Connecticut State Representative, 26th District served from 2003–2025. In May 2024, Representative Peter Tercyak announced that he would retire rather than seek reelection to the Connecticut House seat he had held for more than two decades. During his legislative career, he championed issues including healthcare access, prescription drug affordability, job security, workers’ rights, and education. Representative Tercyak served on the Appropriations, Energy and Technology, and Public Health Committees, where he brought his nursing experience directly into legislative decision-making. Kimberly Sandor, executive director of the Connecticut State Nurses Association, described the value of that perspective: “Representative Tercyak was part of the Public Health Committee, where proposed bills were discussed that impact nursing and the health of Connecticut. Having a nurse, skilled at bridging complex conversations about the reality of the health care landscape and proposed changes on patient care and nursing, is invaluable.” Representative Tercyak’s career demonstrates what nurse legislators can accomplish when they bring clinical knowledge and a patient-centered perspective to public office. His retirement also serves as a call to action for the next generation of nurses ready to take a seat at the policymaking table.