Gov. Lamont easily fends off primary challenge, bucking a national trend
Gov. Ned Lamont bucked a national trend of Democrats ousting older moderates, including 14-term congressman John Larson. Lamont now faces Republican Ryan Fazio in the November general election.
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Ned Lamont is a survivor.
The governor walked out to the band’s 1980s hit “Eye of the Tiger” moments after defeating a “feisty” primary challenge from a more liberal Democrat on Tuesday.
Lamont’s easy win came the same night as voters ousted another veteran Democrat, 28-year Rep. John Larson, in a stunning defeat.
BUCKING THE TREND
Lamont bucked a national trend of voters rejecting older, moderate Democrats.
The two-term governor led Josh Elliott, a state lawmaker from Hamden, 67%-32%, as of 11 p.m. The Associated Press declared Lamont the winner 22 minutes after polls closed.
“I want to give a shout-out to Josh Elliott. He ran a feisty campaign,” Lamont told several hundred supporters at Hartford’s Arch Street Tavern. “He raised very important issues. I look forward to working together as one, see this fall what we can do together.”
Lamont quickly pivoted to President Donald Trump, pledging to continue battling the White House on immigration and affordability.
“The Trump economy is really bad,” he said. “Look what it’s done to the price of food; look what it’s done to the price of gasoline. Look what it’s doing to the price of insurance.”
So why did Democrats stick with Lamont while ousting Larson?
"It was really about turning out our base – people who know the governor and support him," said Lauren Gray, Lamont's campaign communications director. "One message we got today, 'You were with us through Covid. You were with us through so much.'"
Lamont now faces Republican Ryan Fazio, a state senator from Greenwich who is half his age, in the November general election. Fazio has hammered the governor on high electric prices and Connecticut’s persistently high cost of living.
ELLIOTT: "WE HAVE TO BE FIGHTING FOR MORE"
In blistering television ads, Elliott portrayed Lamont as a billionaire who refuses to raise taxes on Connecticut’s wealthiest residents.
Despite his loss, Elliott said he was able to move the governor to the left on issues.
“If there is a takeaway that I want the state to understand, it's that we have to be fighting for more,” he said. “We're one of the wealthiest states in the country and people are suffering. Remember, this is a choice.”
Elliott hired the Fight Agency, the same consultant that propelled Zohran Mamdani to the New York City mayor’s office. But despite an advertising blitz powered by $3.7 million in public financing, he struggled with name recognition.
“Who’s this guy? Who is he?” Bridgeport voter Tony Mastronardi said. “The guy against [Lamont], I don't even know who he is.”
Elliott is still running for reelection to this Hamden state representative seat. He urged supporters to rally around Lamont in November, but would not rule out another run for governor in the future.
"Hard fights are hard, but they're not impossible, and when you begin to believe that they're impossible, that's when you lose,” Elliott said. “And when you know that you can fight through, and you can create positive change, that's when you win.”
