SHU Poll: Lamont Holds Lead as Connecticut Voters Signal Growing Desire for Change

The race is considerably closer among independents. Lamont receives support from 41% of independent voters compared with 37% for Fazio, while more than one in five (22%) remain undecided. Democrats and Republicans, meanwhile, have largely consolidated behind their respective nominees, with 80% of Democrats supporting Lamont, and 73% of Republicans backing Fazio.

The movement in the race comes as voters increasingly signal a desire for a shift in the direction of state government. More than four in 10 (42%) say they want the next governor to make significant changes or take the state in a completely different direction, up from 36% in July. Another 39% favor making some changes while keeping many current policies. Just 13% want state government to continue in its current direction.

“What stands out in this poll is the contrast between voters’ attitudes toward the state and their current choice for governor,” said Gary Rose, SHU professor of political science & global affairs, scholar in residence. “We’re seeing a greater appetite for change and declining confidence in state government, yet Lamont continues to hold a substantial lead. The question heading toward November is whether those concerns begin to affect voters’ choices between the two candidates. The independent vote is looming increasingly critical in this gubernatorial election.”

Voters have also become somewhat more pessimistic about Connecticut’s direction. More than one-third (34%) now say the state is on the wrong track, up from 31% in July, while 28% believe it is headed in the right direction. Views of Connecticut’s economy remain largely negative, with 45% saying conditions are worse than they were a year ago compared with 17% who believe they have improved.

Confidence in state leadership has declined as well. Lamont continues to receive net-positive job approval, with 46% approving of his performance, and 33% disapproving. His approval rating, however, has fallen from 51% in July.

Affordability Concerns Strengthen as Election Nears

While voters’ attitudes toward the state have shifted since July, one concern has remained consistent and grown stronger: affordability.

Nearly one-third of registered voters (31%) now identify cost of living and inflation as the single most important issue in deciding their vote for governor, up from 29% in July and more than twice the percentage who selected taxes, the second-highest issue, at 15%. Cost of living also remains the top issue across party lines, including among Democrats (30%), Republicans (27%), and independents (34%).

Voters are increasingly connecting that concern to what they want from the candidates. The ability to lower the cost of living for Connecticut families is the most valued candidate quality, selected by 29% of voters, up from 27% in July. Candidates’ positions on issues and their plans for Connecticut’s future also remain the two greatest influences on voters’ decisions.

Financial pressures are also reflected in voters’ assessments of their own circumstances. Six in 10 registered voters (61%) say they are having difficulty maintaining their current standard of living, while 41% report their household finances are worse than they were a year ago. The percentage rating their overall quality of life in Connecticut positively declined from 71% in July to 66% in September.

Voters Express Broad Concern About Data Center Development

The Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider poll also explored several policy issues for the first time, including the development of large data centers in Connecticut.

More than six in 10 registered voters (61%) favor greater restrictions on data center development because of concerns about electricity costs, energy, and water use and impacts on local communities. By comparison, 25% favor encouraging data center development because of the potential for economic investment, jobs, and tax revenue.

Concern about data centers extends across political and demographic groups. Support for greater restrictions reaches 69% among Democrats, 62% among independents, and 50% among Republicans, and at least half of respondents across every age, gender, education, party, and urbanicity subgroup measured in the poll favor greater restrictions.

“In this second poll, we’re starting to see some patterns emerge as Connecticut moves into the general election,” said Seamus McNamee, vice president of research at GreatBlue Research. “Governor Lamont still holds a clear lead, but Fazio has gained some ground since our first poll. At the same time, we’re seeing more voters looking for change and continuing to express real concerns around affordability. What really stands out is how some of those concerns cross traditional party lines, particularly around the cost of living and the potential impacts of data center development.”

The Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider poll, conducted by GreatBlue Research, is the second in a three-part gubernatorial series. A final poll will be released in October to track how voter attitudes and the race evolve in the final weeks before Election Day.

The poll surveyed 1,000 registered Connecticut voters from Sept. 1-8, 2026, using a digital survey methodology. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The sample was weighted by age, gender, education, and political affiliation to reflect Connecticut’s registered voter population.

View Findings

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