Connecticut’s Gov. Ned Lamont is among the country’s most popular governors, according to a recent poll.
A Morning Consult poll showed that Lamont ranked as the fourth most popular governor in the country. The poll said Lamont had a 63% approval rating, compared to a 30% disapproval rating. The only governors in the country with higher approval ratings are Democrat Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Republican Mark Gordon of Wyoming and Republican Phil Scott of Vermont, who has been the poll’s most popular governor for more than three years.
Currently running for a third term, Lamont has had approval ratings as low as 32% and disapproval ratings as high as 51% in 2019. His approval ratings began to flip by early 2020, due in part to his response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, his cutting income taxes, raising the minimum wage and increasing funding for childcare. An Instagram reel from Lamont’s campaign account said about the poll, “Why? Because he is focused on putting families first, building opportunity for all, and reducing costs. Governor Lamont has balanced the budget, cut taxes, expanded access to childcare while investing in our future. He fights for Connecticut families. And he delivers.”
Polls can paint a picture of future election results and the general mood of the public.
“It’s important to keep in mind that approval ratings, particularly those conducted internally often present a more favorable picture,” said Jordan Mancuso-Cermola, a sophomore political science major. “However, I firmly believe the governor maintains strong standing with the people of Connecticut and continues to serve as a true “people’s governor.”
A high approval rating doesn’t mean Lamont is universally popular. Jennifer Arena, a senior environmental science major, said, “There could be a lot more done, especially as far as state laws are concerned. Obviously [Interstate] 84 is very traffic-jammed frequently and there needs to be a more efficient system and there needs to be either adding more lanes to [Interstate] 84 would be helpful or just creating a new highway system that doesn’t have such frequent traffic jams because it makes it harder for commuters to get to work.”
Lamont delivered Connecticut’s State of the State address on Feb. 4 where he discussed issues such as trying to protect the state’s most vulnerable residents from ICE, federal budget cuts and high costs, among other issues. However, Lamont was more optimistic and positive about the state financially.
“Governors and legislatures are supposed to deliver budgets on time and in balance while the feds are screaming in the wrong direction,” he said in his speech. “Here in Connecticut, we are delivering our seventh balanced budget in a row, on time, all the while building up a $4 billion rainy day fund in case of a recession, and paying down over $10 billion in pension debt, unlike our predecessors who put pension costs on the credit card for the next generation to pay,” he said.
Lamont said the state’s economy is strong, with good economic growth, new business startups, and a low unemployment rate.
Lamont will face state representative Josh Elliott in the Democratic primary on Aug. 11, and the winner in that primary will face either state senator Ryan Fazio, former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, or former New Britain mayor Erin Stewart in the general election from the Republican primary.
