Ned Lamont Wins a Third Term. What Can Connecticut Expect?
The governor made the cost of living a campaign priority. His first budget proposal and decisions on utility bills, housing and child care will show how he plans to deliver.
HARTFORD, Conn. — Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont defeated Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio on November 3, winning a third term as Connecticut’s governor. Lamont campaigned on making the state more affordable. For households, the test will be what happens to recurring expenses like the electric bill, the rent and the cost of child care.
What Happens to Electric Bills After April?
In September, the State Bond Commission approved $145 million in bond funding to extend a reduction in the public benefits portion of residential electric bills. The governor’s office said the reduction would continue through at least April 30, 2027. During the campaign, Lamont called for stronger oversight of utilities and for reviews of costs and benefits before utilities can pass the cost of major infrastructure projects on to customers.
The first thing to watch is what his administration proposes for the period beyond April and how those decisions affect the total bill.
How Much Housing and Child Care Will Become Available?
Lamont proposed building more housing near public transit and job centers, expanding access to preschool and making child care more affordable. A 2025 state law already sets out a process for municipal or regional housing growth plans. One way to track its impact is to count the affordable homes that actually get built and see where they open. For child care, the questions are how many new slots open, where they are available and what families will pay.
What Will the State Get From the Cardona Contract?
When Lamont’s office announced the Connecticut Career Pathways Commission in April, it said its members would serve as unpaid volunteers. In July, the state Office of Workforce Strategy signed a consulting contract without competitive bidding worth up to $250,000 with Cardona Solutions LLC, the firm of commission chair Miguel Cardona. The agency said the contract covered work beyond his duties as chair and cited the project’s deadlines and Cardona’s experience to explain the award.
The executive order sets February 15, 2027, as the deadline for the commission’s final report to the governor and the General Assembly. The report and the state’s payment records will help show what the contract produced and how much the state paid.
Who Will Oversee Aquarion’s Water Rates?
In March, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved the sale of Aquarion over objections from Attorney General William Tong, who warned that the deal could lead to higher water bills and weaken public oversight of rates. Eversource said it completed the sale to Aquarion Water Authority on June 30. For customers, the questions now are what rates the new authority proposes, how it explains them to the public and whether the Lamont administration seeks additional consumer protections.
Connecticut’s General Assembly opens its regular session on January 6, 2027. The first bills and budget proposals will show which campaign priorities come with funding, which need legislative approval and when households could see a change.
Sources
- NBC Connecticut election results
- Lamont’s campaign priorities, including energy, housing and child care
- Governor’s office announcement on electric bill relief
- State report on the housing law
- Governor’s announcement establishing the Career Pathways Commission
- Signed Cardona Solutions contract
- Office of Workforce Strategy response reported by Inside Higher Ed
- Executive Order 26-2
- Attorney General William Tong’s statement on the Aquarion sale
- Eversource announcement filed with the SEC
- Connecticut General Assembly calendar