HARTFORD, Conn. — Former Republican candidate for Connecticut governor Bob Stefanowski is entering the 2022 governor's race. The website for his campaign launched Wednesday morning as he made his announcement.
Stefanowski ran against Gov. Ned Lamont in the 2018 gubernatorial election and lost. The Madison Republican garnered more than 650,138 votes to Lamont's 694,510.
“Connecticut has some of the most honest, hard-working people in the country. But we are being short-changed by leaders prioritizing politics over people.
Over the past three years, our state has become less affordable and more dangerous for the good people who live, work, and go to school here. We already have some of the highest taxes, utilities, and childcare costs in the country, and runaway inflation is making it even worse.
Nearly everything is more expensive in Connecticut than in the rest of the country." Stefanowski said in his announcement.
Stefanowski also wrote an op-ed for the Hartford Courant Wednesday, criticized Lamont's handling of the pandemic in the state.
"For close to two years now, Gov. Ned Lamont has demanded emergency authorities to universally direct how the state responded to this pandemic — and he might request a seventh extension of these powers next month. While he might have tried his best, it has become increasingly apparent with omicron that Gov. Lamont has failed Connecticut," he said.
Stefanowski has continued to be vocal about issues facing Connecticut and critical of Lamont's performance for the past few years.
His announcement likely tees up a challenge for the Republican nomination. The winner would face Lamont, who announced he would run for re-election, in November's general election.
THE REAL STORY: Bob Stefanowski and the race for governor in 2022
Former House Minority Leader and fellow Republican Themis Klarides is also eyeing a run but has not filed paperwork to make her an official candidate for governor.
The election is slated for November 2022.
Jenn Bernstein is an anchor at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jbernstein@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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