John Healey said Wednesday he is leaving as chief of staff to the Senate Republican minority, an acknowledgement that his advocacy of former Mayor Erin Stewart of New Britain for governor puts him at odds with a caucus committed to her GOP rival, Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich.
“What’s become very clear as the weeks go by and as the 2026 season takes hold, it will become difficult to remain,” said Healey, a New Britain native who was Stewart’s first chief of staff after her election in 2013. “Now that she’s all in as governor, I will want to have the freedom to be all in to support her.”
He’s expected to play a significant role in Stewart’s campaign.
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Stewart, who had been raising money through an exploratory committee since January, declared her candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination two weeks ago. Fazio, a candidate since August, has been endorsed by key lawmakers, including Healey’s boss, Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield.
Bringing back Healey was among Harding’s first moves after the Senate GOP caucus forced out Sen. Kevin Kelly of Stratford as its leader in February 2024, an unusual if unprecedented change of leadership at mid-term. Kelly’s abrupt dismissal of Healey the previous month was a factor in the demand for new leadership.
Kelly had hired Healey a year earlier, bringing onto his staff a lawyer and campaign operative who had been a senior advisor to House Republican leaders for nearly seven years until departing to become Stewart’s chief of staff.
“That was a very odd circumstance in the history of the legislature,” Healey said. “It has been a great privilege to work alongside Sen. Harding.”
Harding said Healey was crucial in helping with the unusual transition.
“I think John has been awesome for this caucus. The senators love him,” Harding said Wednesday. The decision to leave was Healey’s, Harding said.
Healey is expected to remain as Harding’s top aide into January, giving the senator a month to hire a successor. The annual legislative session opens on Feb. 4.
Healey made a point of praising Fazio and expressed hope the GOP eventually will unite in 2026 as the party tries to unseat Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat seeking a third term.
“I think very, very highly of Sen. Fazio, and I have valued the relationship we have developed over the years,” Healey said. “If I can use my experience to bring the party together when the time comes, I think that will be valuable.”