<h2>Connecticut now has no-excuse absentee voting!</h2><p>This means that anyone can request an absentee ballot for any reason. This is the easiest way to ensure that you vote in time. The earlier you vote, the less you have to stress about!</p><p></p>

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<h4>Make sure to request your ballot in time!</h4>

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<h2>I'm Josh Elliott, and I'm running for Governor.</h2><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/5042d827-caef-4add-8033-b43b31913f0b/ea49e476-15c1-4016-931d-dd459ce8aeb2/ea49e476-15c1-4016-931d-dd459ce8aeb2.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=295%2C69%2C665%2C471&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><h5>Josh got his start in politics taking on the political establishment.</h5><p>Josh grew up in Guilford, Connecticut, attended high school in Hamden, and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Ithaca College. He later went on to obtain his J.D. at Quinnipiac School of Law.</p><p>&nbsp;In 2016, he won a historic primary for the 88th District House seat, successfully pushing the sitting Speaker of the Connecticut House into early retirement. Since then, Josh has been re-elected by wide margins each cycle. Over nearly a decade of service, he has established himself as a leading progressive voice, advancing policies that strengthen Connecticut’s economy and keep it competitive with surrounding states.</p>

<p><strong>We are running a 169 town campaign.</strong></p>

<h2>In Your Community</h2>

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<h4><span style="color: var(--color-headline-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-headline-primary);">Josh believes everyone in our state deserves a fair shot.</span></h4><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">In the legislature, he has been a leading voice for Connecticut families impacted by the criminal legal system.</strong> He is an active advocate of banning the use of solitary confinement. He pushed for Connecticut to be the first state to remove the cost for incarcerated individuals to make phone calls to loved ones. Prior to this Connecticut had the highest cost in the United States for these calls. Studies show a positive correlation between family communication and lower reincarceration rates.</span></p>

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<h4>Since getting elected, Josh has been taking on tough fights.</h4><p>As the founder of the Tax Equity Caucus and the Progressive Caucus, Josh has been a driving force in efforts to reform Connecticut’s regressive tax system, ensuring that the wealthiest residents pay their fair share rather than shifting the burden onto low-income families. His commitment to working families is evident in his support for landmark legislation, including raising the minimum wage, guaranteeing paid sick days for all Connecticut workers, and establishing paid family and medical leave.&nbsp;</p><p>Josh believes that the right to vote is a fundamental feature of government, and he has sponsored several bills aimed at efficiently reforming Connecticut’s electoral system. Among these are a bill that would restore voting privileges of formerly incarcerated individuals on parole, and another that would implement a ranked-choice voting system.</p>

<p>Connecticut has an economy that is rigged to favor the wealthy and well-connected. We deserve a Governor who's in our corner.</p>

<h4>As Governor, Josh will continue to advocate for working families.</h4>

Tough fights

<p><strong>We are building a grassroots movement to deliver change for Connecticut. </strong>This is an all hands on deck, 169-town campaign. Sign up to help us knock doors, make phone calls, and mobilize online.</p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);"><strong>Half of Connecticut Democrats still don't know who Josh is</strong></span> or that we have a choice in this primary. Sign up to help us change that.</p>

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<p><strong><em>Early Voting begins on August 3rd.</em></strong></p>

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<h5>Josh is proud to be endorsed by local officials and leaders from across the state.</h5>

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<h2>Why Josh?</h2>

<h6>Jennifer Perez, Bridgeport Board of Education</h6>

<h6>Adrienne Aarad, Ledyard Town Council</h6>

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<h4>We can make Connecticut affordable for <span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">everyone.</span></h4><p>Let's ask the billionaires to pay their fair share, and make childcare, healthcare, housing, and energy truly affordable</p>

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<h2>Make a plan to vote!</h2>

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<h2>August 3rd-9th</h2>

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<h2>August 11th</h2>

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<h1>Josh's Record</h1>

<p>Dozens of leaders from every corner of the state are coming together to endorse Josh because they know he will fight for tax reform, fully funded schools, and universal healthcare.</p>

<h2>Connecticut's Local Leaders</h2>

<h6>Chester first selectman</h6>

<h4>Cynthia Lignar</h4>

<h6>Norwalk city council</h6>

<h4>Darlene Young</h4>

<h6>fmr hamden mayor</h6>

<h4>Lauren Garrett</h4>

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<h1>The leader hard-working Connecticut families <span style="color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg2-text-accent-primary);"><u>deserve</u>.</span></h1>

<h4>Elliott touts first union endorsement in challenge for CT governor</h4><p>"Josh Elliott has been a champion for us for a long time," said Michael Hinton, an associate professor at CT State Tunxis and faculty vice president with the union. "It's been a simple decision for me and for many of our leaders, and for the vast majority of our members who overwhelmingly supported this endorsement."</p>

<h4>OPINION: Connecticut doesn't have an energy problem. It has a monopoly problem.</h4><p>The current arrangement exists for one reason: regulatory capture. The companies that profit from the rules have spent decades buying influence over the people who write them.</p>

<h4>How a debate over taxing the wealthy could decide Connecticut’s Democratic primary</h4><p>“He has been at the helm of government for the largest tax increase on the middle class that we have seen in decades because those of us in the legislature that want to see true tax relief for working families can’t get this through our governor,” Elliott said. </p>

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<h1>Contact</h1>

<p><strong>For press inquiries:</strong></p><p>Contact aidan@joshforct.com.</p><p><strong>For event inquiries:</strong></p><p>Contact events@joshforct.com.</p>

<h2>We’ll respond <u>ASAP</u>!</h2>

<p><strong>Josh is not coming out of nowhere. </strong>For 10 years, he has represented Hamden in the Connecticut General Assembly. He has fought for his constituents and for a more fair economic system for everyone in Connecticut.</p>

<h2>Josh's Track Record</h2>

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<p><strong>We are building a grassroots movement to deliver change for Connecticut. </strong>This is an all hands on deck, 169-town campaign. Sign up to help us knock doors, make phone calls, and mobilize online.</p><p><strong>Half of Connecticut Democrats still don't know who Josh is</strong> or that we have a choice in this primary. Sign up to help us change that!</p>

<h6>Senator from south windsor</h6>

<h4>Dr. Saud Anwar</h4>

<h6>representing Glastonbury &amp; manchester</h6>

<h4>Jason Doucette</h4>

<h6>Representing redding, easton, &amp; weston</h6>

<h4>Anne Hughes</h4>

<h6>representing waterford &amp; montville</h6>

<h4>Nick Gauthier</h4>

<h6>Representing west hartford</h6>

<h4>Jillian Gilchrest</h4>

<h6>Representing hamden</h6>

<h4>Laurie Sweet</h4>

<h6>fmr rep, Mayor, wethersfield</h6>

<h4>Russ Morin</h4>

<h6>fmr rep, chester</h6>

<h4>Christine Palm</h4>

<h1>Josh for Governor</h1>

<h4>Privacy Policy<strong><br></strong></h4><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">What we collect:</strong></span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Names (First &amp; Last)</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Phone numbers</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Email addresses</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Towns</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Any information submitted through our volunteer signup form, event request form, and contact form</strong></span></p></li></ul><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Where it goes:</strong></span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Contact information is used for text and email messages from Josh and the campaign. These messages may contain requests for donations, information about events, calls to action, and (most importantly) voting information and reminders.</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Other information may be used in messaging and advertising strategy. Information may be shared with third-party partners such as ad-makers, messaging consultants, and other campaign organizations as needed.</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Contact information may be used to respond to inquiries submitted to the site, as well as volunteer recruitment efforts.</strong></span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Information may be shared with candidates who share the campaign’s mission.</strong></span></p></li></ul><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Texts:</strong></span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">By disclosing your contact information, you consent to receiving text updates from the campaign. You can opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying “STOP”</strong></span></p></li></ul><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Emails:</strong></span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">By disclosing your contact information, you consent to receiving text updates from the campaign. You can opt out of these emails by selecting the unsubscribe button at the bottom of each email.</strong></span></p></li></ul>

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<p>For years, he’s stood up to the special interests that have made life less affordable and driven families out of our state. Now, he’s running to bring the <span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">new leadership we all deserve.</strong></span></p>

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<h1><span style="color: var(--color-bg1-headline-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg1-headline-primary);">Meet Josh</span></h1>

<h2>Connecticut now has <span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">no-excuse absentee</span> voting.</h2>

<h1>Vote</h1>

<p>For decades, our leaders have failed to stand up to the bullies taking advantage of working families. <strong>Connecticut deserves meaningful change, not just election year rhetoric. </strong>Josh is driven by mission, not power.</p>

<h2>Our Campaign’s Top Issues</h2>

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<p>Connecticut is among the best states in the nation for public education, but the worst in racial equality in education. Wealth-based disparities in school funding persist. We must do everything in our power to ensure every child in every zip code has a fair shot.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p>End over-reliance on local property taxes to fund schools.</p></li><li><p>Prioritize and fund special education and better address underserved school districts.</p></li><li><p>Support universal early childhood education&nbsp;access.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Better funding and support for teachers and paras.</p></li></ul>

<p>Connecticut is among the best states in the nation for public education, but the worst in racial equality in education. Wealth-based disparities in school funding persist. We must do everything in our power to ensure every child in every zip code has a fair shot.</p>

<h2>Fully Fund Our Schools</h2>

<p><strong>Hamden, CT – State Rep. Josh Elliott, candidate for Governor, released the following statement after ICE agents shot and killed two people in Houston, TX and Biddeford, ME:</strong></p><p>“Just days after ICE murdered 52-year-old father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, in Houston, they shot and killed a 26-year-old man in Maine who was authorized to work in the U.S. My heart breaks for the communities that are grieving. We all deserve to live free from fear and the out-of-control escalation in violence that these agents instill.&nbsp;</p><p>“With Trump’s mandates, Federal immigration agents have shot at least 22 people within the past year, and at least 52 have died in custody during this presidential term. Our state continues to deal with administration-sanctioned terror unleashed on Connecticut, and now another family has been devastated. Congress must take decisive action and not just rein in ICE, but abolish it. Our message to Trump and ICE is clear – get out of our communities. Get out of our state.”</p>

<p>My heart breaks for the communities that are grieving. We all deserve to live free from fear and the out-of-control escalation in violence that these agents instill.</p>

<h4>Elliott Responds to Escalating ICE Violence and Murders in Texas, Maine</h4>

<p>Connecticut currently ranks 49th in the nation for housing production, 46th in the nation for housing affordability and has the lowest rental vacancy rate of any state. Roughly half of renters and a third of homeowners are paying more than they can afford just to keep a roof over their heads. Connecticut is lacking hundreds of thousands of housing units needed to meet the demand, and we got here because building the kind of home a young family or a working renter can afford has been made illegal almost everywhere in this state. <strong>When you outlaw the housing working people can afford, you don't get to act surprised that working people can't afford to live here.</strong></p><p>Gov. Lamont had the chance to fix this, and he chose not to. On June 23, 2025, his own administration helped negotiate House Bill 5002 and then he vetoed it. He sided with the far right interest groups and Republicans over the people who need to see that housing built. Montana, under a Republican governor and legislature, legalized duplexes and rolled back parking mandates in 2023. If a deep-red state can build that coalition, Connecticut has no excuse. Even housing advocates note that zoning reform has crossed party lines more in other states than it has here.</p><p><strong>I'm not running to sign another bill that lets towns opt out. My administration will make building more housing easier to do, and we will put the shovels in the ground to build that housing .</strong></p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><p><strong>Put Shovels in the Ground and Start Building Today: </strong>Connecticut currently ranks 49th in the nation for housing production. There were around 7,000 housing permits filed in 2025, which is roughly half a percent of the nation's total. Even what gets built is too expensive to compete with existing homes. Connecticut has a housing shortage and until shovels get in the ground to build that housing, we are going to continue to see housing prices rise. Supply has to come first. Connecticut currently bans most of the housing working people could afford. As Governor I will support the following:</p><ul><li><p>Legalize middle housing statewide by right: duplexes through nine-unit buildings approved administratively, with no discretionary hearing that can kill a project.</p></li><li><p>End parking minimums near transit, not just for the small buildings HB 8002 covers. Within a half-mile of transit, let the market decide how much parking to build, the way California's AB 2097 does statewide, with no carve-outs for wealthier neighborhoods.</p></li><li><p>Build on state-owned land and underused DOT parking lots near rail and bus lines, instead of leaving transit-adjacent property sitting as asphalt.</p></li><li><p>Cut minimum lot sizes, one of the most direct tools towns use to block density and hold prices up.</p></li><li><p>Allow smooth, administrative conversion of vacant commercial and office space into housing overseen by the Connecticut Department of Housing.</p></li><li><p>Fix current building and fire code statewide standards, and identify ways to make changes that keep tenants safe, while encouraging more housing development.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Protect our Tenants from Onerous Evictions: </strong>Connecticut's housing crisis has pushed many working families into renting longer than they planned. Some rent because it's the more affordable option. Some rent because they're moving somewhere new or starting over. Whatever your reason, renting shouldn't mean facing the same fear every time your lease is up: whether you can afford to stay, or whether your landlord will decline to renew because they have other plans for your home. As Governor, I will support the following:</p><ul><li><p>The strongest Just-cause eviction protections in the country. No tenant, anywhere, should be subjected to an eviction without a true cause. These causes do not include: tenant organizing activity, political opinions, gender orientation, or the sale of a property to a corporation.</p></li><li><p>Build on the fair rent commissions HB 8002 created for towns over 15,000 residents and extend it further. Offer incentives for municipalities that establish a commission</p></li><li><p>Statewide rent caps set by the Department of Housing that considers the cost of living and inflation so no one is priced out of their home overnight. It is understandable if rents gently rise but massive, profit driven increases will not be allowed.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Build a Green Housing Workforce: </strong>We need workers to build our next tranche of housing supply. With a generation coming out of college about to contend with AI taking entry level work, we can offer these students and workers a solution. We can build the workforce necessary to take on this task, and ensure these are good paying, attainable jobs that offer strong benefits and retirement. As Governor I will work on the following:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Work with union labor, our college and university system, and DOH to build more career pathways for students to obtain a union job focused on housing development.</p></li><li><p>Dedicate state funding to go towards building a ‘Green Housing Jobs Corp’. These workers will be trained in building the next generation of housing in a sustainable way that is good for the environment, and ensures racial equity is at the center of the work.</p></li></ul><p><strong>New Statewide Standards: </strong>Lamont's unnecessary vetoing and watering down bills created a system that lets every town choose between joining a regional plan or writing its own minimum and checking back in five years. The towns most responsible for the shortage are exactly the towns most likely to choose the minimum. Spreading the obligation across every town is also the only way to stop the displacement that comes from concentrating all new construction in the same few cities.&nbsp;As Governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Restore the fair-share requirement Lamont's veto stripped out so every town plans for its share of housing growth, on a fixed schedule, with real consequences for towns that chose to ignore it.</p></li><li><p>Replace opt-in regional planning with a binding statewide production standard, built on the version of HB 5002 his own administration helped negotiate before he killed it.</p></li><li><p>Adopt ADU as of right standards statewide to provide even more diverse housing options.</p></li><li><p>Update the state’s 8-30g laws to allow for modular homes to count towards the requirement as long as they are deed-restricted and remain affordable.</p></li><li><p>Allow Connecticut places of worship to be able to build affordable housing units on their unused land.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Defend the Federal Vouchers and Public Housing Connecticut Families Already Depend On: </strong>More than 150,000 Connecticut families rely on federal rental assistance representing well over a billion dollars a year in support residents already count on. The Trump administration has moved to cut the HUD staff who administer these programs and consolidate the field offices that process them, and Connecticut has already been warned that permanent housing programs serving thousands of residents could lose tens of millions of dollars. A state that doesn't backstop this is choosing, quietly, to let people lose their housing. As Governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Use the state's Federal Emergency Relief Fund to backstop vouchers and permanent supportive housing if federal funding is cut or delayed.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Direct the Department of Housing to track and publicly report any reduction in voucher issuance, HUD processing capacity, or delays affecting Connecticut residents in real time.</p></li><li><p>Expand the state's own Rental Assistance Program as a deliberate hedge against federal instability, instead of treating it as an afterthought to the federal program.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect Housing to School Funding and the Towns That Are Shrinking: </strong>Towns that are losing population and closing schools are very often the same towns that have made it illegal to build anything a person under 40 can afford. When the only housing available is a large single-family home on a large lot, young families can't move in, the population ages in place, enrollment falls, and the fixed cost of running the town gets spread across fewer people. The fix for affordability and the fix for a shrinking tax base are the same project. As Governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Pair zoning reform that allows starter homes and middle housing with a direct fix to school funding. The Education Cost Sharing foundation hasn't been increased since 2013, and the towns under the most fiscal stress are carrying the most weight.</p></li><li><p>Let towns that want to rebuild a stable population actually do it, instead of asking them to manage decline with a smaller tax base every single year.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Create a Connecticut Housing Production Fund: </strong>A generation of renters has watched wages fall farther behind home prices every year they've waited to buy. Connecticut's main tool for building affordable housing is a competitive tax-credit process that funds a handful of private developments a year, and the affordability it buys eventually expires and reverts to market rate. In order to compete in this market, Connecticut can build its own housing, targeting unused properties, and build vibrant communities. As Governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Capitalize the fund through state bonding and let the Department of Housing build and own mixed-income housing directly, instead of only financing private developers. </p></li><li><p>Target these builds around old or unused office spaces and near downtowns to create more walkable communities. </p></li><li><p>Make every project permanently affordable by design. Market-rate rents in the same building fund the below-market units, and the affordability never expires, because the public never gives up ownership.</p></li><li><p>Require affordability commitments on new construction, so building more doesn't just mean building at the top of the market.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Lamont's record on housing is a veto on a bill he negotiated and opt-outs built into the bill he finally signed. Mine will be measured in shovels in the ground, building a new generation of housing Connecticut can afford. Let’s get to work.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Housing costs are outpacing income. Connecticut faces a shortage of affordable homes, while tenants lack basic protections.</p>

<h2>A Place for Everyone to Call Home</h2>

<p><strong>The union, representing faculty and staff from Connecticut’s 12 community colleges, is the first to endorse Elliott as momentum builds for his primary campaign.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Hamden, CT –</strong> <strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Today, SEIU Local 1973, the union representing faculty and staff at the Connecticut Congress of Community Colleges (4Cs), endorsed State Rep. Josh Elliott, House Democratic Co-Chair and challenger for Governor. The union is a leading statewide advocate for investment in higher education, affordability for students, and livable wages for educators and staff.&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p>The endorsement comes just months after incumbent Governor Ned Lamont <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2023/08/16/ct-community-college-service-staffing-cuts-union-opposed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">allowed</a> funding for community colleges to expire, leading to hundreds of staffing cuts and a <a href="https://www.courant.com/2026/03/20/governors-proposed-cuts-to-ct-scholarship-program-would-limit-recipients/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reduction</a> of scholarships and tuition support. Lamont also vetoed SB 8, which would have ensured unemployment benefits for striking workers, putting him at odds with organized labor statewide.</p><p>“The 4Cs faculty and staff have committed themselves to preparing students for their futures. They aren’t just teachers. They are public servants, advisors, and mentors. The time to make investment in our educators is long past due. We in government must stand with them. That is what I've done in the legislature, and that is what I’ll do as Governor. I’m honored to have their endorsement,” Elliott said.<br></p><p>“Our members have seen firsthand how Governor Lamont has failed to stand with working people, from underfunding public higher education to vetoing protections for striking workers. Connecticut deserves better. Josh Elliott understands that a sustainable future requires an equitable tax policy, strong public services, and respect for workers’ rights. That’s why The 4Cs is proud to endorse him for governor,” said Michael Hinton, faculty at CT State Tunxis and union vice president.&nbsp;<br></p><p>The endorsement adds to Elliott’s momentum. On May 16, Elliott far surpassed the 15% threshold among state party convention delegates to win a spot on the ballot, officially becoming the first primary challenger to a sitting Connecticut governor in 48 years. This month, he filed his application for a $3.7 million public financing grant from the Citizens’ Elections Program after passing the $335,500 qualifying threshold in grassroots donations, raising more money than any other candidate in CEP history. He has been endorsed by more than 100 local leaders.</p>

<p>The union, representing faculty and staff from Connecticut’s 12 community colleges, is the first to endorse Elliott as momentum builds for his primary campaign.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>Community College Educators Union, SEIU Local 1973, Endorses Josh Elliott for Connecticut Governor</h4>

<p>We are living through a moment of extraordinary concentration of wealth and power. The Trump administration has gutted the National Labor Relations Board, leaving workers without a functioning federal agency to protect their rights. Unions are the single most effective institution we have ever built. They ensure that the gains of a growing economy are shared by the people who built it, not concentrated at the top. They are how we build and maintain a thriving middle class. We have to do more than say we stand with labor. We have to actively fight for its advancement and back that commitment with real protections and policies.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Pass the Striking Workers Bill.</strong> Workers deserve a state that has their back. This bill would establish a $1 million fund, financed through the unemployment insurance system, to support workers who remain on strike for more than two weeks. That two-week threshold is crucial: nearly all strikes end before reaching it. Evidence from other states shows that when similar funding is available, strikes lasting more than two weeks decline sharply—because the ability to sustain a strike for a longer period gives workers greater bargaining power and helps speed up negotiations with employers.</p></li><li><p><strong>Create a State Income Tax Credit for 100% of Union Dues.</strong> Private interests are spending money to convince workers to leave their unions. The economic argument they are making should not go unanswered. We will respond directly by making dues cost nothing out of pocket for Connecticut workers.</p></li><li><p><strong>Install a Labor Liaison.</strong> Having a dedicated position in the Governor’s office to advise on and guide state labor policy, and to work directly with unions across the state, gives workers greater influence—and a seat at the table.</p></li></ul>

<p><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);"><strong>Unions are the single most effective institution we have ever built. </strong></span></p><p>They ensure that the gains of a growing economy are shared by the people who built it, not concentrated at the top. They are how we build and maintain a thriving middle class. We have to do more than say we stand with labor. We have to actively fight for its advancement and back that commitment with real protections and policies.</p>

<h2>Standing with Labor</h2>

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<h4>Willimantic Meet & Greet</h4>

Willimantic Meet & Greet

<p>Connecticut’s tax code is regressive. Working- and middle-class families pay more proportionally than the ultra-wealthy. Public services are underfunded, and municipalities rely too heavily on local property taxes.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Implement a&nbsp;progressive and fair tax structure&nbsp;that fairly taxes those earning over $1 million annually.</p></li><li><p>Create a tax system in Connecticut fairer for all, especially working families.</p></li><li><p>Modernize Connecticut’s fiscal “guardrails” to allow for smart investments in infrastructure, education, and housing.</p></li><li><p>Reduce reliance on local property taxes by increasing equitable state education funding.</p></li><li><p>Implement a permanent, and fully refundable Child Tax Credit.</p></li></ul>

<p>Connecticut’s tax code is regressive. Working- and middle-class families pay more proportionally than the ultra-wealthy. Public services are underfunded, and municipalities rely too heavily on local property taxes.</p>

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<h2><span style="color: var(--color-headline-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-headline-primary);">Fair Taxes</span></h2>

<p><strong>Bridgeport, CT — State Rep. and Democratic Caucus Co-Chair Josh Elliott appeared at a gubernatorial candidate </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Eg5mdWqoH/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>forum</strong></a><strong> hosted by FaithActs for Education in Bridgeport on Tuesday evening. Elliott — a five-term state representative from Hamden — appeared at the forum alongside his primary opponent, Governor Ned Lamnot, and Republican State Senator Ryan Fazio.</strong><br></p><p>“People will sometimes say you can’t throw money at the problem. But if you take money away, it’s not going to get better,” Elliott said when asked about Connecticut’s current education funding system. “It is the state’s responsibility to be sending resources back to municipalities that don’t have the taxable base to make sure that everybody, regardless of skin color, has access to an equitable education, and that we are looking on the back end to make sure that everybody is getting the same results.”<br></p><p>Later in the forum, Elliott emphasized his campaign’s focus on the cost of living. “The statistic that makes people’s jaws drop is that the average age of a first-time home-buyer is 40 years-old. So when I’m talking to younger people, I’m trying to paint a picture of the economy that we have built,” Elliott said when asked about keeping Black and Latino young voters in the state. “It’s time for all of us to come together and start making those investments. So that younger folk can feel like they want to stay here. That they can stay here.”<br></p><p>Elliott and Lamont are next scheduled to appear together at a WTNH televised debate on July 22nd. Lamont has turned down other invitations to debate in a live setting.</p>

<p>State Rep. and Democratic Caucus Co-Chair Josh Elliott appeared at a gubernatorial candidate <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Eg5mdWqoH/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">forum</a> hosted by FaithActs for Education in Bridgeport on Tuesday evening.</p>

<h4>RECAP: Elliott Shares Vision for Equitable Education, Affordable State at FaithActs Forum</h4>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Josh Elliott, Democratic Challenger for Connecticut Governor, Responds to Trump’s Attacks on Connecticut Communities</strong></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Hamden, CT – State Rep. Josh Elliott, the progressive Democrat challenging Ned Lamont for Governor, condemned the Trump Administration’s recent attacks on Connecticut communities. In the past week, the state has seen a student detained by ICE, the city of New Haven sued over its immigrant protections, and an uptick in ICE’s presence in Norwalk. All signs that Trump is targeting Connecticut again.</strong></span></p><p>Here in Connecticut, we look out for our neighbors. That’s why we have some of the strongest pro-immigrant laws in the country, and why we are always fighting to expand protections for marginalized communities.</p><p>But Donald Trump has made it his mission to attack those values. He is tearing families apart and working every day to terrorize our neighbors. That’s why ICE detained a Cheshire High School student, the son of someone who worked hand-in-hand with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. That’s why he’s attacking Norwalk. And that’s why Trump’s DOJ is suing New Haven for protecting its immigrant population.</p><p>As Governor, I will never hesitate to stand up to bullies, whether they’re in the White House or the board room. I will always put our neighbors first.</p><p></p>

<p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">State Rep. Josh Elliott, the progressive Democrat challenging Ned Lamont for Governor, condemned the Trump Administration’s recent attacks on Connecticut communities. In the past week, the state has seen a student detained by ICE, the city of New Haven sued over its immigrant protections, and an uptick in ICE’s presence in Norwalk. All signs that Trump is targeting Connecticut again.</span></p>

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<h4>Elliott Responds to Trump Attacks on Connecticut</h4>

<h4>Woodstock Meet &amp; Greet</h4>

Woodstock Meet & Greet

<p>Health insurance as an industry should not exist. For too long, working people have been taken advantage of by insurance corporations who have no obligation to care about anything other than their bottom lines. And it’s not just people who are hurt by this. Budgets for small businesses and municipalities are becoming more and more strained as they have to pay for insurance for their employees. The system is broken and we know it.</p><p>Connecticut is the insurance capital of the world. To take on this industry, we need a Governor with the political courage to do so. For too long we have had one who is not willing to take on tough fights. It’s time to change that.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Deliver a Real Public Option:</strong> Working people deserve more than rhetoric when it comes to health insurance. They deserve a real public option. One that moves us gradually toward a single-payer system. We need to improve the existing state health insurance plan, and slowly start bringing working people onto it; starting with municipal workers, then non-profits, then small businesses. Under this system, we will ensure that people can see the state plan in action and know that it works.</p></li><li><p><strong>Invest in Job Training and Preparedness:</strong> In the process of taking on the insurance companies, Connecticut may lose some insurance jobs. That’s a reality we must tackle head on. Preemptively investing in job training programs will be essential to ensuring folks are not out of work. This also includes tuition and training assistance for those seeking to enter a new field.</p></li></ul>

<p><strong>Health insurance as an industry should not exist.</strong></p><p>Connecticut is the insurance capital of the world. To take on this industry, we need a Governor with the political courage to do so. For too long we have had one who is not willing to take on tough fights. It’s time to change that.</p>

<h2>Delivering Universal Healthcare</h2>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Connecticut High School Democrats, the official high school affiliate of the Democratic Party, has endorsed State Rep. Josh Elliott, the House Democratic Co-Chair and progressive leader running to be Connecticut’s next governor.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><br><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Hamden, CT – The Connecticut High School Democrats, the official high school affiliate of the Democratic Party, has endorsed State Rep. Josh Elliott, the House Democratic Co-Chair and progressive leader running to be Connecticut’s next governor.&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p>The endorsement adds to Elliott’s momentum. On May 16, he far surpassed the 15% threshold among state party convention delegates to win a spot on the ballot, officially becoming the first to primary a sitting Connecticut governor in 48 years. He recently announced endorsements from more than 70 state and local elected officials. An April poll shows him tied with Governor Lamont among voters aged 18-34.</p><p>“Connecticut needs a governor who will hear and understand the state's diverse constituents. Connecticut needs a governor who will stand up to the corporate elite and the oligarchy. Josh is exactly that. As a first time voter and emerging college student, there is no one I am more proud to vote for than Josh. He will represent everyday people, the youth, and those who are often underrepresented in state government. Our voices matter. Josh will provide a platform for us to not just feel seen, but to be seen,” said Evan Lucas, Connecticut High School Democrats Chair.<br></p><p>“Connecticut is a fantastic state, but we cannot remain stagnant and work with the belief that it is best for tomorrow to look like today, let alone the past. The people of Connecticut deserve a governor willing not only to embrace but also to be outspoken and initiate action to make progress. As an Asian-American student and lifelong middle-class Connecticuter, I am confident that Josh Elliott will do his constituents justice as Connecticut's governor. Josh will not only speak for us–he will act for us. His campaign has already made an impact by highlighting longstanding, pressing issues such as the abysmal racial disparities in our state's funding for school districts. I intend to continue supporting Josh's transformative campaign in hopes that middle-class families like mine can breathe easier and students like me can get the education they deserve, free from a system that stunts their opportunities and forces them to see the unequal quality of their education rather than simply attaining it. I urge others, residents of Connecticut or not, to stand with us as well,” said Allison Tran, Connecticut High School Democrats Vice Chair.</p>

<p>The Connecticut High School Democrats, the official high school affiliate of the Democratic Party, has endorsed State Rep. Josh Elliott, the House Democratic Co-Chair and progressive leader running to be Connecticut’s next governor.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>CT High School Dems Endorse Elliott for Governor</h4>

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<h4>Middletown House Party</h4>

Middletown House Party

<p>Connecticut has long been a leader in advancing equality, but leadership requires constant vigilance. At a time when LGBTQ+ people, especially the transgender community, face unprecedented attacks across the country, our state must not only defend progress but advance it. The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith; it includes people of every race, ethnicity, faith, age, disability status, economic background, and immigration experience, and many face overlapping forms of discrimination and inequity. <strong>Connecticut can continue to be a leader nationally, no matter who is President, but we need a Governor who is proactive in protecting the dignity, safety, and opportunity of the LGBTQ+ community.</strong></p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Ensure Gender-Affirming Care is Accessible and Affordable for Everyone:</strong></p><p>For years, Connecticut has been at the forefront of ensuring access to health care for transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) individuals. But recent federal actions are undermining that progress, especially for transgender adolescents, even though this care remains legal and protected under state law. Meanwhile, Lamont has been silent as hospitals across the country have quietly ended gender-affirming care under federal pressure. The result is a growing gap in access to medically necessary services for patients, alongside increasing operational uncertainty for providers. If you receive state dollars - you must uphold our State’s values. That is why as Governor I will support the following:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Provide gender-affirming care coverage under my real Public Option plan and prohibit categorical exclusions for gender-affirming care in all state-regulated health plans.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Invest in programs that increase the number of culturally competent providers across the state.</p></li><li><p>Funding agreements with providers will include explicit non-discrimination requirements covering gender-affirming care.&nbsp;</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Continue to Strengthen Connecticut’s Shield Law :</strong></p><p>Connecticut's shield law protects patients and providers from out-of-state prosecution for care that is legal here. Gov. Lamont may have signed the bill into law, but has since done nothing to strengthen it, especially extending more protections to providers. As governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Defend the shield law, extend it to cover cross-state telehealth, and close every gap advocates raise as an area of concern.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Pledge to never extradite anyone charged by another state for receiving or providing care that Connecticut law protects.&nbsp;</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Data and Privacy Protection</strong></p><p>The federal government is increasingly overreaching, demanding access to sensitive information ranging from immigration data to voter records. Federal agencies have also sought access to protected patient information related to gender-affirming care and have taken steps that undermine students’ privacy rights. At the same time, recent decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States have raised serious concerns about the forced outing of students and the normalization of harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth under the guise of free speech. Connecticut must act with urgency to safeguard the privacy and security of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially when it comes to healthcare and education data. As Governor I will:</p><ul><li><p>Restrict all state health data going to support any federal investigation targeting LGBTQ+ people for who they are or the care they have received. This includes insurance records, pharmacy records, and any data held by state agencies.</p></li><li><p>Create short, targeted retention windows, warrant requirements for retroactive searches, and a hard prohibition on sharing data with out-of-state investigations.</p></li><li><p>Strengthen existing regulations to prevent corporate camera networks from sharing Connecticut data with federal investigations.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Safe, Affirming Schools</strong></p><p>The right to an education is guaranteed by our state Constitution, yet for too many LGBTQ+ students in Connecticut, that promise remains unrealized. Hostile school environments continue to compromise students’ academic success, limit their aspirations for higher education, and negatively impact their overall well-being, ultimately constraining their future social and economic opportunities. Fully funding Connecticut schools means providing Connecticut schools with the resources to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every kid, especially LGBTQ+ youth. As Governor I will support the following:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Create a joint initiative with the State Department of Education and LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network to create a Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ+ Students.</p></li><li><p>Require every Connecticut school district to adopt and maintain a comprehensive student nondiscrimination policy that covers every protected class under state law — sexual orientation, gender identity, race, disability, national origin, immigration status, and more.</p></li><li><p>Provide public schools with the resources to hire and train mental health professionals that can provide LGBTQ+ inclusive care.</p></li><li><p>Create and include comprehensive, age-appropriate LGBTQ+-inclusive education in school curriculum.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Housing Support for LGBTQ+ People</strong></p><p>Seventeen percent of LGBTQ+ people have experienced homelessness in their lifetimes — nearly three times the rate of the general population. In Connecticut, LGBTQIA+ youth are dramatically overrepresented among our unhoused population. The state's response has been inadequate. General youth shelter funding exists, but affirming, safe, specifically LGBTQIA+-focused shelter beds are scarce. No one should have to choose between fearing for their safety or facing homelessness. That is why as Governor I will support the following:</p><ul><li><p>Dedicated funding for LGBTQ+-affirming youth shelters and transitional housing and ensuring that mainstream housing services are genuinely safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ people of all ages.</p></li><li><p>Require LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for all staff at state-funded housing programs, with accountability mechanisms tied to state funding.</p></li><li><p>Support Just Cause evictions protections so no person loses their housing solely because of who they are.</p></li><li><p>Ensure that senior housing initiatives explicitly include protections and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ older adults.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>LGBTQ+ Seniors</strong></p><p>As Connecticut's LGBTQ+ population ages, ensuring equitable access to affirming and culturally competent care must become a growing priority. LGBTQ+ older adults often face challenges in home health care, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care settings, and hospice services, including discrimination, social isolation, and concerns about whether their identities and relationships will be respected. Connecticut should work to ensure that every older adult can age with dignity by strengthening nondiscrimination protections, improving provider training, and promoting inclusive practices across the continuum of care.</p><ul><li><p>Expand the Senior Bill of Rights to cover home health care, short-term rehabilitation stays, and hospice care.</p></li></ul></li></ul>

<p><strong>Connecticut has long been a leader in advancing equality, but leadership requires constant vigilance. </strong>At a time when LGBTQ+ people, especially the transgender community, face unprecedented attacks across the country, our state must not only defend progress but advance it.</p>

<h2>Standing by the LGBTQ+ Community</h2>

<p>Our state must take a holistic approach to public health. Just working on the insurance crisis is not enough. At a time when we have an HHS Secretary federally who is explicitly anti-fact and anti-science, and Congress has clawed back scientific research and public health investments, it is the responsibility of our state leaders to step in and not just fill in the gaps, but to take the lead. Because the pre-Trump status quo was still broken.</p><p>Mental health issues, addiction, and other crises have exploded in recent decades. We must be willing to make meaningful investments in not just our public health infrastructure, but in addressing the root causes of these crises as well.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Invest in Mental Health Care: </strong>It’s time we treat mental illness just like any other health problem. This means making investments in mental health infrastructure, and ensuring mental health treatments are covered by insurance. Study after study has shown that there is a direct link between mental and physical health. We cannot expect good outcomes for one if we do not invest in the other.</p></li><li><p><strong>Treat Addiction like a Health Crisis, Not a Crime: </strong>Far too many people are incarcerated due to addiction. For decades we have tried to arrest our way out of an addiction crisis that clearly goes so much deeper. The status quo is not working. We should be listening to science, and science tells us that addiction is an illness that must be treated as such. Our state should be investing in harm reduction strategies to address addiction, including life-saving safe injection sites.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p><strong>Fill in the Scientific Funding Gaps:</strong> In Trump’s second term, he has taken a chainsaw to scientific research funding at the federal level. The losses that will come as a result cannot be measured. We will never know what discoveries were not made and what lives were not saved. But at the state level, we can fill in the gaps. We should be making record investments in our state universities to ensure scientific research continues. Our future depends on it.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p><strong>Address Affordability Anxiety:</strong> Families are being stretched thin. By bringing down energy costs, lowering property taxes, and ensuring we make real investments in public education, we can relieve some stress that has been taking a toll on working people.&nbsp;</p></li></ul>

<p><strong>Our state must take a holistic approach to public health.</strong></p><p>Just working on the insurance crisis is not enough. At a time when we have an HHS Secretary federally who is explicitly anti-fact and anti-science, and Congress has clawed back scientific research and public health investments, it is the responsibility of our state leaders to step in and not just fill in the gaps, but to take the lead. Because the pre-Trump status quo was still broken.</p>

<h2>Creating a Healthy Connecticut</h2>

<p><strong>Hamden, CT – Today, Connecticut’s State Elections Enforcement Commission formally approved State Rep. Josh Elliott’s application for a $3.7 million grant through the state’s Citizens’ Election Program.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>The grant builds on Elliott’s momentum to unseat two-term, ultra-wealthy incumbent Governor Ned Lamont, who has spent nearly $70 million of his personal banking fortune to fund his campaigns.&nbsp;</p><p>A five-term state representative, small business owner, and Democratic House Caucus Co-Chair, Elliott is the first primary challenger to appear on the ballot against a sitting governor in 48 years. Elliott’s campaign is focused on building a new agenda that puts the state’s working families first. Connecticut is the most unequal state in the country, anchored by a regressive tax structure long championed by Lamont.&nbsp;</p><p>Last week, Elliott unveiled his <a href="https://youtu.be/iNklO98DM6Y?si=-qU_s6cpXmES3uBc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first ad</a>, in which he lays out his vision for a more affordable state. Now, he’ll have the resources to communicate with hundreds of thousands of voters ahead of the August 11 primary.</p><p>Elliott’s fundraising broke the all-time record for the Citizens’ Election Program, with $371,102 raised from a total of 5,877 donations, at a maximum of $340 per person.</p><p>“I am immensely grateful to each of the thousands of Connecticut residents who pitched in anywhere from $5 to $340 to our campaign. A grassroots campaign like ours is unprecedented in Connecticut, and we truly could not have gotten here without a force of supporters who feel the urgency for new leadership in our state and who are ready to fight for it. Let’s win this,” Elliott said.</p>

<p>Elliott’s fundraising broke the all-time record for the Citizens’ Election Program, with $371,102 raised from a total of 5,877 donations, at a maximum of $340 per person.</p>

<h4>Elliott Unlocks $3.7 Million for CT Gov. Campaign</h4>

<p>Connecticut faces rising sea levels, more frequent flooding, and extreme weather that threatens our communities, economy, and way of life. We need a governor who will treat climate change with the urgency it demands—not just setting targets, but actually delivering results. My administration will accelerate the transition to clean energy, invest in resilient infrastructure, and ensure that the communities hit hardest by pollution and environmental neglect are first in line for resources and relief.</p><p><strong>The solutions:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Environmental Justice First:</strong> Direct priority funding to environmental justice communities for brownfield cleanup, pollution reduction, and access to green spaces. Make Connecticut beaches publicly accessible and affordable for all families.</p></li><li><p><strong>Accelerate Clean Energy:</strong> Streamline permitting and invest aggressively in offshore wind and solar to make Connecticut a national leader in renewable energy, create good-paying green jobs, and bring down energy costs long-term.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fix Our Infrastructure Now:</strong> Provide direct state funding to municipalities struggling with unprecedented flooding, aging culverts, and overwhelmed sewer systems. Communities shouldn't have to wait for the next storm to get help.</p></li><li><p><strong>Expand Public Transit and EV Access:</strong> Improve and expand affordable public transportation to reduce car dependence and traffic congestion. Electrify bus fleets—including school buses—to cut emissions in asthma hotspots. Build out statewide EV charging infrastructure with real incentives for families and businesses.</p></li><li><p><strong>Invest in Natural Resilience: </strong>Protect and restore wetlands, coastlines, and urban green spaces that buffer communities against extreme weather and sequester carbon naturally, while preserving biodiversity for future generations.</p></li><li><p><strong>Smart Land Use: </strong>Give municipalities standardized climate data and the tools they need to adopt climate-friendly development policies. Incentivize green infrastructure and emerging technologies.</p></li><li><p><strong>Create a Connecticut Climate Corps:</strong> Launch a paid fellowship program placing young people with state agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofits to work on our most pressing climate challenges—building the next generation of environmental leaders while getting critical work done.</p></li></ul>

<p><strong>We need a governor who will treat climate change with the urgency it demands.</strong></p><p>Connecticut faces rising sea levels, more frequent flooding, and extreme weather that threatens our communities, economy, and way of life. We need a governor who will treat climate change with the urgency it demands—not just setting targets, but actually delivering results.</p>

<h2>Protecting our Environment</h2>

<p><strong>Hamden, CT – Rep. Josh Elliott released the following statement after severe weather caused power outages throughout the state:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p>“This morning, thousands of Connecticut households woke up still without power. I’m grateful for the frontline workers and neighbors across New England who jumped in this weekend to try to get Connecticut back online, yet many towns are still recovering and waiting for an update. They could go days or more without reprieve. I have seen this story play out before, when a storm in 2020 knocked out power for thousands of Hamden families.</p><p>“Eversource and UI having monopolies in their regions means we will just wait and hope for the best. Meanwhile, we are currently being asked to pay some of the highest energy rates in the country. We need an alternative to the for-profit monopoly that answers to Wall Street instead of working families. We need to invest in better infrastructure, including undergrounding lines so this doesn’t happen again. When I am Governor, we will have the option of a public power system to hold these companies accountable.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eversource and UI having monopolies in their regions means we will just wait and hope for the best. Meanwhile, we are currently being asked to pay some of the highest energy rates in the country.</p>

<h4>Elliott Statement on Eversource Power Outages</h4>

<p>Connecticut families pay some of the highest energy costs in the country while the CEO of Eversource earns more than $19 million a year — over 100 times what a frontline lineman makes. It’s time to rein in utility excess, give towns real options, and build an energy system rooted in renewables, resilience, and fairness. I'm not just going to complain about Eversource. I have a plan to break their grip on our state:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Take on Eversource’s monopoly</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Change our eminent domain laws.</strong> Right now, if a municipality or the state wants to acquire utility infrastructure, we have to pay market value — whatever Eversource's investors think the assets are worth. I'm proposing we change the law to allow acquisition at book value — what the assets actually cost, minus depreciation. That's the only way a public option becomes affordable.</p></li><li><p><strong>Create statewide ballot initiative rights.</strong> Connecticut is one of the few states where citizens can't put questions directly to voters. The legislature has a monopoly on what gets voted on. I want to change our constitution to give people that power. We need two tracks to win this fight — one through the legislature, and one that lets the people act directly when the legislature won't. That's how you build real pressure for change.</p></li><li><p><strong>Revoke the monopoly.</strong> Eversource has an exclusive franchise to serve most of Connecticut. There's no competition, no alternative, no accountability. We should open their franchise rights to review and create space for municipal utilities or a state-run option.</p></li><li><p><strong>A public power option.</strong> Whether it's municipal utilities, a statewide consumer-owned authority, or something else — we need an alternative to a for-profit monopoly that answers to Wall Street instead of working families. Other states have public power systems that deliver cheaper, more reliable electricity. Connecticut deserves that choice.</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Return utility profit margins to reasonable, historical levels</p></li><li><p>Make it easier for towns to form or join municipal electric utilities</p></li><li><p>Create state-backed financing tools for municipalities to buy distribution infrastructure</p></li><li><p>End state support for natural gas expansion</p></li><li><p>Adopt a binding transition plan off natural gas</p></li><li><p>Expand rooftop and community solar with guaranteed interconnection timelines</p></li><li><p>Make historic investments in undergrounding electric lines</p></li><li><p>Expand microgrids for towns, schools, and critical facilities</p></li><li><p>Accelerate heat pump adoption</p></li><li><p>Tie CEO pay to frontline worker pay</p></li><li><p>Ban ratepayer-funded executive bonuses</p></li></ul>

<p>Connecticut families pay some of the highest energy costs in the country while the CEO of Eversource earns more than $19 million a year, over 100 times what a frontline lineman makes. It’s time to rein in utility excess, give towns real options, and build an energy system rooted in renewables, resilience, and fairness. I'm not just going to complain about Eversource. I have a plan to take them on.</p>

<h2>Lower Energy Costs</h2>

<p><strong>Josh Elliott, Democrat for Connecticut Governor, Announces Statewide “Build the Future” Tour</strong></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Hamden, CT – State Rep. Josh Elliott, the House Democratic Co-Chair and progressive leader running for governor, announced the Build the Future Tour, with rallies in 13 cities and towns across the state from June 11-17.</strong></span></p><p>The tour will highlight the issues facing Connecticut’s working families —&nbsp;tax reform, school funding deficits, energy costs, threats from the federal administration, and more —&nbsp;and the need for new leadership. At each stop, Elliott will be joined by local leaders, stakeholders, and community members.</p><p>The tour will kick off in New Haven on June 11; followed by Waterbury on June 12; Danbury, Stamford, Norwalk, and Bridgeport on June 13; New Britain, Hartford, and Middletown on June 14; New London on June 15; Willimantic and Storrs on June 16; and Torrington on June 17. A full listing of events can be found <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/joshforct/?event_type=16" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p><p>Elliott is waging the first primary challenge to a sitting governor in 48 years. On May 16, he far surpassed the 15% threshold among state party convention delegates to win a spot on the ballot. Since then, he announced having raised the $335,500 required to unlock a $3.7 million primary grant from the Citizens Election Program, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with incumbent Governor Lamont, a billionaire self-funder.</p>

<p>The tour will highlight the issues facing Connecticut’s working families —&nbsp;tax reform, school funding deficits, energy costs, threats from the federal administration, and more —&nbsp;and the need for new leadership. At each stop, Elliott will be joined by local leaders, stakeholders, and community members.</p>

<h4>Elliott to Host Statewide "Build the Future" Tour</h4>

<h4>Bridgeport Meet & Greet</h4>

<p>Join Josh and Bridgeport's 130th Democrats for a conversation about tax equity, education reform, and the future of our state.</p>