Connecticut Primary Election 2026: Connecticut voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, to vote in party primaries for governor, congressional seats, State Senate, State House, and other offices.
The Connecticut primary is particularly important this year because Gov. Ned Lamont faces a Democratic primary challenge from State Rep. Josh Elliott, while several State Senate and State House districts also have competitive primary contests.
Here is everything voters need to know about the Connecticut Primary Election 2026, including the primary date, polling hours, key candidates, political parties, voting eligibility, polling-place information and the November general election.
Connecticut Primary Election Date
The Connecticut Primary Election 2026 will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The primary will determine party nominees for offices where candidates are competing for the same party nomination. The statewide and legislative contests on a voter’s ballot depend on their party affiliation and district. Connecticut’s official election calendar confirms August 11 as the 2026 state primary date.
Connecticut Primary Election Polling Date
Polling Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Voters will cast their ballots at their regular polling places on Primary Day. The Connecticut Secretary of the State says the state’s 2026 primary will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Connecticut Primary Election Result Date
The Connecticut Primary Election 2026 results will be reported on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after polling places close at 8 p.m. ET.
Connecticut Primary Election Polls Open Time
Connecticut polls open at 6:00 a.m. ET.
Voting will begin at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11. Voters should check their assigned polling location before leaving for the polls, particularly if they have recently moved or changed their registration information.
Connecticut Primary Election Polls Close Time
Connecticut polls close at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The official polling hours are 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters who are already in line at closing time are permitted to cast their ballots.
Connecticut Primary Election 2026: Key Times
| Election Detail | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Primary Election Date | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 |
| Polling Date | August 11, 2026 |
| Polls Open | 6:00 a.m. ET |
| Polls Close | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Early Voting | August 3-9, 2026 |
| US General Election | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
Connecticut Primary Election Key Candidate List
The 2026 Connecticut primary includes contests for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller, State Senate and State House, as well as congressional offices.
Governor
The most prominent statewide primary is the Democratic race for governor.
Democratic Primary:
- Ned Lamont — incumbent governor
- Josh Elliott — state representative
Lamont is seeking a third term, while Elliott is challenging him from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. The two will face each other in the August 11 Democratic primary.
Republican:
- Ryan Fazio — state senator and Republican nominee
Current candidate guides list Fazio as the Republican candidate for governor.
Lieutenant Governor
Democratic:
- Susan Bysiewicz — incumbent lieutenant governor
Republican:
- Matt Corey
The current statewide candidate guide lists Bysiewicz and Corey for the office.
Attorney General
Democratic:
- William Tong — incumbent attorney general
Republican:
- John Bolton
State campaign-registration records list Tong and Bolton as candidates for attorney general in the 2026 election.
Secretary of the State
Democratic:
- Stephanie Thomas — incumbent secretary of the state
Republican:
- Peter Lumaj
The current Connecticut candidate guide lists Thomas and Lumaj for the statewide office.
Treasurer
Democratic:
- Erick Russell — incumbent state treasurer
Russell is currently serving his first term as Connecticut state treasurer.
Comptroller
Democratic:
- Sean Scanlon — incumbent comptroller
Scanlon has served as Connecticut comptroller since 2023.
The Treasurer and Comptroller races do not have the same high-profile statewide primary competition as the governor’s race, so voters should check their official ballot to determine which contests appear on their party’s ballot.
Key State Senate Candidate List
Connecticut has 36 State Senate districts, and candidates vary by district. Several competitive primary contests are drawing particular attention.
State Senate District 2
The Democratic primary features:
- Doug McCrory — incumbent state senator
- Maryam Khan — state representative
- Ayana Taylor — Windsor school board chair
The race is one of the key Democratic State Senate contests being watched ahead of the primary.
State Senate District 13
The Democratic primary includes:
- Jack Fazzino — state representative
- Jim Jinks — Cheshire Town Council member
The seat is open following the retirement of Democratic Sen. Jan Hochadel.
State Senate District 19
The Republican primary features:
- Mike France — former state representative
- Jason Guidone — former ESPN executive
The winner will advance to the November election against Democratic incumbent Sen. Cathy Osten.
Because State Senate races are district-specific, voters should consult their town’s official sample ballot for the complete candidate list.
Key State House Candidate List
The Connecticut State House has 151 districts, and primary contests vary by district.
One of the closely watched Democratic House contests is in New Haven’s 92nd House District, where longtime state Rep. Pat Dillon faces a primary challenge.
Other State House primary contests appear on ballots depending on the voter’s town and district. The complete list cannot be treated as a single statewide ballot because Connecticut legislative candidates are elected by individual districts.
Voters can check the official town-specific sample ballots to see exactly which State House and State Senate candidates appear on their ballot.
Who Can Vote in the Connecticut Primary?
Connecticut voters who are registered with a political party can generally vote in that party’s primary.
For example, a registered Democratic voter can vote in the Democratic primary, while a registered Republican voter can vote in the Republican primary.
Unaffiliated voters who wanted to participate had to affiliate with a party by the required deadline. Connecticut’s primary system does not generally allow an unaffiliated voter to select a party ballot at the polling place on Election Day.
Eligible voters can also use Connecticut’s early-voting and absentee-voting options where applicable. The state introduced statewide early voting for the 2026 primary, with early voting running from August 3 through August 9.
Where Can You Find Your Connecticut Polling Place?
Connecticut voters can check their assigned polling location through the state’s official voter-information resources.
The Secretary of the State provides information on where and how to vote, including polling-place information and voting procedures.
Voters can also use the state’s MyVote.CT.gov resources to find election and early-voting information.
For the complete candidate list, voters should also check the official Connecticut town sample ballots and candidate information.
When is US General Election?
The 2026 US General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The winners of Connecticut’s contested August primary races will advance to the November general election, where applicable. The general election will include races for Connecticut’s statewide constitutional offices, US House seats and the state legislature.
Connecticut’s Constitution provides for the general election for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller and attorney general on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November in the applicable election year.
Connecticut Primary Election 2026: Key Details
- Primary Election Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Polls Open: 6:00 a.m. ET
- Polls Close: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Governor Democratic Primary: Ned Lamont vs. Josh Elliott
- Governor Republican Candidate: Ryan Fazio
- Lieutenant Governor: Susan Bysiewicz, Matt Corey
- Attorney General: William Tong, John Bolton
- Secretary of the State: Stephanie Thomas, Peter Lumaj
- Treasurer: Erick Russell
- Comptroller: Sean Scanlon
- Key State Senate Races: Districts 2, 13 and 19, among others
- State House: District-specific primary contests
- Voting System: Closed primary
- Early Voting: August 3-9, 2026
- US General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
The Connecticut Primary Election 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, with polling places opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. ET. Voters should remember that Connecticut uses a closed-primary system, so party affiliation is important when determining which primary ballot they can receive.
The biggest statewide primary contest is the Democratic governor’s race between incumbent Ned Lamont and Josh Elliott. Several State Senate and State House districts also have competitive primary races, but the candidates vary depending on the voter’s district.
