Connecticut governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Connecticut federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Timothy Wilcox

Party: Republican

Betsy McCaughey

Party: Republican

Erin Stewart

Party: Republican

Ryan Fazio

Party: Republican

Josh Elliott

Party: Democrat

Ned Lamont

Party: Democrat

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governor

Connecticut governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
lean d— Election Desk Analysis - Lamont is the favorite but Republican primary dynamics may influence the general election

Connecticut has not elected a Republican to statewide office since Jodi Rell was elected governor in 2006. Lamont is heavily favored in this reliably blue-leaning state, though a crowded Republican primary may impact general election dynamics.

Timothy WilcoxR
Betsy McCaugheyR
Erin StewartR
Ryan FazioR
Josh ElliottD
Ned LamontD

Summary

Timothy Wilcox is a Republican candidate for Governor of Connecticut who filed paperwork to run in May 2025. In his campaign filing, he stated he does not plan to raise or spend campaign funds, making him a non-participating candidate in the public financing system.

Betsy McCaughey, 77, is a former New York Lieutenant Governor and nationally known conservative commentator. According to published reports and her own social media, she announced her candidacy in mid-January 2026 to seek the Republican nomination and challenge Governor Lamont in November. McCaughey has described Lamont as an 'anti-American radical leftist' in recent weeks visiting Republican committees across Connecticut.

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.

Ryan Fazio, 35, is a Republican State Senator representing Connecticut's 36th District (Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan) since 2021. A Greenwich native, Fazio earned a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University (2012). He spent most of his career in commodities trading with focus on renewable fuels and agriculture, and works as an investment advisor. Fazio is the Ranking Senator on the Energy & Technology Committee and Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee. He crossed the $250,000 public financing threshold fastest in state history and has broad support from Republican legislators.

Joshua Elliott, 41, is a State Representative from Hamden (District 88) who was first elected in 2016 after defeating then-House Speaker Brendan Sharkey. He currently serves as Deputy Speaker of the Connecticut House. Elliott holds a B.A. in sociology from Ithaca College and a J.D. from Quinnipiac School of Law. He is a progressive Democrat who co-owns and manages two family-run natural food stores. Elliott filed paperwork to run for governor in July 2025, positioning himself as a progressive alternative to Lamont who believes Connecticut needs more aggressive spending and progressive taxation to address affordability.

Edward Miner 'Ned' Lamont Jr., born January 3, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is the 89th Governor of Connecticut serving since 2019. A Democrat and successful telecommunications entrepreneur who founded Campus Televideo, Lamont earned a B.A. in sociology from Harvard College and an MBA from Yale School of Management. He is running for a third term in 2026 to become the first governor to serve three consecutive terms since John Rowland. Lamont is married to Annie Huntress, a venture capitalist, and they have three children. He resides in Greenwich.

View Timothy Wilcox's Full Profile →View Betsy McCaughey's Full Profile →View Erin Stewart's Full Profile →View Ryan Fazio's Full Profile →View Josh Elliott's Full Profile →View Ned Lamont's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

No campaign promises listed yet.

Other
  • Challenge progressive policies and socialism
Other
  • Replace failed leadership and insider politics
Public-Safety
  • Support law enforcement and public safety
Economy
  • Fix roads, bridges, and infrastructure
  • End wasteful government spending
Economy
  • Cut electric bills by 20% and eliminate public benefit charges
  • Pass largest income tax cut in state history
  • Reduce regulatory barriers for small businesses
  • Address high cost of living and population decline
Economy
  • Raise taxes on residents making over $1 million annually
Education
  • Fully fund public education and municipal support
Other
  • Address Trump administration challenges more aggressively
  • Support striking workers with unemployment benefits
Economy
  • Lower costs for families on housing, healthcare, energy, and childcare
  • Maintain fiscal stability and economic recovery

Key Issue Positions

No key issues listed yet.

Conservative Ideology
Nationally known conservative commentator critical of progressive policies
Has been active visiting Republican committees describing Lamont as radical leftist
Leadership and Change
Positions as outsider and generational change candidate; argues Connecticut dominated by 'same wealthy, out-of-touch politicians'
Campaign pitch emphasizes her success as Republican mayor in heavily Democratic city
Public Safety
Defends law enforcement; attacks Democratic policies as anti-police
Criticizes Democratic approach to policing
Fiscal Discipline
Focuses on fiscal responsibility and generational change
Campaign positioning around budget management
Energy Costs
Connecticut has third-highest electric rates in nation; opposes renewable energy subsidies and climate programs that increase costs
Fazio argues public benefit charges hurt ratepayers and would cut them. Opposes RGGI participation and EV charging subsidies. Favors natural gas expansion.
Climate Change
Cost-benefit approach; favors adaptation over mitigation; aligned with Trump climate positions
Supports Paris Accord withdrawal; questions climate spending effectiveness; favors natural gas and greater pipeline capacity
Abortion Rights
Supports keeping abortion legal in Connecticut but with some restrictions
In 2022, voted against H.B. 5414 allowing midwives/nurses to perform aspiration abortions without doctor, saying it lowered care standards. Supports HB6820 expanding contraception access and protecting providers.
Taxes
Supports $1.5 billion in tax reductions and largest income tax cut in state history
Argues state can offset revenue shortfalls through spending adjustments and economic growth
Local Control
Strong defender of local control against state mandates
Opposed S.B. 151 housing bill, warning it erodes local control and reshapes communities without addressing unaffordability root causes
Tax Structure Reform
Argues Connecticut's tax structure 'punishes those who work and rewards those who accumulate.' Proposes raising taxes on wealthy
Elliott focuses on income inequality and regressive tax structure, contrasting with Lamont's tax-cut approach
Education Funding
Education is key campaign focus; Connecticut underinvests in public education
Elliott argues for full funding of public schools and increased investment in educational programs
Municipal Aid
Strong support for cities and towns; municipalities are underfunded
Elliott focuses on supporting local governments that have been neglected
Energy Costs
Proposes $200-400 energy bill rebates and cost reduction measures; critics argue energy prices remain among the highest in the nation
Connecticut has the third-highest electric rates in the U.S. Lamont is pushing rebate proposals and energy efficiency programs but critics argue his approach has not sufficiently reduced costs.
Housing Affordability
Listed housing costs as a priority for 2025-2026, but vetoed major affordable housing expansion bill in June 2025
Lamont supports moderate approaches but opposes major zoning reforms. He vetoed H.B. 5002 (Omnibus YIMBY bill) that would have streamlined permitting and expanded housing supply.
Taxes
Supports tax cuts for middle and working-class families; opposes raising taxes on the wealthy
Signed the largest income tax cut in Connecticut history; supports middle-class tax relief but rejects progressive tax increases advocated by liberal Democrats.
Criminal Justice Reform
Supports criminal justice reform but with cautious approach
Signed police reform bill in 2020 requiring body cameras and banning certain police moves; supports rehabilitation-focused approaches.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Stewart Campaign Self-Funding
$200,000Individual
Stewart announced campaign with $200,000 package in late November 2025
Individual Donors
$250,000+Individual
Fazio crossed $250,000 threshold fastest in Connecticut history for public financing qualification
Individual Small Donors
$85,082Small Donor
Elliott raised $85,082 total as of January 2026, with average contribution under $70 and 60%+ giving less than $100. Pursuing public financing system.
Ned Lamont (Self-Funding)
$105,000+Individual
Lamont is independently wealthy and self-funding his campaign; contributed $105,000 in initial filing; spent $15.1M in 2018, $25.7M in 2022

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: In 2025 State of the State, Lamont highlighted lowering housing costs as a goal for the coming legislative session
Contradiction: Lamont vetoed H.B. 5002, the Omnibus YIMBY bill that would have expanded affordable housing and streamlined permitting. In November 2025, it was revealed he asked an aide to draft a statement supporting pro-housing legislation just days before the veto.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

Governor Ned Lamont

Implied Stewart, as newer candidate, lacked statewide experience

Lamont benefited from higher name recognition against newer challengers

Democratic State Chair Roberto Alves

Fazio's energy proposal is 'reckless' and would 'destabilize our energy grid and drive up costs'

Response to Fazio's plan to cut electric rates by ending RGGI and renewable subsidies

Governor Ned Lamont Campaign

Lamont referred Republicans to ask Fazio about his plan rather than engaging directly

Campaign initially dismissed Fazio's energy proposal

Governor Ned Lamont

Elliott is 'purely a function of name recognition' in early polling; 'Nobody really knows who he is outside of his house district'

Lamont questioned whether Elliott's polling gains were meaningful without significant campaign spending

Josh Elliott (Democratic Primary Challenger)

Lamont is too conservative on taxes and spending; not aggressive enough to meet Trump administration challenges

Elliott is running as progressive alternative; argues Lamont should raise taxes on wealthy and spend more on education, infrastructure, and federal response

Ryan Fazio (Republican Primary)

Connecticut's electricity rates are third-highest in nation; economic growth has plummeted to fourth worst in country; people and jobs are leaving

Fazio promises largest income tax cut in state history and plans to cut electric bills by 20%

Erin Stewart (Republican Primary)

Connecticut has no real leadership; law enforcement attacked, roads neglected, tax dollars spent on insiders' friends

Stewart promises fresh leadership and fiscal discipline

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

State Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hardingindividual
House Minority Leader Vincent Candeloraindividual
Multiple State Legislatorsorganization
State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor)individual
Democratic Party of Connecticutorganization