Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Connecticut governor and lieutenant governor race?
Ned Lamont has the strongest record in the Connecticut governor and lieutenant governor race. Ned Lamont scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Ryan Fazio at 68, as of October 6, 2026. Ned Lamont's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Fazio's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Ryan Fazio
On the ballot as Ryan Fazio and Matt Corey
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Ned Lamont
On the ballot as Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz
70 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 69
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.
Ryan Fazio
- On the record2026-09-16
Said he had accepted at least 10 debate invitations and called on Lamont to hold six debates, including two before early voting.
Sources: WTNH via Yahoo News, Sept. 16, 2026, Fairfield County Business Journal, Sept. 18, 2026
- On the record2021-04
The State Elections Enforcement Commission dismissed a Greenwich Democrat's complaint that state Republican Party spending for his 2020 Senate race exceeded legal limits.
- Credit2025-07-08
SB 1558, on which he is the first-listed co-sponsor, was signed July 8, 2025 as Public Act 25-172, creating a credit for residents who appeal other states' income taxes.
- Credit2025
Supported SB 4, the 2025 energy affordability law that cut public benefits charges and passed with nearly every legislator; Lamont shared credit with him in 2026.
Source: CT Mirror, Sept. 8, 2026
Ned Lamont
- On the record2026-09-16
Agreed to two televised debates with Fazio, both after early voting begins Oct. 19, plus forums; did not accept Fazio's call for six debates.
- On the record2021-11-21
Sema4, a company in which his wife's firm Oak HC/FT invested, received a state COVID testing contract; the Office of State Ethics guidance found no conflict of interest for the governor.
- Credit2026-05-26
Signed the 2027 budget adjustment, Public Act 26-68, which passed the Senate 30-6 and the House 127-21 with bipartisan support.
Source: CT News Junkie, May 27, 2026
- Credit2025-09-10
Moody's raised Connecticut from Aa3 to Aa2 and Fitch from AA- to AA in September 2025, upgrades announced by Lamont and Treasurer Erick Russell.
Sources: CT News Junkie, Sept. 12, 2025, CT Mirror, Sept. 10, 2025
- Credit2025-06-23
Vetoed House Bill 5002, a housing bill passed by the Democratic legislature, on June 23, 2025; Senate Democratic leaders publicly expressed disappointment.
Source: CT News Junkie, June 23, 2025
- Credit2025-06-23
Vetoed Senate Bill 8, which would have let striking workers collect unemployment benefits after 14 days, in June 2025 after the Democratic legislature passed it.
Source: CT News Junkie, June 24, 2025
- Credit2019-03
Asked the Office of State Ethics in March 2019 for an advisory opinion on potential conflicts of interest involving his wife's venture capital firm.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ryan Fazio. The SEEC dismissed a 2021 complaint over state Republican Party spending for his 2020 campaign. No ethics or campaign finance finding names him.
Ned Lamont. Sought a 2019 Office of State Ethics advisory opinion on his wife's venture firm and adopted a recusal plan; that office found the Sema4 testing contract posed no conflict for him. No SEEC or ethics finding names him.
Sources: Governing (Hartford Courant), March 25, 2019, Connecticut Public, Nov. 21, 2021
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ryan Fazio. No public record found.
Ned Lamont. In June 2025 vetoed two bills passed by the Democratic legislature over objections from Democratic leaders: HB 5002 on housing and SB 8, unemployment benefits for striking workers.
Sources: CT News Junkie, June 23, 2025, CT News Junkie, June 24, 2025
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ryan Fazio. Said he has received and accepted at least 10 debate invitations and called for six debates with Lamont; scheduled for the Oct. 22 WFSB and Oct. 27 WTNH debates.
Sources: WTNH via Yahoo News, Sept. 16, 2026, Fairfield County Business Journal, Sept. 18, 2026
Ned Lamont. Agreed to two televised 2026 debates (Oct. 22 WFSB, Oct. 27 WTNH) plus joint forums, 10 events in all; did not accept Fazio's call for six debates.
Sources: WTNH via Yahoo News, Sept. 16, 2026, WTNH, Oct. 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ryan Fazio. Greenwich Representative Town Meeting member, then state senator since August 2021, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Ryan Fazio
Ned Lamont. Greenwich selectman, town finance board member and governor since 2019 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Ned Lamont
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ryan Fazio. Sworn state senator since Aug. 26, 2021 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Wikipedia, Ryan Fazio
Ned Lamont. Governor since Jan. 9, 2019 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Ned Lamont
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ryan Fazio. State senator for the 36th District since 2021, elected in a special election and re-elected in 2022 and 2024. Earlier worked in the commodities industry; now a financial advisor.
Source: Wikipedia, Ryan Fazio
Ned Lamont. Governor of Connecticut since Jan. 9, 2019, completing a second full term. Earlier a Greenwich selectman and town finance board member, and founder of Campus Televideo.
Source: Ballotpedia, Ned Lamont
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ryan Fazio. Ranking member of the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee; campaign publishes a specific plan to cut electricity bills.
Sources: Connecticut General Assembly, Energy and Technology Committee membership, Ryan Fazio for Governor
Ned Lamont. Sitting governor in his second term. Campaign cites paid family medical leave and a middle-class tax cut; in 2026 he and Fazio debated electric-rate policy and public benefits charge relief.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ryan Fazio. Two channels documented: campaign issue pages and 2026 debate invitations accepted. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey (completed it in 2020).
Ned Lamont. Two channels documented: campaign priorities and accomplishments pages, and 2026 debates and forums. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ryan Fazio. Born in Norwalk and raised in Greenwich, where he graduated from Greenwich High School in 2008 and served on the Representative Town Meeting. In-state share of contributions not available.
Source: Wikipedia, Ryan Fazio
Ned Lamont. Lives in Greenwich, where he was elected selectman in 1987 and served three terms on the town finance board. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Source: Wikipedia, Ned Lamont
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ryan Fazio. No SEEC finding against his committees found; the 2021 complaint was dismissed. No record found of running a sizable organization.
Ned Lamont. Has headed Connecticut's executive branch since 2019. The state auditors' latest review of the Offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor reported three control findings, none repeated, with no penalty.
Source: Auditors of Public Accounts, Offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, FY2023 and 2024
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ryan Fazio. First-listed co-sponsor of SB 1558, signed July 8, 2025 as Public Act 25-172 (credit for residents taxed by other states); supported the 2025 energy law SB 4, Public Act 25-173.
Ned Lamont. Signed a $15 minimum wage and paid family and medical leave; Moody's and Fitch upgrades in September 2025 raised the state to Aa2 and AA.
Sources: Wikipedia, Ned Lamont, CT News Junkie, Sept. 12, 2025
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ryan Fazio. No public record found.
Ned Lamont. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ryan Fazio. No public record found.
Ned Lamont. The Office of the Governor runs a Constituent Services Office reachable by email. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office of the Governor, Contact
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ryan Fazio. Several bipartisan laws: SB 4 (2025) passed with nearly every legislator's support per CT Mirror, and SB 1558 passed on the consent calendar.
Sources: CT Mirror, Sept. 8, 2026, Connecticut General Assembly, SB 1558 (2025) status, Connecticut Public, Nov. 7, 2024
Ned Lamont. Signed the 2027 budget adjustment, Public Act 26-68, which passed the Senate 30-6 and the House 127-21; the 2025 energy law SB 4 passed with Fazio's support.
Sources: CT News Junkie, May 27, 2026, CT Mirror, Sept. 8, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ryan Fazio. No public record found.
Ned Lamont. Balanced budgets with surpluses, a rainy day fund above 18% of the budget, and Moody's and Fitch upgrades in 2025.
Sources: CT News Junkie, Sept. 12, 2025, CT Mirror, Sept. 10, 2025
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 governor and lieutenant governor race?
Ned Lamont has the strongest record in the Connecticut governor and lieutenant governor race. Ned Lamont scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Ryan Fazio at 68, as of October 6, 2026. Ned Lamont's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Fazio's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Connecticut governor and lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Ryan Fazio (Republican), Ned Lamont (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ryan Fazio a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Ryan Fazio scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Ned Lamont a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Ned Lamont scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 69 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.