by Karla Ciaglo CTNewsJunkie
GREENWICH, CT — State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, officially entered the race for governor Wednesday, releasing a campaign video across his social media channels that framed his candidacy around lowering the cost of living in Connecticut.
The 35-year-old said the state has become unaffordable for working families, citing high electricity rates, property taxes and overall tax burdens.
Fazio’s platform includes cutting electric rates by about 20% through eliminating the public benefits charge on utility bills, reducing the average family’s income taxes by $1,500, capping annual property tax increases, and increasing support for law enforcement.
Fazio, who grew up in Greenwich and attended Northwestern University, earned a bachelor’s degree in conomics in 2012. He has worked in commodities and renewable fuels markets and is currently employed as an investment advisor.
His campaign pledges to “Change Hartford, Save Connecticut” a phrase repeated in both his video announcement and accompanying campaign materials.
“Under (Gov. Ned) Lamont and his radical legislature, electric rates and taxes have soared to the third highest in the country. They’ve undermined law enforcement and driven out jobs, opportunity, and hope. We all see it. We all feel it. Families are hurting. There is something broken in our state capital — but it doesn’t have to be this way,” Fazio said in the video.
First elected in a 2021 special election following the resignation of Alexandra Kasser, Fazio was re-elected in 2022 and again in 2024. He serves as the ranking Republican on the Energy & Technology Committee and the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee.
As ranking member of the state’s Energy & Technology Committee, Fazio has pushed for greater transparency and reductions in “Public Benefits” charges on energy bills, co-authoring SB7 (2023) and SB4 (2025), which cut over $100 million annually. He has also advocated for expanding natural gas pipelines and improving regulatory support for nuclear power..
Fazio is the second Republican to formally enter the 2026 gubernatorial race, joining Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart also has formed a committee to explore a potential run for governor and reported raising more than $120,000 in the second quarter of 2025.
On the Democratic side, State Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, who is running a primary challenge to Lamont, offered a pointed reaction to Fazio’s entry.
“With Ryan Fazio in the race, we now have the opportunity to vote for another white guy from Greenwich whose policies likely don’t differ much from the governor’s. For those in Connecticut who want an actual choice for governor, Fazio’s entrance doesn’t provide that,” Elliott said.
Lamont campaign spokesperson Rob Blanchard in a written response commented, “We are proud to put Governor Lamont’s record on affordability and opportunity up against anyone.”