On a night when President Donald Trump went on television to reassure a skeptical America that an unpopular war on Iran was nearing an end, Republicans on the Connecticut shoreline heard their gubernatorial candidates promise better times were at hand for a struggling GOP. None of the three cand idates mentioned the president, whose approval rating recently dropped to a new low in national polling, at a meet-and-mingle event at a beachfront hotel in Madison, a community that Trump lost by 24 points in 2024 and 2020. Betsy McCaughey, Ryan Fazio and Erin Stewart each had five minutes to impress during a format that was closer to speed dating than a debate. All projected energy and confidence, heaping scorn on Gov. Ned Lamont and delivering gentle jabs at their rivals for the GOP nomination. First up was McCaughey, a 77-year-old wild card in a contest that once seemed certain to feature only Stewart and Fazio, two 30-somethings who had succeeded in Democratic arenas: Stewart as a mayor in New Britain; Fazio winning reelection in 2024 to the state Senate from a Fairfield County district Trump lost by 17 percentage points. “I have two rivals in this race for the governor’s nomination, both very fine people,” McCaughey said. “But this election is too important for small ideas like taking $200 off your electric bill or offering a vague promise for ‘something different.’ We have to go big to win this race.” The first was a dig at Fazio, the second at Stewart. McCaughey is a Newsmax cable host who smiles big, talks fast and touts audacious promises — foremost among them, a vow to eliminate the income tax in Connecticut, an idea that was central to Republican Bob Stefanowski’s losing campaign for governor against Lamont in 2018. Without a Republican legislative majority — an optimistic take on the GOP prospects in 2026 is avoiding losses in a midterm — McCaughey insists she somehow will repeal the affordable housing law signed by the man McCaughey calls “Lefty Lamont” and end  state-mandated real estate revaluations. Along with her cable flash, McCaughey brings a dash of conservative national recognition, a potential asset in a Republican primary and probable liability in a northeast general election. She was a featured speaker in Texas last week at CPAC, the annual convention of conservatives that Trump skipped this year. “Last week, CPAC endorsed me for governor of Connecticut, the only candidate for any office in Connecticut that won that coveted endorsement from CPAC, partly because I fight for God as well as for Connecticut,” McCaughey said to a round of uncertain applause. She is an outlier on two significant metrics: Uncertain is her ability to raise the funds necessary to qualify for public campaign financing or attract the necessary support at the GOP convention in May to qualify for the primary in August. A test will come on April 10, when first quarter fundraising reports become public. Ryan Fazio, a GOP candidate for governor, mingles with voters at an event in Madison on April 1, 2026. Credit: mark pazniokas Stewart and Fazio each qualified early for public financing under the revised Citizens’ Election Program, which will provide each about $3.2 million for the primary and another $15.4 million to the eventual nominee. Both have begun advertising, and no one questions their ability to win at least 15% of the convention vote, the ticket to the primary. Fazio turned 36 last month, and Stewart is 38. They hope to offer a youthful contrast to the 72-year-old Lamont, who is seeking a rare third term with a solid approval rating. One thought is that even a losing run could help position them for 2030, but both insist the goal is a win now. “This is a great turnout and is exactly the energy we need to turn Madison and the entire state of Connecticut red in 2026,” Fazio said. Stefanowski, the Republican nominee against Lamont in the past two cycles, won his hometown of Madison in their close race for the open seat in 2018. But Lamont carried Madison by 15 points in their 2022 rematch, slightly better than his comfortable statewide margin.  Madison was emblematic of Lamont’s appeal — and broader Democratic gains — in well-to-do suburbs that once skewed Republican. Democrats now hold super majorities in Hartford of 25-11 in the Senate and 102-49 in the House. Connecticut’s high cost of living is central to the campaigns of Fazio and Stewart. “One thing is clear to me as I travel all across this state, and it’s that people are hurting in the state of Connecticut,” Fazio said. “They’re suffering under the weight of the third-highest tax burden and the second-highest electric bills in the entire country after only Hawaii, which is detached from the mainland, and California, which is detached from reality.” The latter is a well-practiced line, and it got laughs. “I make this pledge to you: If after two terms in office, I’m still presiding over a state with the third-highest taxes on electric bills in the country, I will not run for a third term,” Fazio said. “And yet, that’s exactly what this governor is doing, and that’s exactly why I’m running for governor.” Erin Stewart, a Republican candidate for governor, in Madison on April 1, 2026. Credit: mark pazniokas Stewart offered herself as a different candidate, a digital native comfortable on social media, a former chief executive of diverse city, and a bit of a life coach to a state party searching for traction in a state where every statewide and congressional office is held by Democrats. “My name is Erin Stewart, and I’m going to beat Ned Lamont in November. I’m going to tell you how, and I’m going to tell you why. We have to have a little bit more confidence in ourselves. Let’s start that again,” she said, her voice louder. “We’re going to beat Ned Lamont …” Cheers drowned out the next few words. “… building confidence within ourselves that something’s got to change, something has to give. We have to do something differently, and we are going to kick Ned Lamont to the curb. Eight years of him is far too much.” The daughter of a retired firefighter who also served as mayor of New Britain, Stewart sounded a populist note, separating herself from Lamont and her two Republican rivals, all of whom live in Greenwich. “I’m not a trust fund baby,” Stewart said. “I might be the only one in this race that isn’t one.” The line and its implicit criticism of Fazio and McCaughey fell flat. She pressed on. “I’m the only one that engages with a lot of people on social media. I’m sure you all have seen that. I have a little bit too much fun with that sometimes,” Stewart said. “But you know what? In one month alone, and without having to spend a dime, 3 million people in this state looked at our social media pages. That’s the type of attention that Republican Party needs in Connecticut to get everybody’s attention.” Eight years ago, Republicans already had held four gubernatorial debates by April 4. This year, there have been none. The Madison meet-and-mingle was organized by Connor Favre, the Republican town committee chair, and Amy Stefanowski, a former Republican state central committee member and the wife of the former two-time nominee. “I think we’re in a different environment,” Favre said. “Not that I’m opposed to having a debate of some kind, but I think at this stage, when we’re going into the convention, not the primary, it’s good for especially delegates to meet them face to face and chat.” And they did. Attendees, including some who had been chosen as convention delegates in the previous week, lined up to talk them after after the speeches.  “There were probably more people in the room who are delegates than those candidates have seen in one place previously,” said Ben Proto, the state GOP chair. With a common focus on affordability, the candidates stepped lightly on national issues like immigration and vaccines.  Fazio, who has voted against revisions to the Trust Act, said he would make clear Connecticut is not a  “sanctuary state” but one more accommodating of ICE. “If you have been convicted of manslaughter, stealing a firearm, or other felonies, you should not have the protection of this governor and this state,” he said. Stewart sided with homeschooling parents, who are fighting state legislation that would impose oversight and standards on what is now largely unregulated, and those who object to vaccine requirements that have preserved Connecticut’s high rate of vaccinations and the herd immunity that comes with that.  But she suggested litmus tests would be unproductive. “We’re going to respect homeschoolers. We’re going to not do vaccine mandates. We’re going to repeal the housing laws. We’re going to do all of these things and then some,” Stewart said. “But you can’t do it if you don’t win.” So far, the rest of the statewide GOP ticket is largely uncontested. Several down-ballot candidates briefly addressed the crowd of about 150: Matt Corey, lieutenant governor; Peter Lumaj, secretary of the state; Jen Tooker, comptroller; and Fred Wilms, treasurer. The only mention of Trump came from Lumaj. It was a joking reference to Lumaj’s claimed common ground with billionaire Elon Musk: Like him, Lumaj is an immigrant to the U.S. “Both he and I love Donald Trump,” Lumaj said. “And both he and I can be deported by Donald Trump.” It got laughs. He turned serious, warning against internal division. “We need to be united. Let’s go to the convention. Let’s go to the primary,” he said. “In the end, no matter who makes the primary, get with me behind him or her.” ...read more read less