Governor of Connecticut

From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 15 min

Connecticut Governor

Seal of Connecticut.png

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $150,000
2022 FY Budget:  $6,258,725
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder

Governor of Connecticut Ned Lamont
Democratic Party
Assumed office: 2019

Elections
Next election:  November 3, 2026
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Other Connecticut Executive Offices
GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerComptrollerCommissioner of EducationAgriculture CommissionerInsurance CommissionerEnergy & Environmental Protection CommissionerLabor CommissionerPublic Utilities Regulatory Authority

The Governor of the State of Connecticut is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Connecticut.

The current Connecticut Constitution, ratified in 1965, establishes a four-year term for the governor, commencing on the Wednesday after the first Monday in the January following an election.

The constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor, for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same ticket, a provision added in 1962. In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Before the adoption of the 1965 constitution, the lieutenant governor only served as acting governor.[1]

Connecticut has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.


Connecticut has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Connecticut State Legislature, Connecticut House of Representatives, Connecticut State Senate

Current officeholder[edit]

The 89th and current governor of Connecticut is Ned Lamont (D).[2] He was first elected in November 2018 and took office on January 9, 2019.

Authority[edit]

The state constitution establishes the office of the governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5

The supreme executive power of the state shall be vested in the governor.[1]

Qualifications[edit]

State Executives
StateExecLogo.png
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014

All gubernatorial candidates must be at least 30 years old and a qualified elector and resident of Connecticut on the day of the election (§ 5).

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5

The supreme executive power of the state shall be vested in the governor. No person who is not an elector of the state, and who has not arrived at the age of thirty years, shall be eligible. [1]


To be a qualified elector, a voter must be at least 18 years old and a resident.

Connecticut Constitution, Article VI, Section 1

Every citizen of the United States who has attained the age of eighteen years, who is a bona fide resident of the town in which he seeks to be admitted as an elector and who takes such oath, if any, as may be prescribed by law, shall be qualified to be an elector.[3]

Elections[edit]

Connecticut state government organizational chart
See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state
See also: Election of governors

Connecticut elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Connecticut, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Wednesday following the first Monday in the January following an election.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 1

A general election for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of the state, treasurer and comptroller shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1966, and quadrennially thereafter.[1]

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 1

Such officers shall hold their respective offices from the Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next succeeding their election until the Wednesday following the first Monday of the fifth January succeeding their election and until their successors are duly qualified.'[1]

2022[edit]

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election
General election for Governor of Connecticut

Incumbent Ned Lamont defeated Bob Stefanowski, Robert Hotaling, and Michelle Louise Bicking in the general election for Governor of Connecticut on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/nedlamont.jpg
Ned Lamont (D / Working Families Party / Griebel Frank for CT Party)
 
56.0
 
710,186
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bob-Stefanowski.PNG
Bob Stefanowski (R)
 
43.0
 
546,209
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Robert_Hotaling.JPG
Robert Hotaling (Independent Party) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
12,400
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Michelle_L_B.JPG
Michelle Louise Bicking (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
98

Total votes: 1,268,893
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ned Lamont advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Bob Stefanowski advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018[edit]

See also: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election
General election for Governor of Connecticut

Ned Lamont defeated Bob Stefanowski, Oz Griebel, Rod Hanscomb, and Mark Stewart Greenstein in the general election for Governor of Connecticut on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/nedlamont.jpg
Ned Lamont (D)
 
49.4
 
694,510
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bob-Stefanowski.PNG
Bob Stefanowski (R)
 
46.2
 
650,138
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/42518894_629129357481267_1678313064241299456_n.jpg
Oz Griebel (Griebel Frank for CT Party)
 
3.9
 
54,741
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Rod Hanscomb (L)
 
0.4
 
6,086
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark_Stewart_Greenstein_in_NH.jpg
Mark Stewart Greenstein (Amigo Constitution Party)
 
0.1
 
1,254
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
74

Total votes: 1,406,803
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut

Ned Lamont defeated Joe Ganim in the Democratic primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/nedlamont.jpg
Ned Lamont
 
81.2
 
172,567
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joe Ganim
 
18.8
 
39,976

Total votes: 212,543
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut

Bob Stefanowski defeated Mark Boughton, David Stemerman, Tim Herbst, and Steve Obsitnik in the Republican primary for Governor of Connecticut on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bob-Stefanowski.PNG
Bob Stefanowski
 
29.4
 
42,041
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark_Boughton.jpg
Mark Boughton
 
21.3
 
30,475
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/jLidrCRR_400x400.jpg
David Stemerman
 
18.3
 
26,177
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Tim_Herbst.jpg
Tim Herbst
 
17.5
 
25,063
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/steve_obsitnik.jpg
Steve Obsitnik
 
13.4
 
19,102

Total votes: 142,858
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2014[edit]

See also: Connecticut Gubernatorial election, 2014
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDan Malloy/Nancy Wyman Incumbent 50.7% 554,314
     Republican Tom Foley/Heather Somers 48.2% 526,295
     Independent Joe Visconti/Chester Harris 1% 11,456
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.1% 708
Total Votes 1,092,773
Election results via Connecticut Secretary of State

Term limits[edit]

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Connecticut governors do not have term limits.

Partisan composition[edit]

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Connecticut governors from 1992 to 2013.
Governor of Connecticut Partisanship.PNG

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

The vacancy procedure for the office of governor Article IV, Sections 18, 19, and 21.

Under any circumstances where the elected governor is unable or unwilling to discharge the office, the elected lieutenant governor shall, as soon as he takes the oath of office, become the governor and hold the office until the next regularly scheduled election.

Duties[edit]

Connecticut

The Governor of Connecticut is responsible for upholding the constitution and faithfully executing all laws (Article 4, § 12), is the head of Connecticut's military forces at all times other than when those forces have been called into national service (§ 8). Under § 11, the governor must periodically address the joint session of the legislature with details of the current state of Connecticut's affairs and suggestions for policy.

§ 13 gives the governor the prerogative to grant reprieves after conviction. However, Connecticut stands out from other states in that the governor does not have the ability to grant pardons. Additionally, the right to grant reprieves does not extend to cases of impeachment.

Under § 15 and § 16, the governor has a veto on all bills, including appropriations, subject to a supermajority override by the legislature.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • adjourning the legislature when the body cannot agree on a time to adjourn itself, until a date the governor deems proper (§ 10)
  • requiring written reports from any and all officers of the Executive branch on any aspect of that officer's job (§ 9)
  • authorizing and signing all commissions given by the state of Connecticut (§ 14)

Divisions[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Connecticut has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget[edit]

Role in state budget[edit]

See also: Connecticut state budget and finances

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[4]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in September.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February.
  4. The legislature adopts a budget in May or June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins on July 1.

Connecticut is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[4]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature must adopt a balanced budget.[4]

Governor's office budget[edit]

The budget for the Governor's Office in the 2022 Fiscal Year was $6,258,725.[5]

Compensation[edit]

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The salaries of Connecticut's elected state executives are determined by law as mandated by the Connecticut Constitution.[6] Article IV, Section 7 of the state constitution also requires all changes in salary to take effect following the next election for the affected offices:

Text of Section 7:

The compensations of the governor and lieutenant-governor shall be established by law, and shall not be varied so as to take effect until after an election, which shall next succeed the passage of the law establishing such compensations.[6]

2021[edit]

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

2020[edit]

In 2020, the governor's salary was $150,000, but was forgone by Governor Ned Lamont (D) according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2019[edit]

In 2019, the governor's salary was $150,000, but was forgone by Governor Ned Lamont (D) according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2018[edit]

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2017[edit]

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2016[edit]

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2015[edit]

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

2014[edit]

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

2013[edit]

In 2013, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2012[edit]

In 2012, the governor was paid an estimated $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

History[edit]

Partisan balance 1992-2013[edit]

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Connecticut
Partisan breakdown of the Connecticut governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, there were Democratic governors in office for three years while there were Republican governors in office for 16 years. During the final three years, Connecticut was under Democratic trifectas.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Connecticut, the Connecticut State Senate and the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Connecticut state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship[edit]

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Connecticut state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Between the years 1992 and 2005, Connecticut ranked in the top-10 in the SQLI ranking, in the top-5 for twelve of those thirteen years, and ranked 1st in 1992 and 1993. Beginning 2005, Connecticut dropped out of the top-10 and began a trend downward until hitting its lowest spot during the period of the study (33rd in 2012). Connecticut had divided government for eighteen years before having a Democratic trifecta in 2011. The state’s greatest decline in the SQLI ranking occurred between 2011 and 2012, when Connecticut dropped fourteen spots in the rankings. Connecticut has never had a Republican trifecta between 1992 and 2012.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 26.00
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
  • SQLI average with divided government: 6.63
Chart displaying the partisanship of Connecticut government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Historical officeholders[edit]

There have been 89 Governors of Connecticut since 1639, including 68 after joining the Union in 1788. Since statehood, 28 governors were Republican, 22 were Democratic, seven were Federalist, six were Whig, two were Democratic Republican and three were from minor parties.[16]

# Name Term Party
22 Samuel Huntington Federalist
23 Oliver Wolcott Federalist
24 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Federalist
25 John Treadwell Federalist
26 Roger Griswold Federalist
27 John Cotton Smith Federalist
28 Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Democratic Republican
29 Gideon Tomlinson Democratic Republican
30 John S. Peters National Republican
31 Henry W. Edwards Democratic
32 Samuel A. Foot Whig
31 Henry W. Edwards Democratic
33 William W. Ellsworth Whig
34 Chauncey F. Cleveland Democratic
35 Roger S. Baldwin Whig
36 Isaac Toucey Democratic
37 Clark Bissell Whig
38 Joseph Trumbull Whig
39 Thomas H. Seymour Democratic
40 Charles H. Pond Democratic
41 Henry Dutton Whig
42 William T. Minor American
43 Alexander H. Holley American, Republican
44 William A. Buckingham Republican
45 Joseph R. Hawley
46 James E. English Democratic
47 Marshall Jewell Republican
48 Charles R. Ingersoll Democratic
49 Richard D. Hubbard Democratic
50 Charles B. Andrews Republican
51 Hobart B. Bigelow Republican
52 Thomas M. Waller Democratic
53 Henry B. Harrison Republican
54 Phineas C. Lounsbury Republican
55 Morgan G. Bulkely Republican
56 Luzon B. Morris Democratic
57 O. Vincent Coffin Republican
58 Lorrin A. Cooke Republican
59 George E. Lounsbury Republican
60 George P. McLean Republican
61 Abiram Chamberlain Republican
62 Henry Roberts Republican
63 Rollin S. Woodruff Republican
64 George L. Lilley Republican
65 Frank B. Weeks Republican
66 Simeon E. Baldwin Democratic
67 Marcus H. Holcomb Republican
68 Everett J. Jake Republican
69 Charles A. Templeton Republican
70 Hiram Bingham Republican
71 John H. Trumbull Republican
72 Wilbur L. Cross Democratic
73 Raymond E. Baldwin Republican
74 Robert A. Hurley Democratic
73 Raymond E. Baldwin Republican
75 Wilbert Snow Democratic
76 James L. McConaughy Republican
77 James C. Shannon Republican
78 Chester Bowles Democratic
79 John D. Lodge Republican
80 Abraham A. Ribicoff Democratic
81 John Dempsey Democratic
82 Thomas J. Meskill Republican
83 Ella T. Grasso Democratic
84 William A. O'Neill Democratic
85 Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. A Connecticut
86 John G. Rowland Republican
87 M. Jodi Rell Republican
88 Dan Malloy Democratic
89 Ned Lamont Democratic

Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Governor Connecticut. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information[edit]

Office of the Governor
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Tel: 860-566-4840
Toll-Free: 800-406-1527
TDD: 860-524-7397

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Connecticut General Assembly, "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT," accessed January 14, 2021
  2. The Office of Governor Ned Lamont, "Home," accessed January 14, 2021
  3. Connecticut Secretary of State, "1965 Connecticut State Constitution," accessed June 21, 2013
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  5. Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Budget Documents, "2022 Operating Expenses," accessed September 7, 2021
  6. 6.0 6.1 Justia, "2012 Connecticut General Statutes," accessed January 14, 2021
  7. Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  8. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 14, 2021
  9. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 14, 2021
  10. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 14, 2021
  11. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 14, 2021
  12. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 14, 2021
  13. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 14, 2021
  14. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 14, 2021
  15. Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," January 14, 2021
  16. Museum of Connecticut History, "Roster of Connecticut Governors," accessed January 14, 2021



Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Connecticut
Status: cached on May 23 2023 02:34:56
Encyclosphere.org EncycloReader is supported by the EncyclosphereKSF