Adam Hart

Let’s do this, Connecticut!

📰🗳️ CONNECTICUT BREAKING NEWS: Republican Erin Stewart Suspends Gubernatorial Campaign and Endorses Ryan Fazio Erin Stewart, the former mayor of New Britain and early front-runner for the 2026 Republican nomination for Connecticut governor, suspended her campaign on Thursday, May 14, 2026. She immediately endorsed her chief rival, state Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich. The move came hours after the release of a detailed investigative report commissioned by her Democratic successor as mayor, Bobby Sanchez. The report, prepared by the Crumbie Law Group, examined Stewart’s use of a city-issued purchasing card (P-card) over nearly a decade, from June 2016 to October 2025. It concluded that more than $207,000 in charges, most unrelated to official city business, reflected a “repeated and deliberate circumvention” of city rules to benefit herself, her family, and her political campaigns. Examples cited included groceries, baby supplies, family birthday meals, a social club membership, and campaign equipment. Stewart, 38, had served 12 years as New Britain’s mayor after two years on the school board. She stepped down in November 2025 to run for governor and had positioned herself as a proven executive and conservative outsider in a three-way Republican contest that also included Newsmax host Betsy McCaughey. As the consensus favorite heading into this weekend’s GOP nominating convention, she needed only 15 percent of delegate votes to force an August primary and qualify for nearly $3 million in public campaign financing. In a statement following the report’s release, Stewart expressed contrition. She said she would step back from public life, address the issues raised, and make restitution. Earlier in the week, she had described the scrutiny as a “witch hunt,” but by Thursday she acknowledged that “if mistakes were made, they will be addressed… honestly and responsibly.” The decision drew mixed reactions across Connecticut’s political landscape. For many of Stewart’s supporters, particularly those who admired her record of winning in a heavily Democratic city and her image as a fighter, today’s announcement brought disappointment. They had seen her as the candidate best positioned to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont in November. Others in the party expressed relief. Fazio and several GOP leaders had publicly described her continued candidacy as a risk to the ticket, citing the potential for damaging headlines in a general election. Fazio had earlier suggested the conduct, if true, was “disqualifying.” With Stewart’s exit and endorsement, Fazio is now the clear favorite for the Republican nomination. The party’s convention at Mohegan Sun this weekend is expected to consolidate support behind him, simplifying the path forward for Connecticut Republicans as they prepare to challenge Democrats in the fall. Stewart has promised to cooperate with any further inquiries and focus on resolving the matter. The city of New Britain, meanwhile, is pursuing recovery of the funds and has referred the report to state and federal prosecutors.