the [[Empire State Building]].<ref name=Anand>{{cite news |last=Anand |first=Priya |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Blumenthal at high end of Senate millionaires' club: Financial disclosure forms: Senator's estimated net worth soars from $73 million to $112 million |url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Blumenthal-at-high-end-of-Senate-millionaires-3797283.php |work=[[Connecticut Post]] |location=Bridgeport, CT}}</ref> 

On April 8, 2023, while at a parade celebrating the [[UConn Huskies men's basketball]] team winning the [[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] championship, another attendee inadvertently fell on Blumenthal, causing a minor fracture of his femur. He underwent surgery, which he said was successful, and left the hospital on April 10.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=David |date=April 9, 2023 |title=Sen. Richard Blumenthal injured during basketball parade |language=en |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/09/blumenthal-injured-uconn-basketball-parade-00091143?utm_campaign=Bundle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=Bundle |access-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

===Connecticut Legislature===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut's 145th House of Representatives district|Connecticut 145th State House District]] General Election, 1984<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/1988sovpdf.pdf?la=en|title=1984 Statement of Vote|publisher=[[Secretary of the State of Connecticut]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal
| votes = 4863
| percentage = 68.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Johan M. Andersen III
| votes = 2270
| percentage = 31.82
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7133
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Connecticut 27th [[Connecticut State Senate|State Senate]] District General Election, 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/1988sovpdf.pdf?la=en|title=1988 Statement of Vote|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 21947
| percentage = 65.88
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Ted Lewis
| votes = 11366
| percentage = 34.12
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 33313
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Connecticut Attorney General===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut Attorney General]] General Election, 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/1990sovpdf.pdf?la=en|title=1990 Statement of Vote|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal
| votes = 572972
| percentage = 59.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = E. Gaynor Brennan Jr.
| votes = 395289
| percentage = 40.82
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 968261
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut Attorney General]] General Election, 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/1994sovpdf.pdf?la=en|title=1994 Statement of Vote|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 446434
| percentage = 43.60
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = A Connecticut Party (1990)
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 232879
| percentage = 22.74
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
| party = Total
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 679,313
| percentage = 66.34
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard E. Arnold
| votes = 344627
| percentage = 33.66
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1023940
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut Attorney General]] General Election, 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Voting-Summary-1998---for-Attorney-General|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130014223/https://authoring.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Voting-Summary-1998---for-Attorney-General|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2020|title=Voting Summary 1998 − for Attorney General|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 631588
| percentage = 68.55
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Santa Mendoza
| votes = 282289
| percentage = 30.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard J. Pober
| votes = 7537
| percentage = 0.82
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 921414
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut Attorney General]] General Election, 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Vote-for-Attorney-General-2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130014222/https://authoring.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Vote-for-Attorney-General-2002|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2020|title=Vote for Attorney General 2002|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 632351
| percentage = 65.65
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Martha Dean
| votes = 330874
| percentage = 34.35
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 963225
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[Connecticut Attorney General]] General Election, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Vote-for-Attorney-General-2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230616/https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-VIII/Vote-for-Attorney-General-2006|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 17, 2021|title=Vote for Attorney General 2006|website=Connecticut Secretary of State|accessdate=March 26, 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 782235
| percentage = 74.08
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Robert Farr
| votes = 256018
| percentage = 24.25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Green Party of the United States
| candidate = Nancy Burton
| votes = 17684
| percentage = 1.67
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = write-in
| candidate = John M. Joy
| votes = 4
| percentage = 0.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1055941
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

===U.S. Senator===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut|Connecticut US Senator (Class III) General Election, 2010]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2010_SOV-pdf.pdf?la=en|title=2010 Statement of Vote|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 605204
| percentage = 52.52
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Working Families Party
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 30836
| percentage = 2.68
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
| party = Total
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal
| votes = 636,040
| percentage = 55.19
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Linda McMahon]]
| votes = 498341
| percentage = 43.24
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent politician
| candidate = Warren B. Mosier
| votes = 11275
| percentage = 0.98
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Connecticut for Lieberman
| candidate = Dr. John Mertens
| votes = 6735
| percentage = 0.58
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1152391
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut|Connecticut US Senator (Class III) General Election, 2016]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2016StatementofVotepdf.pdf?la=en|title=Election Results for United States Senator (2016)|publisher=[[Connecticut Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 920766
| percentage = 57.68
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Working Families Party
| candidate = ''Richard Blumenthal''
| votes = 87948
| percentage = 5.48
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
| party = Total
| candidate = Richard Blumenthal ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 1,008,714
| percentage = 63.19
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Dan Carter (American politician)|Dan Carter]]
| votes = 552621
| percentage = 34.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Lion
| votes = 18190
| percentage = 1.14
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Green Party of the United States
| candidate = Jeffery Russell
| votes = 16713
| percentage = 1.05
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1596238
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=[[2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut|Connecticut US Senator (Class III) General Election, 2022]]<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 General Election − United States Senator |url=https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/view/34715 |website=Connecticut Secretary of State}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)| candidate = Richard Blumenthal (incumbent)
| votes = 724,785
| percentage = 57.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=[[Leora Levy]]|votes=536,020|percentage=42.54}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=80|percentage=0.0}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      =1,260,885
  |percentage =100.00
}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing
 | winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

== See also ==

*[[List of Harvard University politicians]]
* [[List of Jewish American jurists]]
* [[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]
* [[List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 2)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->

==Further reading==
*Altimari, Dave and Mahony, Edmund (January 30, 2010). ''[http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-computer-lawsuit-0130.artjan30,0,1070680.story Computer Firm Owner Awarded $18&nbsp;Million In Countersuit Against State]'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202123115/http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-computer-lawsuit-0130.artjan30,0,1070680.story |date=February 2, 2010}}. ''Courant.com''. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
*Mosher, James (December 27, 2009). ''[https://archive.today/20130130101008/http://www.norwichbulletin.com/carousel/x1689182905/Dont-outlaw-our-stoves-Eastern-Connecticut-farmers-urge Don't outlaw our stoves, Eastern Connecticut farmers urge, Attorney general: Burning wood outside pollutes air]''. ''NorwichBulletin.com''. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
*Pesci, Donald (December 10, 2009). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120227175700/http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2009/12/10/opinion/doc4b20783a18cc2987699185.txt Blumenthal: worst Attorney General in U.S.]. RegisterCitizen.com''. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
*Baue, William (July 9, 2002). ''[https://archive.today/20120910190529/http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article878.html Connecticut Fights to Keep Stanley Works from Disappearing to Bermuda]''. ''Socialfunds.com''. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (August 14, 1997). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20040821184358/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/1997/enviss/pr81497.htm Governor, Attorney General Urge Tighter Restrictions on Air Pollution]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (October 15, 2001). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223926/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2001/util/rtoferc.htm Attorney General Submits Comments To FERC Opposing Formation Of Regional Transmission Organization]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (May 10, 2002). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223931/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/stanley.htm Lawsuit Filed By Blumenthal, Nappier Brings Halt To Stanley Works' Reincorporation Plans]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (June 3, 2002). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223920/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2002/other/sec.htm Attorney General Asks SEC To Investigate Stanley Works Vote]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (September 30, 2003). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219224009/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2003/coniss/rtoraiserates.htm Blumenthal, New England AGs And Consumer Advocates Warn That Proposed RTO Will Raise Rates, Without Consumer Benefit]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Connecticut Attorney General's Office (October 27, 2003). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20040817074140/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/press/2003/enviss/nsrcaa.htm Connecticut and 11 Other States File Suit to Prevent Weakening of the Clean Air Act]''. Press release. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Patrick, Mike (October 10, 2003). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20040912232909/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x8470.xml Law School lauds Blumenthal with public service award]''. ''QUDaily''. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Sorry, Stanley − editorial (May 9, 2003). ''Wall Street Journal'', cited from the article at [http://www.freedomandprosperity.org The Center for Freedom and Prosperity], [https://web.archive.org/web/20030820081214/http://www.freedomandprosperity.org/Articles/wsj05-09-03/wsj05-09-03.shtml The Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2003]. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Peterson, Paul; White, David; Doolittle, Nick; & Roschelle, Amy (September 29, 2003) of Synapse, Energy Economics Inc. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060219223946/http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/consumer/synapse%20report.pdf FERC's Transmission Pricing Policy: New England Cost Impacts]. Report commissioned by Connecticut Attorney General's Office.
*Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the House Committee on Ways and Means (June 6, 2002). [https://web.archive.org/web/20040825000717/http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Legacy/fullcomm/107cong/6-6-02/records/blumenthal.htm Statement of the Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, Connecticut Attorney General's Office]. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the House Committee on Ways and Means (June 25, 2002). [https://web.archive.org/web/20040825004942/http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Legacy/srm/107cong/6-25-02/6-25blum.htm Statement of the Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, Connecticut Attorney General's Office, Hearing on Corporate Inversions]. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
*Plotz, David (September 15, 2000). [http://www.slate.com/?id=89649 "Richard Blumenthal: He was supposed to be president. So why is he only Connecticut's attorney general?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214941/http://www.slate.com/?id=89649 |date=September 27, 2007}}. ''Slate.com''. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
*Titus, Elizabeth, [https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2013/01/blumenthal-predicts-hagel-will-be-confirmed-154011?hp=l4 "Blumenthal predicts Hagel will be confirmed"], ''Politico'', 1/13/13. ''Re:'' [[Chuck Hagel]]'s nomination as [[US Secretary of Defense]]; Blumenthal seat on Armed Services noted; Blumenthal spoke on ''[[Fox News Sunday]]''.

==External links==
{{Sister project links|d=Q2023708|wikt=no|species=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no}}
*[https://blumenthal.senate.gov/ Senator Richard Blumenthal] official U.S. Senate website
*[http://richardblumenthal.com Blumenthal for Senate] 
*{{C-SPAN|21799}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=B001277 | votesmart=1568 | fec=S0CT00177 | congress=richard-blumenthal/2076}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter Dorsey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Connecticut|District of Connecticut]]|years=1977–1981}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alan Nevas]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Clarine Nardi Riddle|Clarine Riddle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Connecticut Attorney General|Attorney General of Connecticut]]|years=1991–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George Jepsen]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joe Lieberman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Connecticut Attorney General|Attorney General of Connecticut]]|years=[[1990 Connecticut Attorney General election|1990]], [[1994 Connecticut Attorney General election|1994]], [[1998 Connecticut Attorney General election|1998]], [[2002 Connecticut Attorney General election|2002]], [[2006 Connecticut Attorney General election|2006]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George Jepsen]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Chris Dodd]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] from [[List of United States senators from Connecticut|Connecticut]]<br />([[Classes of United States senators|Class 3]])|years=[[2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2010]], [[2016 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2016]], [[2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2022]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chris Dodd]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States senators from Connecticut|U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Connecticut]]|years=2011–present|alongside=[[Joe Lieberman]], [[Chris Murphy]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Burr]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]]|years=2015–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jon Tester]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jerry Moran]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]]|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chris Coons]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as United States Senator}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rand Paul]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Rand Paul]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States senators by seniority]]|years=32nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mike Lee]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{USSenChairs}}
{{Current Connecticut statewide political officials}}
{{CT-FedRep}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}
{{USSenCT}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=112th–present [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Connecticut|Connecticut]]}}
{{USCongRep/CT/112}}
{{USCongRep/CT/113}}
{{USCongRep/CT/114}}
{{USCongRep/CT/115}}
{{USCongRep/CT/116}}
{{USCongRep/CT/117}}
{{USCongRep/CT/118}}
{{USCongRep/CT/119}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blumenthal, Richard}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Jewish American military personnel]]
[[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:Connecticut attorneys general]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Connecticut state senators]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Harvard College alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish state legislators in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Jewish United States senators]]
[[Category:Journalists from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Politicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Greenwich, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Politicians from Greenwich, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Riverdale Country School alumni]]
[[Category:The Harvard Crimson people]]
[[Category:United States attorneys for the District of Connecticut]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps reservists]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Wien family]]
[[Category:Yale Law School alumni]]