Connecticut Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$226,711 (Salary forgone)
2025 FY Budget:	$4,645,803
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder(s)
Governor of Connecticut Ned Lamont Democratic Party Assumed office: January 9, 2019
Elections
Next election:	2026
Last election:	2022
Other Connecticut Executive Offices
Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Comptroller•Commissioner of Education•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

TheGovernor of the State of Connecticut is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch, and the highest state office in Connecticut.

The currentConnecticut Constitution, ratified in 1965, establishes a four-year term for thegovernor, commencing on the Wednesday after the first Monday in January following an election.

The constitution provides for the election of alieutenant governor, for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same ticket, a provision added in 1962. In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Before the adoption of the 1965 constitution, the lieutenant governor only served as acting governor.^[1]

Connecticut has a Democratictrifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

Connecticut has a Democratictriplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also:Connecticut State Legislature,Connecticut House of Representatives,Connecticut State Senate

Current officeholder

The current Governor of Connecticut isNed Lamont (D). Lamont assumed office in 2019.

Authority

Thestate constitution establishes the office of the governor inArticle IV, the Executive Department.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5

Qualifications

State Executives
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014

All gubernatorial candidates must be at least 30 years old and a qualified elector and resident of Connecticut on the day of the election (§ 5).

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5

To be a qualified elector, a voter must be at least 18 years old and a resident.

Connecticut Constitution, Article VI, Section 1

Elections

See also:Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also:Election of governors

Connecticut elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Connecticut, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Wednesday following the first Monday in the January following an election.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 1

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 1

Term limits

See also:States with gubernatorial term limits

Connecticut governors do not have term limits.

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Connecticut governors from 1992 to 2013.

Election results

• 2030
• 2026
• 2022
• 2018

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2030

There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut

IncumbentNed Lamont (D) andJoshua Elliott (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 11, 2026.

		Candidate
		Ned Lamont
		Joshua Elliott

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut

Ryan Fazio (R),Betsy McCaughey (R),Erin Stewart (R), andTimothy Wilcox (R) are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 11, 2026.

		Candidate
		Ryan Fazio
	Submit photo	Betsy McCaughey
		Erin Stewart
		Timothy Wilcox

---

	There are noincumbents in this race.
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jennifer Tooker (R)

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Connecticut

IncumbentNed Lamont (D / Working Families Party / Griebel Frank for CT Party) defeatedBob Stefanowski (R),Robert Hotaling (Independent Party), andMichelle Louise Bicking (Independent) in the general election for Governor of Connecticut on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ned Lamont (D / Working Families Party / Griebel Frank for CT Party)	56.0	710,186
		Bob Stefanowski (R)	43.0	546,209
		Robert Hotaling (Independent Party)	1.0	12,400
		Michelle Louise Bicking (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	98

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,268,893
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Aaron Lewis (L)

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for August 9, 2022, was canceled. IncumbentNed Lamont (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut without appearing on the ballot.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for August 9, 2022, was canceled.Bob Stefanowski (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Themis Klarides (R)
• Susan Patricelli Regan (R)

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Connecticut

Ned Lamont (D) defeatedBob Stefanowski (R),Oz Griebel (Griebel Frank for CT Party),Rod Hanscomb (L), andMark Stewart Greenstein (Amigo Constitution Party) in the general election for Governor of Connecticut on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ned Lamont (D)	49.4	694,510
		Bob Stefanowski (R)	46.2	650,138
		Oz Griebel (Griebel Frank for CT Party)	3.9	54,741
	Submit photo	Rod Hanscomb (L)	0.4	6,086
		Mark Stewart Greenstein (Amigo Constitution Party)	0.1	1,254
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0%	74

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,406,8030
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Thomas Ford (Independent)
• Kameron Scott (Independent)
• Micah Welintukonis (Independent)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut

Ned Lamont (D) defeatedJoe Ganim (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ned Lamont	81.2	172,567
	Submit photo	Joe Ganim	18.8	39,976

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 212,5430
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Luke Bronin (D)
• Sean Connolly (D)
• Betheona Guiles-Smith (D)
• Jonathan Harris (D)
• Guy Smith (D)
• Lee Whitnum (D)
• Jacey Wyatt (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut

Bob Stefanowski (R) defeatedMark Boughton (R),David Stemerman (R),Tim Herbst (R), andSteve Obsitnik (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bob Stefanowski	29.4	42,041
		Mark Boughton	21.3	30,475
		David Stemerman	18.3	26,177
		Tim Herbst	17.5	25,063
		Steve Obsitnik	13.4	19,102

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 142,8580
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Antonietta Boucher (R)
• Michael Handler (R)
• Mark Lauretti (R)
• Peter Lumaj (R)
• Eric Mastroianni (R)
• Scott Merrell (R)
• Prasad Srinivasan (R)
• Peter Thalheim (R)
• Joseph Visconti (R)
• David Walker (R)

Previous election results

2014

See also:Connecticut Gubernatorial election, 2014

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dan Malloy/Nancy WymanIncumbent	50.7%	554,314
	Republican	Tom Foley/Heather Somers	48.2%	526,295
	Independent	Joe Visconti/Chester Harris	1%	11,456
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.1%	708
Total Votes				1,092,773
Election results viaConnecticut Secretary of State

Vacancies

See also:How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

The vacancy procedure for the office of governorArticle IV, Sections 18, 19, and 21.

Under any circumstances where the elected governor is unable or unwilling to discharge the office, the elected lieutenant governor shall, as soon as he takes the oath of office, become the governor and hold the office until the next regularly scheduled election.

Duties

The Governor of Connecticut is responsible for upholding the constitution and faithfully executing all laws (Article 4, § 12), is the head of Connecticut's military forces at all times other than when those forces have been called into national service (§ 8). Under § 11, the governor must periodically address the joint session of the legislature with details of the current state of Connecticut's affairs and suggestions for policy.

§ 13 gives the governor the prerogative to grant reprieves after conviction. However, Connecticut stands out from other states in that the governor does not have the ability to grant pardons. Additionally, the right to grant reprieves does not extend to cases of impeachment.

Under § 15 and § 16, the governor has a veto on all bills, including appropriations, subject to a supermajority override by the legislature.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• adjourning the legislature when the body cannot agree on a time to adjourn itself, until a date the governor deems proper (§ 10)

• requiring written reports from any and all officers of the Executive branch on any aspect of that officer's job (§ 9)

• authorizing and signing all commissions given by the state of Connecticut (§ 14)

Divisions

Connecticut state government organizational chart

Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Connecticut has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.

State budget

Role in state budget

See also:Connecticut state budget and finances

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[3]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inJuly.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inSeptember.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inFebruary.
4. The legislature adopts a budget inMay or June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins on July 1.

Connecticut is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[3][4]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature must adopt a balanced budget.^[3]

Governor's office budget

The budget for the Governor's Office in the 2025 Fiscal Year was $4,645,803.^[5]

Compensation

See also:Comparison of gubernatorial salaries andCompensation of state executive officers

The salaries of Connecticut's elected state executives are determined by law as mandated by theConnecticut Constitution.^[6]Article IV, Section 7 of the state constitution also requires all changes in salary to take effect following the next election for the affected offices:

2023

In 2023, the governor's salary was $226,711, but it was forgone by GovernorNed Lamont (D) according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[7]

2022

In 2022, the governor's salary was $150,000, but was forgone by GovernorNed Lamont (D) according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[8]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[9]

2020

In 2020, the governor's salary was $150,000, but was forgone by GovernorNed Lamont (D) according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[10]

2019

In 2019, the governor's salary was $150,000, but was forgone by GovernorNed Lamont (D) according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[11]

2018

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[12]

2017

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[13]

2016

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[14]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[15]

2014

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[16]

2013

In 2013, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[17]

2012

In 2012, the governor was paid an estimated$150,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Connecticut

Partisan breakdown of the Connecticut governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, there were Democratic governors in office for three years while there were Republican governors in office for 16 years. During the final three years, Connecticut was under Democratictrifectas.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Connecticut, theConnecticut State Senate and theConnecticut House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Connecticut state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Between the years 1992 and 2005, Connecticut ranked in the top-10 in the SQLI ranking, in the top-5 for twelve of those thirteen years, and ranked 1st in 1992 and 1993. Beginning 2005, Connecticut dropped out of the top-10 and began a trend downward until hitting its lowest spot during the period of the study (33rd in 2012). Connecticut had divided government for eighteen years before having a Democratic trifecta in 2011. The state’s greatest decline in the SQLI ranking occurred between 2011 and 2012, when Connecticut dropped fourteen spots in the rankings. Connecticut has never had a Republican trifecta between 1992 and 2012.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 26.00
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
• SQLI average with divided government: 6.63

Chart displaying the partisanship of Connecticut government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Historical officeholders

There have been 89 Governors of Connecticut since 1639, including 68 after joining the Union in 1788. Since statehood, 28 governors were Republican, 22 were Democratic, seven were Federalist, six were Whig, two were Democratic Republican and three were from minor parties.^[18]

State profile

Presidential voting pattern

See also:Presidential voting trends in Connecticut

Connecticutvoted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Connecticut, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.^[19]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Connecticut had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Connecticut coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Connecticut
• United States congressional delegations from Connecticut
• Public policy in Connecticut
• Endorsers in Connecticut
• Connecticut fact checks
• More...

Contact information

Office of the Governor
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Tel: 860-566-4840
Toll-Free: 800-406-1527
TDD: 860-524-7397

See also

• Connecticut state executive offices

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Governor of Connecticut website

Footnotes

	v • e State ofConnecticut Hartford (capital)
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