Connecticut holds its state primary on Tuesday, with several competitive Democratic contests. Gov. Ned Lamont seeks a third term but faces opposition from state Rep. Josh Elliott, while U.S. Rep. John Larson pursues a 15th term against multiple challengers in the state’s 1st Congressional District.
Lamont and Elliott have raised comparable individual contributions, though Lamont has significantly outspent his opponent through personal investment of approximately $9.5 million in his campaign, compared to Elliott’s approximately $3.8 million largely sourced from the state’s public election funding program. The outcome carries broader implications, as observers note that a progressive victory in Connecticut would extend a recent trend of insurgent Democratic candidates defeating incumbent party members. This pattern began earlier in the summer with contests in New York City and Colorado, followed by a major victory in Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary on August 4. The eventual Democratic nominee will face Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio in the general election; Republicans previously controlled the governorship between 1995 and 2011.
Larson’s challenge represents his first competitive primary since his 1998 election, following 13 consecutive reelection bids without primary opposition. He is 78 years old and experienced a health incident in 2025 when he suffered what he described as a complex partial seizure while speaking on the House floor. He attributed the episode to a heart condition now managed through medication. Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune, and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest also seek the 1st District nomination. Bronin has slightly outraised Lamont overall, though Larson maintained a marginal cash advantage as the primary entered its final weeks. The district leans heavily Democratic, with Larson receiving 63 percent in his 2024 general election.
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET. All 36 state Senate seats and all 151 state House seats are also up for election. As of October 2025, Connecticut had approximately 2.5 million registered voters, including about 878,000 Democrats and roughly 529,000 Republicans.
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