Lamont wins third term in Connecticut, outpacing challenger Fazio

Gov. Ned Lamont won a historic third four-year term on Tuesday night, when the Associated Press declared him the victor.

Lamont, 72, of Greenwich, was proclaimed the winner just before 9:20 p.m. over Ryan Fazio, a 36-year-old Republican state senator who had quit his full-time job as a business adviser to mount the challenge.

The race concluded a campaign that analysts described as mostly easy for the incumbent Democrat. Lamont held his own in two televised debates and leveraged Democratic registration numbers alongside apparent dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.

Fazio promised to cut taxes and utility costs by removing public benefits charges from consumer bills and rolling them into the overall state budget. Lamont criticized that proposal as placing too much burden on taxpayers, though the governor did approve a partial transfer of funds.

"I appreciate the vote totals because it is a statement of confidence about where we have come as a state and where we have to go," Lamont said.

Fazio entered the ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Stamford shortly before 8 p.m. to rousing applause from about 60 supporters. He announced he would go to his room to watch the early returns before taking the stage around 9:40 p.m., a few minutes after making a concession call to Lamont.

"If the governor succeeds in reducing the cost of government and bringing opportunity to Connecticut we'll all benefit," Fazio said. "So we're hoping for him and give him goodwill. Tonight was a historically difficult night for Republicans across the country and we faced a formidable incumbent here."

Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo introduced Fazio and promised the 36-year-old would remain politically active. Camillo called the election a perfect storm for Republicans but stated that Fazio is a shining star who will lead the party forward.

During nearly eight years in office, Lamont capped the motor vehicle property tax in more than 70 towns and cities. He established a paid family and medical leave program and set a $25-per-month cap on insulin costs. He also signed laws allowing immigrants to seek civil court redress for rights violations.

Billions in state surpluses were transferred into underfunded retirement programs for state employees and public school teachers. Additionally, hundreds of millions in dollars were set aside for an early childhood program that will provide free childcare for families earning less than $100,000 by 2028.

Lamont becomes the second governor and first Democrat elected to three terms since 1950, when the term doubled to four years. If he serves the full term, he will be the longest-serving governor since that switch. He would trail Jonathan Trumbull, who served more than 14 years, and Joseph Talcott, who served from 1724 to 1741.

The last governor to win a third term was Republican John Rowland in 2002, who resigned in 2004 under pressure from the state House and later pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.