Somers and Stewart test their pitches for governor at Old Saybrook Lincoln dinner.

Old Saybrook Republicans got a glimpse of the future Wednesday night at their Lincoln Day dinner. The Republican-leaning town was host to two ambitious Republicans, Heather Somers and Erin Stewart.

Somers was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014. She and gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley lost to incumbent Democrats Dannel P. Malloy and popular Democrat Nancy Wyman. Somers, a former mayor of Groton, was elected to the state senate in 2016. She’s serving her fourth consecutive term in the shrinking Republican caucus.

Stewart was elected mayor of New Britain in 2013, defeating a Democratic incumbent. She has been re-elected to five consecutive two-year terms, at times showing significant coattails for the rest of the local Republican ticket. She ran for the Republican nominations for governor and lieutenant governor in 2018, placing second in the LG primary. Stewart sometimes was, sometimes was not a contender for the 2022 Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Gubernatorial nominee Bob Stefanowski had some trouble making up his mind and settled on Fairfield Republican Laura Devlin.

Democrats eager to run for governor in 2026 have in varying degrees been discreet or indiscreet in their desire to shove aside popular two-term Governor Ned Lamont. Luke Bronin, the former mayor of Hartford, appears to have won full marks for observing the informal rules of civility and respect.

Republicans face different considerations. Lamont would be a formidable opponent if he sought a third term, perhaps winnowing the Republican field. For now, it’s a season to accept every invitation and to encourage some that were not offered.

A Stewart-Somers contest would showcase two candidates with different records and appeal. Stewart, as the chief executive of a city has compiled a list of achievements. Somers, in the minority for all but two years of her seven years in the legislature, has been able to do a lot of talking. Those make for very different platforms. If Somers can coral the support of her 11 senate colleagues, she will show her appeal reaches beyond southeastern Connecticut. If Stewart is able to apply some campaign discipline to her energy and reshuffles her circle of campaign advisers she will be the early frontrunner for her party’s nomination.

It has begun.

Published April 5, 2024.