Vote 2026: As Early Voting approaches, cost of living driving race for CT governor

At first glance, Ned Lamont and Ryan Fazio have a lot in common. Both are moderates, and both are from Greenwich, one of the nation's wealthiest communities. I want voters to understand that they have a choice. But Fazio says that's where the similarities end. Utility bills are too high. They're high because Ned Lamont rubber-stamped huge rate hikes. Fazio is hammering Connecticut's high cost of living. Polls show it's voters' top concern, along with the cost of housing and health care. You can't blame it on anyone else that the governor raised taxes on food, that the governor raised taxes on online purchases, that the governor raised payroll taxes. And Trump's reckless tariffs... Lamont blames President Trump for rising prices. Trump's war in Iran is making gas prices skyrocket. I think he's doing a good job. Lamont says he's turned Connecticut's finances around, leading to the first income tax cut in decades. I think we might have read this a long time ago. And a half-billion-dollar investment in universal child care. Not only is Ryan Fazio, my opponent, silent on everything happening in Washington, D.C., he does not support what we tried to do here for everything from free breakfast to improving our schools. Ned Lamont has an advantage in terms of name recognition. Despite a massive ad blitz, 30% of voters say they don't know enough about Ryan Fazio to form an opinion of him. We have three weeks to fight this campaign until the very end and make our case to voters for change. Will Connecticut voters choose change? We'll find out in two and a half weeks. John Craven, News 12.