Secretary of the State of Connecticut · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Connecticut secretary of the state race?
Stephanie Thomas has the strongest record in the Connecticut secretary of the state race. Stephanie Thomas scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Stephanie Thomas's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Peter Lumaj (6 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
Peter Lumaj
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 25
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Stephanie Thomas
57 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- 58
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.
Peter Lumaj
- Mark against2025-01-16
The D.C. Court of Appeals suspended him 30 days, stayed for one year of probation, after he admitted incomplete entrusted-funds records and missing written fee agreements in client matters.
Sources: D.C. Court of Appeals, In re Lumaj, No. 24-BG-0640, Jan. 16, 2025, D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility, Hearing Committee supplemental report, Jan. 19, 2024, Lawyers.com, Pjerin Lumaj, Belmont BID directory, Peter Lumaj Attorney At Law
- On the record2026-09-30
Did not appear for two scheduled WNHH FM 'Dateline New Haven' interviews during the 2026 campaign, per the New Haven Independent.
- On the record2020-08-05
The SEEC dismissed its inquiry into his 2018 governor committee, which named his treasurer and concerned late termination and a surplus gift to a nonprofit he founded.
Source: State Elections Enforcement Commission, File No. 2019-032 (scanned; transcribed)
Stephanie Thomas
- Mark against2026-09-11
Told the legislature's Government Oversight Committee that two errors by her office, including wrong petition instructions, led to a court-delayed Enfield primary costing the town about $40,000.
Sources: CT Insider via Yahoo News, Sept. 13, 2026, CT Inside Investigator, 2026
- On the record2026-06-16
State auditors reported nine findings for her office for fiscal 2023 and 2024, seven repeated from prior audits, including missed revenue reconciliations and a $12,695 FICA withholding error.
Sources: Auditors of Public Accounts, Secretary of the State, FY2023 and 2024, CT News Junkie, June 17, 2026
- On the record2025-04-14
Apologized in writing to the state registrars' association after referring to Nazi Germany's SS while criticizing a presidential executive order on elections.
Source: CT Mirror, April 15, 2025
- Credit2026
Serves as secretary of the National Association of Secretaries of State executive board.
Source: CT News Junkie, Sept. 3, 2026
- Credit2023 to 2026
Oversaw Connecticut's first rollout of in-person early voting as secretary of the state.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Peter Lumaj. In January 2025 the D.C. Court of Appeals suspended him for 30 days, stayed for one year of probation, after he admitted incomplete records of entrusted client funds and missing written fee agreements.
Source: D.C. Court of Appeals, In re Lumaj, No. 24-BG-0640, Jan. 16, 2025
Stephanie Thomas. No ethics, campaign finance or court finding names her. A 2025 reference to the Nazi SS, for which she apologized, is in the Record.
Source: CT Mirror, April 15, 2025
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. State representative 2021 to 2023 and secretary of the state since 2023 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding. Apologized in 2025 for an SS remark (see Record).
Source: Wikipedia, Stephanie Thomas
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. Sworn state representative and secretary of the state since Jan. 4, 2023, the state's chief election official, with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Wikipedia, Stephanie Thomas
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Peter Lumaj. Attorney who owns the Law Offices of Lumaj and provides immigration services in New York.
Stephanie Thomas. Secretary of the state since January 2023, nearing the end of her first term; state representative for the 143rd District 2021 to 2023; 26 years as a nonprofit consultant.
Source: Wikipedia, Stephanie Thomas
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Peter Lumaj. Publishes positions in general terms; in 2026 criticized the incumbent's handling of a reported federal voter investigation and of petition errors.
Source: CT News Junkie, Sept. 3, 2026
Stephanie Thomas. Sitting secretary of the state and secretary of the National Association of Secretaries of State executive board; describes specific plans such as a wider rollout of electronic poll books.
Sources: New Haven Independent, Sept. 30, 2026, CT News Junkie, Sept. 3, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Peter Lumaj. One channel documented: public statements on election administration reported by CT News Junkie. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: CT News Junkie, Sept. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Peter Lumaj
Stephanie Thomas. Two channels documented: campaign priorities and accomplishments pages and a 2026 radio interview; Ballotpedia survey completed in 2020 and 2022 but not yet in 2026.
Sources: Vote Stephanie Thomas, Ballotpedia, Stephanie Thomas
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Peter Lumaj. Albania-born Fairfield resident who has run for statewide office in Connecticut since 2012. In-state share of contributions not available.
Source: Ballotpedia, Peter Lumaj
Stephanie Thomas. Norwalk business owner and former Norwalk Democratic Town Committee member who represented Norwalk, Wilton and Westport in the state House. In-state share of contributions not available.
Source: Wikipedia, Stephanie Thomas
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Peter Lumaj. Runs his own law office. The SEEC dismissed a 2019 inquiry into his 2018 governor committee that named his treasurer as respondent.
Source: Ballotpedia, Peter Lumaj
Stephanie Thomas. Told lawmakers in September 2026 that two errors by her office, including wrong petition instructions, led to a court-delayed Enfield primary that cost the town an estimated $40,000.
Sources: CT Insider via Yahoo News, Sept. 13, 2026, CT Inside Investigator, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. Oversaw the rollout of Connecticut's early voting; announced nearly 316,000 ballots cast in an early voting period's first week.
Sources: New Haven Independent, Sept. 30, 2026, CT Insider via Yahoo News, Sept. 13, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. Serves as secretary of the National Association of Secretaries of State executive board, a post that keeps her in contact with officials of both parties.
Source: CT News Junkie, Sept. 3, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Peter Lumaj. No public record found.
Stephanie Thomas. State auditors' FY2023 and 2024 review of her office reported nine findings, seven repeated from prior audits, including missed revenue reconciliations; no penalty.
Sources: Auditors of Public Accounts, Secretary of the State, FY2023 and 2024, CT News Junkie, June 17, 2026
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 secretary of the state race?
Stephanie Thomas has the strongest record in the Connecticut secretary of the state race. Stephanie Thomas scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Stephanie Thomas's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Peter Lumaj (6 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 secretary of the state race in 2026?
Peter Lumaj (Republican), Stephanie Thomas (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Peter Lumaj a good candidate for Secretary of the State?
Peter Lumaj has public evidence on 6 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 Stephanie Thomas a good candidate for Secretary of the State?
Stephanie Thomas scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance 58 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.