More than eight months before the November election, former New Britain mayor Erin Stewart jumped into the governor’s race full force Wednesday with a package of $200,000 in television commercials as she unveiled her theme that Connecticut should try “something different.”
Stewart, who needs to win her party’s primary before reaching the general election, plans to blanket the airwaves, particularly in the University of Connecticut’s men’s and women’s basketball games as they finish the regular season and head toward March Madness.
Stewart’s chief strategist, John Healey, noted that Connecticut describes itself as “the basketball capital of the world,” and thousands of fans will be watching the games through the rest of February and March.
In one of the ads, Stewart blasted Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont instead of her Republican opponents.
“Lamont says our state’s fine. That’s B.S.,” Stewart says in a 15-second commercial. “Lamont’s ripping us off. I’ll eliminate corruption, cut taxes, and put money back in your pocket. … It’s time for something different.”
Despite the latest criticism, Stewart has had a sometimes-cordial relationship with Lamont in the past as she worked on issues as mayor during Lamont’s tenure. Earlier in the campaign, she even said it had been too early to lodge any criticisms until the full-blown campaign started. Stewart is known for her often salty language, as shown by her use of the term “B.S.” during the ad.
In two other commercials, Stewart did not criticize any opponents by name. But she said, “Hartford politicians think law enforcement is bad, but I don’t. Cops keep us safe. They deserve our respect – and criminals belong in jail.”
When discussing the TV ads with reporters this week in Hartford, Lamont said he had not yet considered when he will be running his own commercials. Lamont spent more than $25 million in his 2022 campaign, and he intends to largely self-fund the campaign once again.
“These campaigns get going earlier and earlier and earlier, but I’ve got a job to do – so that’s what I’m going to focus on,” Lamont told reporters. “Have not thought about it. Not for the near-term, for sure. I just think campaigns go on too long. Stick to the issues and tell people what you’re about. For me, it’s governing.”
Stewart is scheduled to air her ads on the Fox News Channel, which was a highly effective strategy for Republican Bob Stefanowski in the 2018 race as the prime viewing network for hard-core Republican insiders and delegates. Even though he did not participate in the state Republican convention, Stefanowski quickly became well known among Republicans because he had been broadcasting on Fox even before some of his opponents had qualified for public campaign financing. As a result, Stefanowski – a relatively unknown candidate when he announced – built a steady lead over his opponents and later won the primary in August 2018.
Stewart will run during UConn basketball games, which are highly popular as the teams head toward the upcoming Big East tournament and then NCAA tournament games during March Madness. The ad buy also covers sports shows on TNT, TRU, and FS1 in an overall package that includes the Hartford and New York markets.
The ads are designed to attract voters through the three-pronged campaign, which includes the state convention, the primary, and the general election.
Another Republican in the race, Greenwich resident Betsy McCaughey, said she is interested in hearing more about Stewart’s campaign.
“My ads will focus on eliminating the state income tax, to bring jobs and prosperity to Connecticut,” McCaughey said. “Eager to hear Erin explain the specifics of her promise for ‘something different.’ ”
Sen. Ryan Fazio’s spokesman, Jim Conroy, said the campaign will buy commercials at the appropriate moment.
“Having qualified for public financing at a record-breaking pace, Ryan Fazio’s campaign has all the resources necessary to share his message of cutting income taxes, capping property taxes, restoring local control, and eliminating the Public Benefits Charge,” Conroy said Wednesday. “At the optimal time for our campaign, state party and voters, we will deploy those resources to win the governorship.”
Stewart is touting the ads and her early timing in the race.
“Being the first gubernatorial campaign to be up on television tracks with our recent history of “firsts,” she said. “We were also the first campaign in this race to qualify and get approved for public financing, and no other publicly-financed candidate in the history of the program – Democrat or Republican – has had commercials on the air this early.”
Stewart said that voters are responding to “a candidate they can identify with: one that is working class and actually understands the struggle of making ends meet in Lamont’s Connecticut.”
Back in July, Stewart and Lamont had a cordial relationship. Despite political differences on other issues, Stewart backed up Lamont on his controversial veto that was questioned by liberal Democrats.
“It was the right move to veto the housing bill,” Stewart told The Courant. “Local control is very important, and local control is also what leads to developments like this” in New Britain.
Lamont, a lifelong Democrat, agreed at the time that he has gotten along quite well with Stewart during his tenure as governor.
“We’ve been friends for years,” Lamont said when asked by The Courant. “Often we clip the ribbons at these housing [ceremonies]. We’ve done hundreds of units together here, and sometimes we have lunch afterwards. … We work together well. Look, we’ve worked very constructively for a long time. Keep that going.”
A six-term mayor, Stewart was the first high-profile Republican to explore a run for governor in the 2026 cycle. She was first elected at age 26, becoming the youngest mayor in New Britain history, taking office when her father left office after eight years as mayor. Her supporters have touted her for higher office because Republicans are outnumbered 4 – 1 in New Britain, which has a history of crossover support for Republicans.
In a separate development this week, the longtime New Britain tax collector during the tenure of the past three mayors has been suspended by the new Democratic mayor pending an investigation of “years of alleged financial malfeasance.”
Mayor Bobby Sanchez has not provided details, and Stewart said this week that she does not know the full scope of the investigation concerning the paid administrative leave of tax collector Cheryl Blogoslawski.
“I think it would be irresponsible to give my opinion on something where I have no information on what the specific allegations are,” Stewart said. “However, I will say that I’ve always known Cheryl to be dedicated to the city as her family has a long history of service. There are many people in this community who are questioning this ‘investigation’ and its motives.”
Christopher Keating can be reached at [email protected]