It’s only one month into the new year, but the 2026 elections are already heating up. On Tuesday, Republican Erin Stewart announced that she is exploring a run for governor next year.

The longtime mayor of New Britain promised a “new generation of leadership” to tackle Connecticut’s high cost of living. But her endorsement of President Donald Trump’s recent actions drew immediate scorn from Democrats.

Stewart made the announcement before a standing room only crowd at New Britain City Hall, where she was first elected mayor at just 26 years old.

“We’re kicking off the first leg of what could be an almost two-year journey to user in a new generation of leadership to the state of Connecticut,” she told supporters.

Forming an exploratory committee, instead of jumping into the race right away, allows Stewart to raise and spend money outside the state’s matching funds limits. But Tuesday’s announcement had the look and feel of a campaign launch.

“Our state is stagnant because our leadership is stagnant,” Stewart said. “We know that Connecticut is stuck in neutral. More likely, we're in a decline. Taxes and the cost of utilities are simply way too high. You families like mine struggle every day just to make ends meet.”

Stewart briefly ran for governor in 2018, but got in too late to gain traction. She said the early launch gives her time to raise money and make sure her candidacy is viable.

Stewart has performed a difficult feat – serving as a Republican mayor for 12 years in a Democrat-dominated city. Last year, Kamala Harris won New Britain by 23 points.

Her supporters said that’s because Stewart delivers results.

“If you look around our downtown, her development over the last 12 years, working with both the state of Connecticut – successfully with two Democratic governors – she brought millions of dollars in,” said Republican City Council member Sharon Beloin-Saavedra.

Supporters also think Stewart is the Republicans’ best shot at beating Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, a centrist who is one of the nation’s most popular governors. Lamont has not decided whether to run for a third term yet.

“She brings Democrats, unaffiliates, Republicans to her table as part of her team to talk about vision, mission, and actually action,” said Beloin-Saavedra.

Stewart is not the first Republican to file campaign paperwork. Matthew Corey, who lost two challenges to Sen. Chris Murphy, filed to run for an unspecified state office. Other possible candidates include State Sen. Heather Somers, former mayor of Groton and lieutenant governor candidate, and state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich).

Stewart has painted herself as a moderate Republican who can appeal to Lamont voters. But online, critics have called Stewart a “RINO,” or “Republican In Name Only.” Responding to her potentially candidacy on X, one user asked, “Is she a true Republican?”

To tamp down criticism, Stewart gave President Trump a full-throated endorsement on Tuesday.

Democrats pounced on Stewart’s comments.

“It’s hard to believe that she’s a moderate if she's supporting Trump the way she claims she's doing,” said outgoing Connecticut Democratic Party chair Nancy DiNardo. “He’s talking about stopping federal funds – putting a freeze on federal funds. How’s that going to impact New Britain”

Stewart aims to raise $350,000 over the next several months. She said a final decision will come this fall – whether or not Lamont runs again.

“I’m not afraid of Ned Lamont,” she said. “Whether he decides to do it or not has no bearing on where I go from here.”

As for Lamont, don’t expect a decision from him until after the General Assembly sessions wrap up in June.

“She's a good friend,” Lamont said about Stewart. “We’ve done an awful lot together in New Britain and maybe we’ll go there and celebrate the things we’ve done together.”