[Editor’s note: The following article was written prior to the results of the election, in which Democratic candidate Ned Lamont won for his reelection with approx. 59.56% of the vote, and approx. 98% of votes counted. The race was called by the Associated Press on election night]
On November third, Connecticut will be holding its gubernatorial election. This year’s competitors running in the general election will be Republican Ryan Fazio and incumbent Democrat Ned Lamont.
Fazio, who is currently a member of the Connecticut State Senate for the 36th district (Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan), is running for Connecticut governor for the first time, along with his running mate Matthew Corey, who is a small business owner and United States Navy veteran.
“I think everybody he is working with is super engaged and focused on how they want to cut energy prices, how they want to cap property taxes.” Masuk Junior Aiden Krynski said.
Fazio is focusing his campaign on cutting electric bills. Fazio claims that he will be able to complete this by eliminating the public benefit charge, removing hidden taxes, expanding the natural gas capacity, cutting government contracts that increase costs for Connecticut citizens, and eliminating tax subsidies for data centers, EV chargers, and heat pumps.
Fazio is currently a Ranking Member on the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, as well as the Energy and Technology Committee. Fazio has previously worked to lower electric bills, as well as introduce bill transparency, requiring utility companies to itemize state-run programs and social programs on electric bills, as well as pushing to cut the public benefits charge.
“They are looking to cut prices in the entire state around 20 percent. They are looking to investigate a lot of fraud. Our taxes keep going up, our electricity bills keep going way higher than they should be.” Krynski said.
Fazio is also promoting school choice, which will allow Connecticut students to pick their school of choice regardless of zip code, with no waiting list.
Lamont, the incumbent governor of Connecticut, is running for his third consecutive term. During his previous terms, he has lowered taxes, expanded investments in schools, and raised minimum wage. He is running with current Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz.
“Personally, I am on team Lamont,” Said Masuk junior Justin Sicherman. “even though I think Ryan Fazio does have a virtue in the form of being younger. I do think that it is important that we have some fresh eyes in government.”
Lamont is focusing on lowering general costs for families, as well as creating a universal Pre-K system and raising the budget for special education.
“I believe that Lamont more closely aligns with my values in terms of both education and housing, as well as politics in general.” Sicherman said.
Lamont has not proposed any new tax cuts, defending previous tax cuts signed in 2023. Fazio proposed $2.5 billion in tax relief, which will cut middle-class taxes by two percent.
“There are two hot button issues, that being education funding and energy bills. I personally do have faith that those are probably going to improve within the coming years.” Sicherman said.
Fazio also claims that a 2021 law passed by Lamont, which grants data centers tax relief, burdens Connecticut Families.
“The whole purpose of AI data centers is so they can pay taxes and contribute back into our infrastructure here in the state.” Krynski said.
According to a poll from Quinnipiac University on September 16, Lamont leads Fazio by 17 percent of the vote. The poll shows a less favorable opinion of Fazio, mainly citing that he is at a disadvantage due to Lamont’s name recognition.
An hour-long debate will be held on October 22, airing live on WFSB Channel 3.
“It is important to vote because it is a right.” Said Masuk teacher Andrew Townsend. “It is a right that we have that other people throughout the world do not have, and it is a chance for us to get our voices heard and try to make a difference.”
“If you do not vote, then you have no right to complain, ever, because you are not participating in the process that our founding fathers made for us to have. It is extremely important and it is even more important to vote at local elections because that has a bigger impact on your daily life.” Townsend said.
As Election Day nears, voters face a choice between incumbent Ned Lamont’s record of educational investment, and Ryan Fazio’s platform targeting utility costs and tax relief. It is a more important time than ever to get out to vote, and pick your choice.
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