The 2026 Connecticut gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Connecticut. Primary elections took place on August 11, 2026.
Incumbent Democratic governor Ned Lamont is running for a third term, winning the Democratic nomination in August 2026. 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; 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. State representative Josh Elliott challenged Lamont in the primary as a progressive.
Democratic primary While incumbent governor Ned Lamont initially had expressed doubts about running for a third term, he announced that he would run for re-election in November 2025. State representative Josh Elliott had already launched a bid to primary Lamont, believing that Connecticut needed a more progressive leader.
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 took place on August 11; Lamont was the first incumbent governor to face a primary since Ella Grasso in 1978.
Lamont would go on to win the primary, and the party's endorsement.
Governor Candidates Nominee Ned Lamont, incumbent governor (2019–present) Eliminated in primary Josh Elliott, state representative from HD-88 (2017–present)
Declined Luke Bronin, former mayor of Hartford (2016–2024) (running for U.S. House) Susan Bysiewicz, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present) (running for re-election) William Tong, incumbent attorney general (2019–present) (running for re-election) Sean Scanlon, incumbent comptroller (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorNedLamontJoshElliott Other UndecidedSacred Heart University/WFSB/CT InsiderJuly 21–26, 2026374 (LV)± 3.1%57%22%1%20%Change Research (D)July 23–26, 2026859 (LV)± 3.4%48%27%1%24%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026286 (LV)± 5.8%53%23%1%24%Change Research (D)May 28–29, 2026887 (LV)± 3.4%58%20%–22%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026177 (LV)± 7.3%52%18%–30%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026174 (LV)± 7.4%57%13%1%29%University of New HampshireNovember 13–17, 2025235 (LV)± 6.4%55%7%2%37%
Convention
Results
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominee Susan Bysiewicz, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present)
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.
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.
Candidates Nominee Ryan Fazio, state senator from the 36th district (2021–present)
Eliminated at convention Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York (1995–1998) and candidate for governor of New York in 1998 (endorsed Fazio)
Withdrawn Jennifer Tooker, former first selectwoman of Westport (2021–2025) (running for state comptroller) Erin Stewart, former mayor of New Britain (2013–2025) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 (endorsed Fazio)
Declined Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate (running for lieutenant governor) Rob Sampson, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present) (endorsed Fazio)
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RyanFazio ErinStewart Other UndecidedOnMessage Inc. (R)August 11–14, 2025400 (LV)± 4.9%13%42%10%35%
Lieutenant governor
Candidates Nominee Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate
Withdrew at convention Tim Ackert, state representative from the 8th district
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 10, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsSeptember 3, 2026RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 3, 2026Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdatedNedLamont (D)RyanFazio (R)Other/UndecidedMargin270toWinAugust 27 – September 22, 2026September 22, 202651.8%38.3%9.9%Lamont +13.5%Race to the WHthrough September 17, 2026September 22, 202652.0%38.3%9.7%Lamont +13.7%RealClearPoliticsAugust 20 – September 17, 2026September 24, 202651.8%38.3%9.9%Lamont +13.5%Silver Bulletinthrough September 17, 2026September 24, 202652.3%38.7%9.0%Lamont +13.6%Average52.0%38.4%9.6%Lamont +13.6%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorNedLamont (D)RyanFazio (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireSeptember 17–21, 2026540 (LV)± 4.2%55%38%1%6%co/efficient September 16–17, 2026979 (LV)± 3.1%48%41%11%Quinnipiac University Polling InstituteSeptember 8–14, 20261,288 (LV)± 3.8%55%38%2%5%GreatBlue ResearchSeptember 1–8, 20261,000 (RV)± 3.1%48%34%0%18%52%37%–11%University of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026809 (LV)± 3.4%52%37%3%9%Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT InsiderJuly 21–26, 20261,000 (RV)± 3.1%50%30%1%20%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026828 (LV)± 3.4%49%36%2%12%
Josh Elliot vs. Ryan Fazio Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorJoshElliot (D)RyanFazio (R) Other UndecidedSacred Heart University/WFSB/CT InsiderJuly 21–26, 20261,000 (RV)± 3.1%44%30%1%26% Ned Lamont vs. Erin Stewart Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error NedLamont (D) ErinStewart (R) UndecidedOnMessage Inc. (R)August 2025600 (LV)–50%42%8%
See also 2026 United States elections 2026 Connecticut elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official gubernatorial campaign websites Ryan Fazio (R) Ned Lamont (D)
Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites Matthew Corey (R)