NORWALK — State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, launched his gubernatorial bid Wednesday, saying affordability, taxes and high electric bills will be central to his campaign.
Fazio, who announced the formation of an exploratory committee for governor on Aug. 1, said he decided to officially enter the political fray this week because, “Connecticut is a great state with great people, and the people of this state deserve better leadership and better outcomes than the third highest electric bills and the third highest taxes in the country. … I’m running to reduce their electric bills, to cut their taxes by $1,500 [annually] for the average family and … to create opportunity for all.”
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont has hinted at running for a third four-year term, but has made no formal announcement. Should he decide to run, Lamont would be challenged by State Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, Westport’s Republican First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Fazio. New Britain Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has also formed an exploratory committee for a possible gubernatorial run.
Fazio, 35, told CT Examiner on Friday that he appeals to voters from every political persuasion, noting that he won his 2024 race in a district that backed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
“I have been the leading voice on the most important issues to regular voters,” said Fazio, one of just 11 Republican state senators in the General Assembly.
Fazio said a top priority has been his continued opposition to the public benefits charges in ratepayers’ electric bills. He pointed to what he considers one of his biggest accomplishments in the Senate — leading the passage of a 2023 bill requiring utilities to clearly list those charges.
“I followed up that [in 2025] by passing the first cut to public benefits programs broadly, in state history. However, because of opposition from my Democratic colleagues and the governor, I was only able to cut it by $100 million out of $1 billion. Now, I’m running to finish the job,” he said.
Further reducing the public benefits charges could save ratepayers about $50 a month on their bills, Fazio said.
In Connecticut, public benefit charges are fees added to electric bills to fund various state-mandated programs, including energy efficiency initiatives, support for low-income customers and the integration of electric vehicles.
Fazio is also pushing to cut taxes for the average Connecticut family.
“The governor raised taxes by nearly $1 billion altogether in his two terms,” he said. “I would cut taxes by $1,500. The governor presided over $400 million of increases in public benefit charges.”
Fazio said he’d implement a tax cut by slowing the growth of spending, simplifying the tax code, reducing some special interest tax credits and moderating the growth of debt.
Fazio, an investment advisor who lives in the Riverside section of Greenwich, criticized the governor but did not critique Tooker or Stewart on Friday.
“I’m not going to throw shade. I have respect for them. I respect that [Tooker and Stewart] are going for it,” Fazio said. “I’m running because I believe I’m the best general election candidate.”
In a statement to CT Examiner on Friday, Lamont’s Director of Communications Rob Blanchard said: “Gov. Lamont was elected by voters who wanted change and he delivered that by getting our state budget and economy back on track — but he didn’t stop there. He cut taxes for working families and championed free childcare for families making less than $100,000 and increased the minimum wage. Gov. Lamont is proud to put his record of change, affordability, and opportunity up against anyone. … Coming off a session when the Republican Senate Caucus proposed no budget or presented any ideas on making our state more affordable, we look forward to hearing Sen. Fazio’s ideas next session.”
On other issues, Fazio said he supports abortion rights, law enforcement, school choice, capping local property taxes, and limiting cellphone use in classrooms. He also called out salary increases for state employees over the past five years.
“In recent years, state employees have received a 33% pay increase compared to roughly a 15% increase for private sector workers,” he said. “So I believe in fairness and I don’t believe [in] the current situation.”
Fazio is a ranking member of both the Energy & Technology and Finance, Revenue & Bonding committees, and has spent the last several years as a weekly volunteer for Meals on Wheels, delivering food to seniors in need.