New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart is exploring a run for governor.
The 30-year-old Republican made her announcement live on Facebook Monday morning.
“Connecticut is in crisis mode and we need leaders who understand that we must change the way we do business,” Stewart said. “We need leaders who are able to bring together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to make difficult choices in order to get our state moving forward once again. We’ve become too fixated on the negatives.”
Stewart, who was elected mayor of New Britain in 2013, is serving her third term. On Monday, she said she has formed an exploratory committee to “test the waters for a potential run for governor.”
“Connecticut is in desperate need of a leader who can help restore pride in our state, turn the page, and create a new era of competitiveness, stability, and innovation,” Stewart said. “We cannot afford to waste yet another opportunity to take back our state and set it on a new and better course. Let’s do this.”
Stewart has received crossover support throughout her three terms serving as New Britain’s Mayor. That support and appeal is part of why her father, a former New Britain mayor himself, says his daughter could succeed as she tries her hand at running for governor.
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“She’s been able to galvanize people on both sides of the aisle to make things happen in this community and I think that can translate well to the state,” Stewart said during an interview in New Britain.
Erin Stewart’s crossover appeal has made her a Republican rising star. As she mentioned in her announcement, registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans in New Britain, yet she’s remained successful.
Her popularity, however, may have plateaued in the lead up to the 2017 municipal elections. Stewart won her reelection bid, but Democrats regained control of the City Council. She did not address that loss in her announcement, but that’s something Democrats in the city are quick to point out.
Bill Shortell chairs the New Britain Democratic Town Committee and says the reason Democrats gained control from Republicans is because of Stewart’s handling of budget issues, specifically, her efforts to refinance the city’s debt.
“She’s running from a mess she created here in New Britain,” Shortell said. “She cut the debt payments in half for three years and they balloon after that when she expects to be gone.”
Stewart’s biggest challenge could come with fundraising. The goal for most candidates is to secure enough donations of less than $100 to reach a total of $250,000 making them eligible for public financing in the millions. With the Republican state convention in May, Stewart’s timing leaves her a mere three full months to pursue that goal. Multiple Republican candidates for governor have already reached the $250,000 threshold or are closing in.
Stewart’s father says she can overcome the scheduling difficulty.
“It is a short time but convention’s a few months away but I think there’s plenty of time for someone to get in the race.”
Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2018 and several people have come forward and declared they are running or have formed an exploratory committee.
