Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2018
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| ← 2014 |
November 6, 2018 |
2022 → |
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| Turnout |
61.4% |
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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor and lieutenant governor of Connecticut, concurrently with the election of Connecticut's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
As Connecticut does not have gubernatorial term limits, incumbent Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy was eligible to run for a third term, but declined to do so.[1][2][3] After the resignation of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback in January 2018, Malloy became the most unpopular governor in the United States.[4][5] The general election was between 2006 Democratic Senate nominee and businessman Ned Lamont, and Republican businessman Bob Stefanowski.
Democratic primary
Governor
Democratic nominee
- Ned Lamont, businessman, former Greenwich Selectman, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2010[6][7] (endorsed by the state party)
Lost the Democratic primary
Withdrew prior to the Democratic primary
Declined
- Dita Bhargava, former hedge fund manager and former vice chair of the Democratic Party of Connecticut (running for Treasurer of Connecticut)[18][19]
- Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford since 2015[20][21]
- Joe Courtney, U.S. Representative since 2007 (running for reelection)[22]
- Elizabeth Esty, U.S. Representative since 2013 (retiring)[23]
- Toni Harp, Mayor of New Haven since 2013 (endorsed Lamont)[24][25][26]
- Jim Himes, U.S. Representative since 2009 (running for reelection)[27]
- George Jepsen, Attorney General of Connecticut since 2011 (retiring)[28]
- Edward M. Kennedy Jr., state senator and member of the Kennedy family (retiring)[29]
- Kevin Lembo, State Comptroller of Connecticut since 2011 (running for reelection)[30][31][32][33]
- Martin Looney, state senator, president pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate[34]
- Dan Malloy, Governor of Connecticut since 2011 (retiring)[1][2][3]
- Rudy Marconi, Ridgefield First Selectman[35]
- Chris Mattei, attorney and former federal prosecutor (running for attorney general)[36]
- Nancy Wyman, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut since 2011 (retiring)[37]
- John Larson, U.S. Representative since 1999 (running for reelection; endorsed Lamont)
Primary endorsements
| Susan Bysiewicz (withdrew) |
- State legislators
- Mayors and other municipal leaders
|
| Sean Connolly (withdrew) |
- State legislators
|
| Jonathan Harris (withdrew) |
- Statewide officials
- State legislators
- Beth Bye, state senator[40]
- Ed Gomes, state senator[40]
- Tim Larson, state senator[40]
- Mike Demicco, state representative[40]
- Andy Fleischmann, state representative[40]
- Susan Johnson, state representative[40]
- Linda Orange, state representative[40]
- Kevin Ryan, state representative[40]
- Derek Slap, state representative[40]
- Joe Verrengia, state representative[40]
- Mayors and other municipal leaders
|
| Ned Lamont |
- Presidents
- Vice President
- Withdrawn Candidates
- U.S. Representatives
- Statewide officials
- State legislators
- Party leaders
- Kevin Comer, Chairman of Washington Democratic Town Committee[41]
- Steven Sheinberg, Chairman of Fairfield Democratic Town Committee[41]
- Audrey Tyson, Member of Democratic State Central Committee[41]
- Barbara Reynolds, Member of Democratic State Central Committee[41]
- Karen Jarmoc, Member of Democratic State Central Committee[41]
- Newspapers and magazines
- Mayors and other municipal leaders
- Ben Blake, Milford Mayor[47]
- Shari Cantor, West Hartford Mayor[41]
- Toni Harp, New Haven Mayor[26]
- Beth Heller, Woodbridge First Selectman[48]
- Marcia Leclerc, East Hartford Mayor[41]
- Neil O'Leary, Waterbury Mayor[49]
- Curtis Read, Bridgewater First Selectman[50]
- Nancy Rossi, West Haven Mayor[41]
- Eva Magnuszewski, Common Council President of New Britain[41]
- Liz Brown, Chairperson of Board of Education of Waterbury[41]
- John Burdick, Member of the New Hartford, Connecticut Economic Development Commission (Since 2017) and Candidate for New Hartford First Selectman (Republican)
- 2018 Candidates for Office
- Amanda Webster, Democratic Nominee for Connecticut Representatives from the 62nd District
- Labor unions
|
Results
| Democratic primary results |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Ned Lamont |
172,024 |
81.2 |
|
Democratic |
Joe Ganim |
39,913 |
18.8 |
| Total votes |
211,937 |
100.0 |
Lieutenant Governor
Democratic nominee
Lost the Democratic primary
- Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, activist[52]
Withdrew
- Liz Linehan, state representative[53]
- Drew Marzullo, Greenwich Selectman[54]
- Charlie Stallworth, state representative[55]
Results
| Democratic primary results |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Susan Bysiewicz |
129,928 |
62.2 |
|
Democratic |
Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman |
79,021 |
37.8 |
| Total votes |
208,949 |
100.0 |
Republican primary
Governor
Republican nominee
Endorsed by the state party; lost the Republican primary
Lost the Republican primary
- Tim Herbst, former First Selectman of Trumbull and nominee for state treasurer in 2014[60]
- Stephen A. Obsitnik, businessman and nominee for CT-04 in 2012[61]
- David Stemerman, businessman[62]
Eliminated at Convention
Withdrew prior to the Convention
Declined
Convention
The Republican statewide nominating convention was held May 11–12, 2018 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.
Under the rules established by the convention, any candidate not receiving at least eight percent of the vote would be eliminated in the first round of voting. In the second round of voting, candidates not receiving 15 percent of the vote would be eliminated. In all subsequent rounds of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated, regardless of percentage. Voting would continue until one candidate receives 50 percent plus one of all votes cast.[87]
Results at the Convention
| Round |
Mark Boughton |
Tim Herbst |
Steve Obsitnik |
Peter Lumaj |
Mark Lauretti |
David M. Walker |
Prasad Srinivasan |
Mike Handler |
| 1 |
277 |
24.4% |
213 |
18.8% |
117 |
10.3% |
167 |
14.7% |
119 |
10.5% |
104 |
9.2% |
90 |
7.9% |
46 |
4.1% |
| 2 |
408 |
36.3% |
319 |
28.4% |
198 |
17.6% |
161 |
14.3% |
26 |
2.3% |
13 |
1.2% |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
557 |
50.1% |
454 |
40.9% |
100 |
9.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primary endorsements
| Mark Boughton[88] |
- Pete Bass, New Milford Mayor
- Mitch Bolinsky, state representative
- Bill Buckbee, state representative
- Vincent Candelora, state representative[89]
- Elinor Carbone, Torrington Mayor
- Daniel Champagne, Vernon Mayor
- Robert Chatfield, Prospect Mayor[90]
- Holly Cheeseman, state representative
- Anthony D'Amelio, state representative[90]
- William Duff, state representative
- Adam Dunsby, state representative[91]
- Michael Fedele, former lieutenant governor of Connecticut
- Michael Ferguson, state representative
- Paul Formica, state senator[92]
- Laura Francis, Durham First Selectman
- Carol Hall, state representative[92]
- Stephen Harding, state representative
- Barbara Henry, Roxbury First Selectwoman[90]
- Laura Hoydick, Stratford Mayor[93]
- Dan Jerram, New Hartford First Selectman[92]
- David Labriola, state representative[93]
- Jesse MacLachlan, state representative[92]
- Jeff Manville, Southbury First Selectman[93]
- Michael McLachlan, state senator
- Lizz Millardo, Haddam First Selectwoman[92]
- Kurt Miller, Seymour First Selectman[93]
- Michael Molgano, former state representative[90]
- Mark Nickerson, East Lyme First Selectman[90]
- Brian Ohler, state representative[90]
- Leo Paul, Litchfield First Selectman
- Rosa Rebimbas, state representative[92]
- Richard Smith, state representative
- Lori Spielman, Ellington First Selectman
- J. P. Sredzinski, state representative[90]
- Scott Storms, state representative[92]
- George Temple, Oxford First Selectman[93]
- Christopher Tymniak, Fairfield Selectman[92]
- Fred Wilms, state representative[92]
- Kevin Witkos, state senator[94]
- Terrie Wood, state representative[92]
- Connecticut GOP[95]
|
| Tim Herbst[96] |
- David S. Cassetti, Ansonia Mayor
- Craig C. Fishbein, state representative[97]
- Mike France, state representative[98]
- Michael Freda, North Haven First Selectman
- Ben McGorty, state representative[99]
- John P. McKinney, former state senator[100]
- Richard A. Moccia, former Norwalk Mayor
- Michael Pavia, former Stamford Mayor
- Robert Siegrist, state representative[97]
- Kevin Skulczyck, state representative[101]
- Prasad Srinivasan, state representative[102]
- Gregory Stokes, state representative
- Connecticut Property Owners Alliance[103]
|
| Bob Stefanowski |
- Arthur Laffer, Reagan Economic Policy Advisory Board member (1981-89)[105]
- Peter Lumaj, Candidate for Connecticut Secretary of State, 2014[106]
- Len Suzio, Meriden State Senator[107]
- David M. Walker, former U.S. Comptroller General (1998-2008)[108]
- Noreen Kokoruda, Madison State Representative[109]
- Tyrell Brown, Middletown Planning and Zoning Commissioner[110]
- Steve Forbes, businessman[111]
- Edward Ford Jr., Middletown Board of Education member
- Mark Lauretti, Shelton Mayor[112]
- Mike Ludwick, Enfield Mayor
- Dave Yaccarino, North Haven State Representative[114]
|
| Mike Handler (eliminated) |
|
|
| Mark Lauretti (eliminated) |
- State legislators
- Mayors and other municipal leaders
- Republican Town Committee leaders
- Mike Barnes, Chairman, New Milford RTC[118]
- Bill Paecht, Chairman, Seymour RTC[118]
- Anthony Simonetti, Chairman, Shelton RTC[118]
|
| Prasad Srinivasan (eliminated) |
- State Legislators
- Local Officials
- Stewart "Chip" Beckett, Member, Glastonbury Town Council
- Tim Devanney, Member, Town of Manchester Board of Directors
- Matthew Galligan, Member, Town of Manchester Board of Directors
- Carolyn Mirek, Member, South Windsor Town Council and former Mayor
- Robert Morra, Member, Town of Bolton Board of Selectmen
- George P. Norman, Member, Glastonbury Town Council
- Donald Palmer, Member, Town of Manchester Ways and Means Committee
- William T. Finn, former Member, Glastonbury Town Council
- Michael T. Zelasky, Chairman, Lisbon Board of Finance
- State Central Committee
- Michael FitzPatrick (4th Senatorial District) of Glastonbury
- Louis Spadaccini (4th Senatorial District) of Manchester
- Republican Town Committee Leaders
- John Deeb, Chairman, Manchester RTC
- Rodney Fournier, Chairman, Bolton RTC
- Ken Hjulstrom, Chairman, Marlborough RTC
- Robert Ike, Chairman, Bloomfield RTC
- Robert Lynn, Chairman, Glastonbury RTC
- Allan Spotts, Chairman, Cromwell RTC
- John Tanski, First Vice Chair, Glastonbury RTC
|
Polling
|
Hypothetical polling
|
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Mark
Boughton |
Mike
Handler |
Tim
Herbst |
Mark
Lauretti |
Peter
Lumaj |
Steve
Obsitnik |
Prasad
Srinivasan |
Bob
Stefanowski |
David
Stemerman |
Erin
Stewart |
Dave
Walker |
Undecided |
| McLaughlin & Associates (R-Stefanowski) |
May 4–6, 2018 |
400 |
± 4.9% |
7% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
33% |
2% |
11% |
3% |
30% |
|
Results
| Republican primary results |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Bob Stefanowski |
42,119 |
29.4 |
|
Republican |
Mark D. Boughton |
30,505 |
21.3 |
|
Republican |
David Stemerman |
26,276 |
18.3 |
|
Republican |
Tim Herbst |
25,144 |
17.6 |
|
Republican |
Steve Obsitnik |
19,151 |
13.4 |
| Total votes |
143,195 |
100.0 |
Lieutenant Governor
Republican nominee
Lost the Republican primary
Withdrew
- Ann Brookes, attorney[127]
- Peter Tesei, Greenwich First Selectman[128]
Endorsements
Results
| Republican primary results |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Joe Markley |
65,702 |
47.6 |
|
Republican |
Erin Stewart |
45,262 |
32.8 |
|
Republican |
Jayme Stevenson |
27,139 |
19.7 |
| Total votes |
138,103 |
100.0 |
Independent
Candidates
Declared
Declined
Withdrew
- Micah Welintukonis, former Coventry town councilman and army veteran[133]
Endorsements
General election
Endorsements
| Bob Stefanowski (R) |
- Donald Trump, President of the United States[134]
- Arthur Laffer, Reagan Economic Policy Advisory Board member (1981-89)[105]
- Peter Lumaj, Candidate for Connecticut Secretary of State, 2014[106]
- David Stemerman, businessman[135]
- Len Suzio, Meriden State Senator[107]
- David M. Walker, former U.S. Comptroller General (1998-2008)[108]
- Noreen Kokoruda, Madison State Representative[109]
- Tyrell Brown, Middletown Planning and Zoning Commissioner[110]
- Steve Forbes, businessman[111]
- Edward Ford Jr., Middletown Board of Education member
- Mark Lauretti, Shelton Mayor[112]
- Mike Ludwick, Enfield Mayor
- The Wall Street Journal[136]
- Dave Yaccarino, North Haven State Representative[114]
- Jim Grasso, son of former Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso[137]
- Independent Party of Connecticut[138]
- National Federation of Independent Business[139]
- Connecticut Association of Realtors[140]
- Independent Electrical Contractors of New England[140]
- National Review[141]
- New York Post[142]
- Waterbury Republican-American[143]
- Greenwich Sentinel[144]
|
| Ned Lamont (D) |
- Federal officials
- Public figures
- Statewide officials
- State legislators
- Party leaders
- Newspapers and magazines
- Mayors and other municipal leaders
- Ben Blake, Milford Mayor[47]
- Shari Cantor, West Hartford Mayor[41]
- Toni Harp, New Haven Mayor[26]
- Beth Heller, Woodbridge First Selectman[48]
- Marcia Leclerc, East Hartford Mayor[41]
- Neil O'Leary, Waterbury Mayor[49]
- Curtis Read, Bridgewater First Selectman[50]
- Nancy Rossi, West Haven Mayor[41]
- Eva Magnuszewski, Common Council President of New Britain[41]
- Liz Brown, Chairperson of Board of Education of Waterbury[41]
- John Burdick, Member of the New Hartford, Connecticut Economic Development Commission (Since 2017) and Candidate for New Hartford First Selectman (Republican)
- 2018 Candidates for Office
- Amanda Webster, Democratic Nominee for Connecticut Representatives from the 62nd District
- Organizations
- Labor unions
|
| Oz Griebel (I) |
- Newspapers and magazines
|
Debates
Host
network |
Date |
Link(s) |
Participants |
Ned
Lamont (D) |
Oz
Griebel (I) |
Bob
Stefanowski (R) |
| Connecticut Broadcasters Association |
October 18, 2018 |
[170] |
Attended |
Attended |
Attended |
| WCTX |
September 17, 2018 |
[171] |
Attended |
Not Invited |
Attended |
| WTNH |
September 12, 2018 |
[172] |
Attended |
Not Invited |
Attended |
| WFSB |
September 5, 2018 |
[173] |
Attended |
Attended |
Did not attend |
Predictions
| Source |
Ranking |
As of |
| The Cook Political Report[174] |
Tossup |
October 5, 2018 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[175] |
Lean D |
October 12, 2018 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[176] |
Lean D |
October 11, 2018 |
| Real Clear Politics[177] |
Tossup |
October 30, 2018 |
| Daily Kos[178] |
Lean D |
October 23, 2018 |
| Fox News[179] |
Likely D |
November 5, 2018 |
| Politico[180] |
Lean D |
October 23, 2018 |
| Governing[181] |
Lean D |
October 23, 2018 |
| FiveThirtyEight[182] |
Likely D |
October 23, 2018 |
| The Washington Post[183] |
Tossup |
November 4, 2018 |
Polling
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Ned
Lamont (D) |
Bob
Stefanowski (R) |
Oz
Griebel (I) |
Other |
Undecided |
| Gravis Marketing |
October 30 – November 1, 2018 |
681 |
± 3.8% |
46% |
37% |
9% |
– |
8% |
| Sacred Heart University |
October 29–31, 2018 |
500 |
± 4.3% |
38% |
40% |
9% |
1% |
12% |
| Emerson College |
October 27–29, 2018 |
780 |
± 3.7% |
46% |
39% |
10% |
0%[184] |
5% |
| Quinnipiac University |
October 22–28, 2018 |
1,201 |
± 4.0% |
47% |
43% |
7% |
0% |
4% |
| Sacred Heart University |
October 13–17, 2018 |
501 |
± 4.3% |
40% |
36% |
8% |
1% |
15% |
| Public Policy Polling (D-Change Course CT PAC) |
October 8–9, 2018 |
828 |
– |
43% |
38% |
– |
– |
19% |
| Quinnipiac University |
October 3–8, 2018 |
767 |
± 5.0% |
47% |
39% |
11% |
0% |
3% |
| Sacred Heart University |
September 12–17, 2018 |
501 |
± 4.3% |
43% |
37% |
– |
4% |
16% |
| Gravis Marketing |
August 24–27, 2018 |
606 |
± 4.0% |
49% |
40% |
– |
– |
12% |
| Quinnipiac University |
August 16–21, 2018 |
1,029 |
± 3.9% |
46% |
33% |
4% |
2%[185] |
14% |
| 53% |
37% |
– |
– |
6% |
| Sacred Heart University |
August 16–21, 2018 |
502 |
± 4.3% |
41% |
37% |
– |
6% |
17% |
|
Hypothetical polling
|
- with Ned Lamont and Mark Boughton
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Ned
Lamont (D) |
Mark
Boughton (R) |
Undecided |
| Tremont Public Advisors |
May 3–5, 2018 |
550 |
± 4.5% |
50% |
40% |
11% |
- with Ned Lamont and Erin Stewart
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Ned
Lamont (D) |
Erin
Stewart (R) |
Undecided |
| Tremont Public Advisors |
May 3–5, 2018 |
550 |
± 4.5% |
44% |
46% |
10% |
- with Susan Bysiewicz and Erin Stewart
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Susan
Bysiewicz (D) |
Erin
Stewart (R) |
Undecided |
| Tremont Public Advisors |
May 3–5, 2018 |
550 |
± 4.5% |
40% |
50% |
10% |
- with Susan Bysiewicz and Mark Boughton
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Susan
Bysiewicz (D) |
Mark
Boughton (R) |
Undecided |
| Tremont Public Advisors |
May 3–5, 2018 |
550 |
± 4.5% |
42% |
47% |
11% |
- with generic Democrat and Republican
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin
of error |
Generic
Democrat |
Generic
Republican |
Undecided |
| Tremont Public Advisors |
May 3–5, 2018 |
550 |
± 4.5% |
43% |
50% |
7% |
|
Results
See also
References
External links
- Debates
- Official gubernatorial campaign websites
- Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites
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