Erin Stewart, 38, is a Republican who served as the 40th Mayor of New Britain from 2013 to 2025, making her the youngest mayor in city history and longest-serving female and Republican mayor. She was first elected in 2013 at age 26 and reelected six times by double-digit margins in a heavily Democratic city (4-to-1 Democratic registration). Stewart was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018. She officially announced her run for governor in November 2025 and is positioning herself as a next-generation Republican outsider to Hartford politics.
Erin Stewart was born and raised in New Britain and graduated from New Britain High School in 2005. She became the 40th Mayor of New Britain in 2013 at age 26, the youngest mayor in city history. She also became the longest-serving female mayor and longest-serving Republican mayor in the city's history, and is tied for longest-serving consecutive mayor. Stewart was reelected six times by double-digit margins despite being a Republican in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 4 to 1, demonstrating significant appeal across party lines. She was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018. Stewart has been raising money through an exploratory committee since January 2025 before officially announcing her run in late 2025.