Attorney General of Connecticut · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Connecticut attorney general race?
William Tong has the strongest record in the Connecticut attorney general race. William Tong scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. William Tong's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Bolton (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
John Bolton
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
William Tong
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 67
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
John Bolton
- On the record2026-07-21
Said as attorney general he would drop many of the office's lawsuits against the Trump administration but continue some, including defending the state's abortion statute.
- On the record2021 to 2026
Served on Westport's Planning and Zoning Commission, starting as an appointed alternate in July 2021, and left the board in 2026 to campaign.
Sources: Patch candidate questionnaire, Oct. 16, 2023 (his answers), New Haven Independent, July 22, 2026
- On the record2021
Represented school teachers seeking exceptions to the state's COVID vaccine mandate; he lost the case.
William Tong
- On the record2025 to 2026
Filed or joined more than 60 lawsuits against the Trump administration, a centerpiece of his 2026 campaign; his opponent pledges to stop pursuing many of them.
- On the record2019
The SEEC dismissed a complaint alleging his 2018 campaign ads referring to President Trump violated campaign finance law.
Source: State Elections Enforcement Commission, File No. 2018-065
- Credit2026-09
Serves as president of the National Association of Attorneys General, the association of state attorneys general of both parties.
- Credit2025-01-23
Announced a $7.4 billion settlement in principle with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family; Connecticut had sued Purdue and Sackler family members in 2019.
Source: CT News Junkie, Jan. 24, 2025
- Credit2025-03-19
State auditors reported one finding for the office he heads in fiscal 2022 and 2023, a $22,096 sick-leave overpayment, with six prior recommendations resolved.
Source: Auditors of Public Accounts, Office of the Attorney General, FY2022 and 2023
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. The SEEC dismissed a 2018 complaint over his campaign ads referring to President Trump (decision adopted 2019). No ethics, campaign finance or bar finding names him.
Source: State Elections Enforcement Commission, File No. 2018-065
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. State representative 2007 to 2019 and attorney general since 2019 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, William Tong
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Bolton. Served on Westport's Planning and Zoning Commission, as an alternate from July 2021 and later as a commissioner, with no official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Patch candidate questionnaire, Oct. 16, 2023 (his answers), New Haven Independent, July 22, 2026
William Tong. Attorney general since Jan. 9, 2019 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Wikipedia, William Tong
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Bolton. Attorney practicing since the 1990s, including civil-rights litigation in Fairfield County, and a Westport Planning and Zoning commissioner since 2021.
William Tong. Attorney general since 2019, completing a second term; six terms in the state House (2007 to 2019); 18 years as a litigator.
Source: Wikipedia, William Tong
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Bolton. Publishes office-specific plans, such as making utility rate cases before PURA a top priority, and explained which pending state lawsuits he would continue or drop.
Sources: John Bolton for Attorney General, New Haven Independent, July 22, 2026
William Tong. Sitting attorney general and president of the National Association of Attorneys General; chaired the House Judiciary Committee 2015 to 2019.
Sources: New Haven Independent, Sept. 4, 2026, Wikipedia, William Tong
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Bolton. One channel documented: campaign issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: John Bolton for Attorney General, Ballotpedia, John Bolton (Connecticut)
William Tong. One channel documented: a campaign accomplishments page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey (completed it in 2018).
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Bolton. Born in New Haven, raised in West Hartford and practicing in Fairfield County since the 1990s; Westport resident. In-state share of contributions not available.
William Tong. Born in Hartford and raised in West Hartford; represented Stamford's 147th District for 12 years. In-state share of contributions not available.
Source: Wikipedia, William Tong
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. Heads an office of about 220 attorneys. The state auditors' FY2022 and 2023 review found one finding, a $22,096 sick-leave overpayment, and six prior recommendations resolved.
Sources: New Haven Independent, Sept. 4, 2026, Auditors of Public Accounts, Office of the Attorney General, FY2022 and 2023
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. Announced the $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma and Sackler family settlement in January 2025; Connecticut first sued Purdue and Sackler family members in 2019.
Source: CT News Junkie, Jan. 24, 2025
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. President of the National Association of Attorneys General, whose members include both parties; leads multistate cases with Republican attorneys general, such as the Meta and Purdue settlements.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Bolton. No public record found.
William Tong. The state auditors' review of the office he heads (FY2022 and 2023) reported one finding with no repeat findings and six prior recommendations resolved; no penalty.
Source: Auditors of Public Accounts, Office of the Attorney General, FY2022 and 2023
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Connecticut attorney general race?
William Tong has the strongest record in the Connecticut attorney general race. William Tong scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. William Tong's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Bolton (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Connecticut attorney general race in 2026?
John Bolton (Republican), William Tong (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Bolton a good candidate for Attorney General?
John Bolton has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is William Tong a good candidate for Attorney General?
William Tong scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Connecticut race scored, and the Connecticut 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.