The 2026 race for Connecticut governor is on, and the first candidate is at the starting line. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart started her exploratory campaign on Tuesday morning at her hometown’s City Hall.
Stewart has been mayor since 2013. She was 26 when she was first elected to the office her father once held — she’s the youngest mayor in the city’s history.
The Republican said her experience running one of the state’s highest-populated municipalities has prepared her for higher office.
“We were the punch line of everyone's jokes across the state of Connecticut, but not anymore,” Stewart said. “12 years later… through common sense and conservative leadership, we stood up, we fought back, we won, despite being outnumbered politically, four to one, Democrats to Republicans in registration. We've lowered taxes. We've closed a $30 million operating deficit. We led the transformation of downtown New Britain, fostering nearly $330 million in new development.”
Stewart ran for governor and lieutenant governor in 2018 but did not get the Republican nomination.
What would she do differently from Gov. Ned Lamont (D) if chosen this time?
“Everything,” she replied.
“Connecticut will be stronger when we openly embrace the opportunity, when we celebrate economic mobility, when we free ourselves from the restraints of over taxation and strangling regulations,” Stewart said. “Connecticut will be stronger when we give people a reason to invest here, when the spirit of individualism, personal liberty, and entrepreneurship is unleashed. Connecticut will be stronger when we chart a vision for real growth and actively plan for our limitless future.”
Politics in the land of steady habits have subtly changed since she ran in 2018. Joe Biden won the state by 20% in 2020, and Kamala Harris won by about 15% in 2024. However, Democrats picked up seats in both chambers of the General Assembly in 2024.
National politics came up fairly quickly in a Q&A session with the media at her kickoff announcement.
Does Stewart agree with what President Donald Trump has been doing the first two weeks in office?
“Yes. We're not going to go down the Donald Trump rabbit hole,” Stewart said. “I said yes. I voted for him three times, and I'm happy to say that I did.”
During her exploratory campaign, Stewart will try to raise $350,000. She’s trying to qualify for the state’s Citizen’s Election Program, which will require thousands of small donations from Connecticut citizens.
If she raises the money, she’ll have access to grants from the CEP program, which is funded through voluntary contributions from taxpayers and unclaimed assets from financial institutions.
“I don't have the means to finance my own campaign, to write a check for millions of dollars to do this,” Stewart said.
Stewart said her success over the next few months will determine whether she launches a full campaign. She expects to make the decision sometime this fall.
It’s not yet clear who her opponents would be — Lamont has not announced whether he’ll be running for a third term. If he did, he would be the first governor to run for a third term since John Rowland.
Connecticut is one of 13 states that don’t have term limits for governors.
