The 2026 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2026 to elect the governor of Connecticut. Primary elections took place on August 11, 2026.
Incumbent Democratic governor Ned Lamont won re-election a third term, defeating Republican nominee and state Senator Ryan Fazio. This was the best performance for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate since 1958. Lamont became the first Democrat to win three terms since Wilbur Lucius Cross in 1934.
Lamont had been one of the most popular governors in the United States, with a 63% approval rating as of October 2026, 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
- Ned Lamont, incumbent governor (2019–present)
- Josh Elliott, state representative from HD-88 (2017–present)
- 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
Ned Lamont
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut (2011–present)
- Chris Murphy, Connecticut (2013–present)
- Joe Courtney, CT-02 (2007–present)
- Rosa DeLauro, CT-03 (1991–present)
- Jahana Hayes, CT-05 (2019–present)
- Jim Himes, CT-04 (2009–present)
- John Larson, CT-01 (1999–present)
- Erick Russell, treasurer of Connecticut (2023–present)
- Sean Scanlon, Connecticut comptroller (2023–present)
- William Tong, attorney general of Connecticut (2019–present)
- 22 state senators
- 71 state representatives
- Arunan Arulampalam, mayor of Hartford (2024–present)
- Justin Elicker, mayor of New Haven (2020–present)
- Joe Ganim, mayor of Bridgeport (1991–2003, 2015–present)
- Caroline Simmons, mayor of Stamford (2021–present)
- Al Sharpton, civil rights activist
- Connecticut Carpenters
- Connecticut District Laborers' Council
- Connecticut State Building Trades Unions
- Connecticut Teamsters
- Teamsters Local 1150
- UNITE HERE Local 217
- 4 other local Teamsters unions
- College Democrats of Connecticut
- Giffords
- Democratic Party of Connecticut
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
- Susan Bysiewicz, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present)
Endorsements
Susan Bysiewicz
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
- Ryan Fazio, state senator from the 36th district (2021–present)
- Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York (1995–1998) and candidate for governor of New York in 1998 (endorsed Fazio)
- 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)
- Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate (running for lieutenant governor)
- Rob Sampson, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present) (endorsed Fazio)
Endorsements
Erin Stewart (withdrawn)
- Kevin Witkos, former SD-08 (2009–2023)
- 5 state representatives
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
- Matthew Corey, bar owner and perennial candidate
- Tim Ackert, state representative from the 8th district
Third-party candidates and independent candidates
Write-in candidates
- Christian Noe
- Running mate: Michael S. Grant
- Zenobia Adgers
- Running mate: Rick Adgers
- Lee Whitnum
- Running mate: David Spirt
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Ned Lamont (D)
Ryan Fazio (R)
Polling
Aggregate polls