Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT) fended off primary challenger state Rep. Josh Elliott Tuesday night, securing the Democratic nomination and paving the way to a third term at Connecticut‘s helm.
The race was called shortly after polls closed as Lamont led with nearly 67% of the votes and Elliott trailed, securing only 33%. Lamont has held office since 2019, and Elliott’s challenge marks the first time in five decades a sitting governor has faced a primary opponent in Connecticut.
Similar to Democratic primaries elsewhere, the race was viewed as a matchup between a centrist Democrat, Lamont, and a more progressive candidate like Elliott.
On the campaign trail, Lamont, 72, pointed to his record as governor and ability to avoid spats with colleagues across the aisle on the campaign trail. Lamont funded his campaign mainly through personal wealth, as the cable entrepreneur spent over $9 million of his own money on his campaign. Elliott was able to secure just shy of $4 million from the state’s election funding program. Both candidates pocketed about $400,000 from individual contributions, the Associated Press reported.
Lamont’s personal wealth became the target of attacks from Elliott, who attempted to paint the incumbent as out of touch. But Elliott’s attacks were countered by Lamont, who pointed out his opponent’s tardiness in the state legislature.
Elliott had cast his challenge as one focused on ideologies, with a platform that included a promise to follow Massachusetts in imposing a 4% surtax on incomes over $1 million. He and other state Democrats said Elliott’s bid was a test of how far left Connecticut voters were willing to go.
Despite losing in the gubernatorial race, Elliott is still running for reelection in his state House district.
Having secured a primary win, Lamont will face Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio in the November general election. Connecticut has not elected a Republican statewide in 20 years, and recent polling matching up Lamont and Fazio gave the former a healthy lead with 50% of the vote.
Should Lamont win the general election and secure a third term, he would be the only other governor to serve three terms in the past 200 years in Connecticut. Former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland served three terms but resigned in 2004 following a corruption investigation that ended in a prison sentence.
The chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), congratulated Lamont on his victory Tuesday night.
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“Gov. Lamont is a fighter who knows how to get results that actually improve people’s lives. Under Gov. Lamont’s leadership, Connecticut passed one of the best Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs in the country, raised the minimum wage to nearly $17 an hour, cut taxes for working families and the middle class, and paid down $11 billion in debt,” Beshear said.
“Gov. Lamont is one of the most popular governors in the country because he knows how to fight and deliver on the priorities Connecticut cares about,” Beshear added, “and the DGA is proud to support his reelection campaign.”