Bartolomeo attributed her political positioning as a fiscal moderate to his influence, and her mother, Barbara Calza Self, for her views on social liberalism.

[1] Bartolomeo is a 1987 graduate of Mercy High School in Middletown and earned her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Colby College in 1991 with a cum laude distinction.

[6] Bartolomeo defeated Suzio, and took office as a Democratic legislator representing the thirteenth district of the Connecticut Senate.

[8] Bartolomeo's 2016 campaign was unsuccessful,[3][9] and Suzio, backed by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association,[10][11] returned to office.

[13] As commissioner, she was chosen by Lamont alongside other agency heads to work on an initiative to tackle homelessness in Connecticut.