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State Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, speaks to attendees during a campaign stop on the Build the Future Tour at Franklin Plaza in Torrington on June 17, 2026. Elliott is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary in August. Credit: Sarah Gordon / Connecticut Mirror

Approval of Democratic gubernatorial challenger Josh Elliott’s application for public financing was delayed by at least a week Wednesday after a review by the State Elections Enforcement Commission found him slightly shy of the $335,500 needed to qualify for a $3.75 million grant.

Elliott filed his application for funding under the Citizens’ Election Program on June 12, reporting he had raised $335,500 in small-dollar donations, plus approximately $38,000 extra as a buffer against some contributions inevitably being deemed ineligible.

Every contribution must come with paperwork attesting to its source. State contractors are barred. Most of the money must come from in-state donors, who can give between $5 and $340.

On Wednesday, the elections commission was informed by staff that their review found Elliott’s validated contributions came to $333,507 — just $1,993 short of the magic number. Including the buffer, his total contributions were $371,161. Sending back applicants to raise more money is relatively common.

Elliott’s campaign had no immediate comment.

The impact is a likely delay in Elliott airing the commercials he has recorded to make the case against Gov. Ned Lamont securing the Democratic nomination for a third term in a primary on Aug. 11. Lamont already is airing the first of the two commercials he has recorded.

The elections commission’s next scheduled meeting is July 9. The final deadline to qualify for a primary grant is July 17.

The Citizens’ Election Program is voluntary. Participants must agree to strict spending limits and demonstrate significant support by raising the qualifying contributions. 

For a qualified major-party gubernatorial candidate, the CEP pays grants of $3.75 million for a primary and $18 million for the general election.

Lamont has opted out of the program — as he has in his previous runs for governor — and is funding his campaign by his own wealth and contributions.

Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, the Republican nominee, has qualified for public financing.

CT Mirror reporter Andrew Brown contributed to this story.

Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.