2026 Connecticut gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Connecticut gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Connecticut. Primary elections will take place on August 11, 2026.[1]
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November 3, 2026
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Incumbent Democratic governor Ned Lamont is running for a third term. Lamont is one of the most popular governors in the United States, with a 63% approval rating as of October 2025, according to Morning Consult;[2] however, a University of New Hampshire poll from May 2025 found that 44% of Connecticut voters believe he should not run for a third term.[3] State representative Josh Elliott is challenging Lamont in the primary as a progressive.[4]
Democratic primary
While incumbent governor Ned Lamont initially had expressed doubts about running for a third term,[5] he announced that he would run for re-election in November 2025.[6] State representative Josh Elliott had already launched a bid to primary Lamont, believing that Connecticut needs a more progressive leader.[7]
At the Democratic State Convention on May 16, 2026, at The Bushnell in Hartford, Lamont defeated Elliott for the state party endorsement, 1,468 votes (74.6%) to 501 (25.4%). However, Elliott surpassed the 15% of delegates needed to get on the ballot for the primary, which is set to take place on August 11.[8] Lamont is the first incumbent governor to face a primary since Ella Grasso in 1978.
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Josh Elliott, state representative from HD-88 (2017–present)[9]
- Ned Lamont, incumbent governor (2019–present)[10]
Declined
- Luke Bronin, former mayor of Hartford (2016–2024) (running for U.S. House)[11]
- Susan Bysiewicz, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present) (running for re-election)[12]
- William Tong, incumbent attorney general (2019–present) (running for re-election)[13]
- Sean Scanlon, incumbent comptroller (2023–present) (running for re-election)[14]
Endorsements
- U.S. senators
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut (2011–present)[15]
- Chris Murphy, Connecticut (2013–present)[15]
- U.S. representatives
- Joe Courtney, CT-02 (2007–present)[16]
- Rosa DeLauro, CT-03 (1991–present)[16]
- Jahana Hayes, CT-05 (2019–present)[16]
- Jim Himes, CT-04 (2009–present)[16]
- John Larson, CT-01 (1999–present)[16]
- Statewide officials
- Erick Russell, treasurer of Connecticut (2023–present)[17]
- Sean Scanlon, Connecticut comptroller (2023–present)[17]
- William Tong, attorney general of Connecticut (2019–present)[17]
- State legislators
- Local officials
- Arunan Arulampalam, mayor of Hartford (2024–present)[18]
- Justin Elicker, mayor of New Haven (2020–present)[19]
- Joe Ganim, mayor of Bridgeport (1991–2003, 2015–present)[18]
- Caroline Simmons, mayor of Stamford (2021–present)[18]
- Individuals
- Al Sharpton, civil rights activist[20]
- Labor unions
- Connecticut Carpenters[21]
- Connecticut District Laborers' Council[21]
- Connecticut State Building Trades Unions[19]
- Connecticut Teamsters[17]
- Teamsters Local 1150[21]
- UNITE HERE Local 217[22]
- 4 other local Teamsters unions[21]
- Organizations
- College Democrats of Connecticut[23]
- Giffords[24]
- Political parties
- State legislators
- Saud Anwar, SD-03 (2019–present)[25]
- 6 state representatives[a]
- Labor unions
- SEIU Local 1973[27]
- New Haven Federation of Teachers[28]
- Organizations
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Ned Lamont |
Josh Elliott |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider[30] | July 21–26, 2026 | 374 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 57% | 22% | 1%[c] | 20% |
| Change Research (D)[31][A] | July 23–26, 2026 | 859 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 48% | 27% | 1%[d] | 24% |
| University of New Hampshire[32] | June 18–23, 2026 | 286 (LV) | ± 5.8% | 53% | 23% | 1%[e] | 24% |
| Change Research (D)[33][B] | May 28–29, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 58% | 20% | – | 22% |
| University of New Hampshire[34] | April 16–20, 2026 | 177 (LV) | ± 7.3% | 52% | 18% | – | 30% |
| University of New Hampshire[35] | February 12–16, 2026 | 174 (LV) | ± 7.4% | 57% | 13% | 1%[f] | 29% |
| University of New Hampshire[36] | November 13–17, 2025 | 235 (LV) | ± 6.4% | 55% | 7% | 2%[g] | 37% |
Convention
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ned Lamont (incumbent) | 1,468 | 74.56% | |
| Democratic | Josh Elliott | 501 | 25.44% | |
| Total votes | 1,969 | 100.0% | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ned Lamont (incumbent) | % | ||
| Democratic | Josh Elliott | % | ||
| Total votes | % | |||
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Susan Bysiewicz, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present)[12]
Endorsements
Republican primary
Governor
At the Republican State Convention on May 16, 2026, at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich) won the party's endorsement with approximately 92% of delegate votes on the first ballot. Former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey received about 8% of the vote, falling well short of the 15% threshold needed to force an August primary, and quickly endorsed Fazio.[38]
In the following months before the convention, Erin Stewart, the former mayor of New Britain, was seen as the frontrunner in a tight race with Fazio. Just a day before the May 15th convention, Stewart suspended her campaign amid reports of alleged misuse of a New Britain city credit card for over $200,000 in personal expenses. Stewart subsequently endorsed Fazio.[39]
Candidates
Nominee
- Ryan Fazio, state senator from the 36th district (2021–present)[40]
Eliminated at convention
- Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York (1995–1998) and candidate for governor of New York in 1998 (endorsed Fazio)[41]
Filed paperwork
- Timothy Wilcox[42]
Formed exploratory committee
- Harry Arora, former state representative from the 151st district (2020–2023) and nominee for state treasurer in 2022[43]
Withdrawn
- Jennifer Tooker, former first selectwoman of Westport (2021–2025)[44] (running for state comptroller)[45]
- Erin Stewart, former mayor of New Britain (2013–2025) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 (endorsed Fazio)[46][47]
Declined
- Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate (running for lieutenant governor)[48]
- Rob Sampson, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present) (endorsed Fazio)[49]
Endorsements
- Statewide officials
- Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York (1995–1998) and former gubernatorial candidate[50]
- State legislators
- Vincent Candelora, minority leader of the House of Representatives (2021–present) from HD-86 (2007–present)[51]
- Stephen Harding, minority leader of the State Senate (2024–present) from SD-30 (2023–present)[51]
- 5 state senators[h]
- 11 state representatives[i]
- Local officials
- Erin Stewart, former mayor of New Britain (2013–2025) and former gubernatorial candidate[18]
- Organizations
- Statewide officials
- George Pataki, former governor of New York (1995–2006)[53]
- State legislators
- Kevin Witkos, former SD-08 (2009–2023)[19]
- 5 state representatives[j]
Polling
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate[48]
Withdrew at convention
- Tim Ackert, state representative from the 8th district[55]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[56] | Solid D | August 28, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[57] | Safe D | June 19, 2026 |
| Fox News[58] | Solid D | July 23, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[59] | Solid D | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[60] | Safe D | September 4, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report[61] | Solid D | September 11, 2025 |
Polling
Ryan Fazio vs. Ned Lamont
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Ryan Fazio (R) |
Ned Lamont (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider[62] | July 21–26, 2026 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 30% | 50% | 1%[k] | 20% |
| University of New Hampshire[32] | June 18–23, 2026 | 828 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 36% | 49% | 2% | 12% |
Ryan Fazio vs. Josh Elliot
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Ryan Fazio (R) |
Josh Elliot (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider[63] | July 21–26, 2026 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 30% | 44% | 1%[l] | 26% |
See also
Notes
- Jason Doucette, HD-13 (2019–present)[19]
- Nick Gauthier, HD-38 (2025–present)[19]
- Jillian Gilchrest, HD-18 (2019–present)[19]
- Anne Hughes, HD-135 (2019–present)[18]
- Laurie Sweet, HD-91 (2025–present)[18]
- Steven Winter, HD-94 (2025–present)[26]
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - "Prefer not to answer" with 1%
- "Would not vote" with 1%
- "Write in Someone Else" with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 1%
- 'Write in someone else' with 2%
- Eric Berthel, SD-32 (2019–present)[52]
- Paul Cicarella, SD-34 (2021–present)[19]
- John Kissel, SD-07 (1993–present)[19]
- Rob Sampson, SD-16 (2019–present)[49]
- Heather Somers, SD-18 (2017–present)[19]
- Seth Bronko, HD-70 (2023–present)[19]
- Patrick Callahan, HD-108 (2021–present)[19]
- Joseph Canino, HD-65 (2025–present)[52]
- Irene Haines, HD-34 (2019–present)[19]
- Carol Hall, HD-59 (2017–present)[19]
- Greg Howard, HD-43 (2021–present)[19]
- Nicole Klarides-Ditria, HD-105 (2017–present)[19]
- Gale Mastrofrancesco, HD-80 (2019–present)[19]
- Tom O'Dea, HD-125 (2013-Present) [19]
- Joseph Polletta, HD-68 (2017–present)[52]
- Steve Weir, HD-55 (2022–present)[19]
- Tim Ackert, HD-08 (2011–present)[19]
- Devin Carney, HD-23 (2015–present)[19]
- Tom Delnicki, HD-14 (2017–present)[19]
- Joe Hoxha, HD-78 (2023–present)[19]
- Donna Veach, HD-30 (2021–present)[19]
- "Another candidate" with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 1%
Partisan clients