Connecticut Governor Voter Guide: Lamont and Fazio on Electricity Costs and Housing
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Connecticut governor: Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who also has the Working Families Party line and is seeking a third term, and Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio, who also has the Independent Party line. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on electricity costs and housing.
Both men are from Greenwich and both call themselves business-friendly, CT Insider reported. Lamont's running mate is Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Fazio's is Mathew Corey. Three write-in candidates, Christian Noe, Zenobia Adgers and Lee Whitnum, have also registered, but they are not printed on the ballot.
Why Electricity and Housing Matter in the Connecticut Governor's Race
The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Democratic in its Oct. 27 governor ratings. Inside Elections (Oct. 15) rates it Solid Democratic and Sabato's Crystal Ball (Oct. 22) rates it Safe Democratic. An independent Quinnipiac University poll of 1,225 likely voters taken Oct. 8 to 12 found Lamont at 58 percent and Fazio at 38 percent. A Wesleyan University/YouGov poll taken the same days found Lamont ahead 53 percent to 32 percent among registered voters.
Electricity was the first topic at the candidates' final debate on Oct. 27, and they also clashed over taxes, home heating oil and affordable housing, the Hartford Courant reported.
On electricity costs, the TDFP video says Lamont "would use affordability as a standard for utility profits and tighten oversight of rate increases," and Fazio "would cut electricity bills by 20% by ending hidden taxes, expanding supply, and removing mandates."
On housing, the video says Lamont "would expand housing near transit and jobs, support workforce homes, and revitalize underused properties," and Fazio "would cut building costs, speed permits, and expand supply while rolling back state zoning mandates."
Ned Lamont (Democrat, Incumbent)
Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, has been governor since 2019. He defeated state Rep. Josh Elliott in the August 2026 Democratic primary. CT Insider describes him as a fiscal moderate, and he says he signed the largest income tax cut in state history.
On electricity, Lamont's campaign plan would "require affordability to be considered when determining utility profits," hold utilities accountable "through stronger oversight, transparency requirements, and regular reviews," and strengthen the Office of Consumer Counsel's ability to "challenge unjustified rate increases." At the debate, he said: "We're the only state in the country that has been able to reduce electric prices from last year. ... We need more new sources of generation. ... We have to hold Eversource and UI accountable." He pointed to credits on electric bills after the state's public benefits charge was temporarily eliminated, the Courant reported.
On housing, Lamont's campaign lists "expanding housing supply near transit and job centers," "supporting workforce and middle-income housing" and "revitalizing downtowns and underused properties." He signed an affordable housing bill after vetoing an earlier version, the Courant reported. At the debate, he said he favored turning "an old parking lot or an old mill" into housing that could be built as of right.
Ryan Fazio (Republican)
Fazio is a state senator from Greenwich and the ranking senator on the legislature's energy and technology committee, where he is recognized as one of the leading voices on electricity, according to the Courant. He calls his positions "reasonable" and "moderate," CT Insider reported.
On electricity, Fazio's campaign says Connecticut has the second-highest electricity rates in the continental United States and that he has "a real plan to cut electricity bills by 20% — by ending hidden taxes, expanding reliable supply, and removing the mandates driving up costs." He also says he would end tax breaks for large data centers: "If working families have to pay their fair share, giant data centers can pay theirs too." Lamont has questioned whether Fazio's tax plan is feasible.
On housing, Fazio's campaign describes a "three-pronged approach" that "reduces the cost of housing, allows Connecticut to grow its housing supply, and protects local control of zoning." It says Lamont has "allowed Hartford bureaucrats and big developers to make decisions for municipalities over local objections." Fazio voted against both of the housing bills Lamont considered, the Courant reported. At the debate, he said: "We need to reduce the cost of building. ... There should be reforms to workforce housing."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Ned Lamont: @NedLamont on X. Ryan Fazio: @ryanfazio on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Connecticut voters can check their registration and polling place at portal.ct.gov/sots. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Hartford Courant, final debate (Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.courant.com/2026/10/27/final-ct-gov-debate-as-gov-lamont-gops-fazio-blast-each-other-and-disagree-on-trump/ ; CT Insider, Lamont and Fazio on the issues: https://www.newstimes.com/election/article/ned-lamont-ryan-fazio-issues-policies-platform-22487050.php ; Ned Lamont, priorities: https://www.nedlamont.com/priorities ; Ryan Fazio for Governor, issues: https://ryanfazio.com/issues/ ; CT Mirror, Wesleyan poll: https://ctmirror.org/2026/10/15/ct-wesleyan-poll-fazio-lamont-economy-inflation-trump/ ; Cook Political Report, governor ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings ; 2026 Connecticut gubernatorial election (ratings, polls, ballot lines): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Connecticut_gubernatorial_election ; Town of Ridgefield, Nov. 3, 2026 sample ballot: https://www.ridgefieldct.gov/110326%20D4%20Sample%20Ballot.pdf
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