Joe Markley is an American politician who was a member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the 16th State Senate District from 2011 to 2019. A native of Southington, Connecticut, he was first elected to the State Senate in 1984 at the age of 27, serving only one term. He returned to the chamber in 2010 at the age of 53, but left again in 2019. He was the Republican Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut in 2018, but lost the general election to Democrat Susan Bysiewicz.

Sam S. F. Caligiuri is an American lawyer and former Connecticut State Senator. In 2010, he ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, but switched for a House seat in Connecticut's 5th congressional district. He was ultimately unsuccessful, losing behind Chris Murphy, 54-46%.