New Poll: Republicans In Strong Position To Win Connecticut Governorship This November

Forced to defend Failed Governor Dan Malloy’s toxic record, Connecticut Democrat gubernatorial candidates find themselves facing increasingly tough odds for this year’s election. A new poll by Tremont Public Advisors shows that 57 percent of Connecticut residents are more likely to support a Republican candidate for governor while only 39 percent would support a Democrat – a nearly 20-point lead.

The firm’s managing director said the poll is an indication that the “political environment in the state continues to favor Republicans taking the governor’s office” while “Democrats have to be alarmed by the continuing erosion in their support.” As Susan Bysiewicz, Ned Lamont, Jonathan Harris and Luke Bronin struggle to defend their party’s failed record under Malloy, Connecticut voters are ready to turn the page this November.

Tremont Public Advisors write:

“Connecticut residents are giving serious consideration to putting a Republican in the Governor’s Mansion this November. In a poll released today by the public affairs firm Tremont Public Advisors, Connecticut residents said they were more likely to support the Republican (57.7%) over the Democrat (39%) candidates for governor on election day this Fall.

The survey of 1,009 Connecticut residents over the age of 18 showed noticeable slippage in support for the named and generic Democratic candidates for governor, a 5% loss in support from the February Tremont poll. Of the named candidates tested in the survey, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (22.7%) is leading the field, with former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (12.3%), Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton (8.7%) and businessman Ned Lamont (6.6%) clustered behind her.

Respondents to the survey also expressed support for Jim Smith, Jonathan Harris, Luke Bronin, Oz Griebel, Tim Herbst, Mark Lauretti, Peter Lumaj, and Mike Handler. However, none of these candidates or potential candidates received the support of more than 1% of the respondents.

‘We are still seven months from election day and much will change. However, Connecticut Republicans, and Mayor Erin Stewart in particular, have to be pleased with trends in the polling’, stated Matthew J. Hennessy, Managing Director of Tremont Public Advisors. ‘The political environment in the state continues to favor Republicans taking the governor’s office, especially if the GOP candidate can attract unaffiliated and Democratic voters.’

Hennessy also stated, ‘Democrats have to be alarmed by the continuing erosion in their support. The poll numbers of the ostensible leading party candidates have remained essentially static since December. Though the time leading up to the May party convention is a quiet ‘insiders game’, Democrats should have made some in-roads with general election voters at this point.”