These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more Connecticut political news, sign up here for The Issue, the CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.
Not a bad night for pollsters
Quinnipiac was a winner Tuesday. Its last poll had Gov. Ned Lamont leading Ryan Fazio by 20 points, 58% to 38%. The latest unofficial results are Lamont by 19.1 points, 59.55% to 40.44%.
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas led the Democratic ticket with 63.46% of the vote. Being cross-endorsed by both the Working Families and Independent parties didn’t hurt.
Every statewide Democrat except the governor exceeded 60%. Lamont’s showing was the best since M. Jodi Rell’s 63% in 2006.
By the way, Lamont and Rhode Island’s new governor-elect, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, have a common acquaintance.
She is the niece of former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd and daughter of Dodd’s late sister, Martha Dodd Buonanno.
— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief
Connecticut’s Revolution exhibit wins Award of Merit
Connecticut’s Revolution, a new exhibit curated by the Museum of Connecticut History, won a 2026 Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of Museums. The installation weaves together a kaleidoscopic story of how Connecticut residents affected and were affected by the American Revolution. Commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, Connecticut’s Revolution is the largest exhibition the Museum of Connecticut History has installed in decades.
Connecticut’s Revolution will be on display at the Connecticut State Library through July 9, 2027.
— Kat Struhar, Manager of Audience Engagement
Audit finds SERC oversights raised risk of fraud
The State Education Resource Center, or SERC, did not comply with internal rules on bank reconciliations in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, increasing the risk of error and fraud, the Connecticut state auditor’s office revealed Thursday.
During the audited period, SERC completed 72 reconciliations for its operating, reserve and payroll accounts. Of those, 69 were not formally reviewed and approved.
SERC also underreported vendor expenditures by over $13 million during that same timeframe. It attributed the problems in part to chief financial officer turnover and told auditors it has implemented and will continue putting in place corrective actions.
— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter
No settlement talks yet, Eversource CEO says
Eversource President Joe Nolan downplayed the prospect of reaching a near-term settlement with Connecticut regulators over the company’s request for an 18% rate increase.
“We’ve got a lot of wood to chop before we get to a position where we would be able to talk settlement,” Nolan said in a call with investors on Thursday.
Nolan’s comments came in response to a question about the midterm elections, in which Eversource faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats over the rate request. Nolan had previously received flak for boasting in an earlier call that he had a friendly relationship with Gov. Ned Lamont, and the political rhetoric would die down after the election. Without a settlement, a decision on the rate case is expected in June.
— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter
Cromwell to consider data center moratorium
The town of Cromwell will consider a six-month moratorium on data center development following intense backlash to a project that was in the early stages of development, Mayor James Demetriades announced Thursday.
Plans for the project — a 550,000-square-foot data center powered by gas fuel cells — were published online by the developer, Global Commons. But city officials have said repeatedly that they have not received any applications for a building permit.
In September, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered and rejected a one-year moratorium on data centers. But Demetriades said Thursday that the commission would consider a shorter pause at a future meeting. Demetriades said a public hearing will be held on Dec. 3 at the middle school.
— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter
Pfizer announces $650M Groton manufacturing campus
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is expanding its Connecticut footprint, with the company announcing this week that it plans to build a 220,000-square-foot facility to house a new manufacturing technology center at its Groton research and development campus.
The project, announced in a press release by economic development organization AdvanceCT on Thursday, will begin construction in 2027. The company hopes to open the manufacturing facility in 2031. Once operational, the center will produce pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products that will be used to support clinical trials.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter
CVS breakup raises questions for Hartford
CVS Health has announced plans to split its healthcare and drugstore operations, the latest shakeup in a series of organizational changes for the healthcare giant in recent years.
Under its released plans for the division, Hartford-based Aetna will become part of CVS Health, a new company that will also include CVS Caremark, CVS Specialty, Oak Street Health and Signify Health.
CVS’s 9,000 drugstores will become a separate company, called CVS Pharmacy, which will also oversee mail pharmacy, virtual care, and the company’s Health100 technology-services business. Shareholders will retain shares of both companies moving forward.
It’s still unclear what the restructuring will mean for CVS’s operations in Hartford, with the company saying that it expects to complete separation by early 2028.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter
QuantumCT makes computing access deal
As its statewide quantum initiative comes online, Connecticut will partner with Maryland-based company IonQ to increase access to quantum computing power in the state.
In a deal announced this week, QuantumCT, the nonprofit leading the state’s efforts, will purchase, for an undisclosed amount, access to IonQ’s quantum computing technology, a move that supporters say will give local researchers and employers access to cloud computing and hardware that can help with product development, research, and workforce training.
It is possible that QuantumCT will enter into similar deals with other companies in the future, with the release noting that the initiative plans to promote access to a variety of quantum computing technologies in the state, giving companies and researchers the ability to choose which best fits their needs.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter
Strengthening health coverage during reentry
Federal rules have long prohibited Medicaid coverage for people who are incarcerated, but that will change in Connecticut beginning April 2027. State officials say the expanded coverage will help ensure healthcare isn’t interrupted when someone reenters the community post-incarceration.
On Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the federal government approved a Connecticut initiative to allow Medicaid coverage for eligible individuals 60 days before their release. In a statement, Lamont said the change will “help ensure folks continue receiving medical care, mental health services, and substance use treatment as they return to the community.”
— Katy Golvala, Health Reporter