Politics & Government
A need for term limits?
Since Connecticut's transition from colony to state, no governor has served three full four-year terms
By Scott Benjamin
In the Land of Steady Politics, if the system is effective then why reform it.
Since 1950 when Connecticut adopted a four-year term, serving 12 years as governor has become more difficult than making a serious run at Cal Ripken Jr’s consecutive games record.
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It has never happened.
Southern Connecticut State University associate professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs Jonathan Wharton said, “Voters don’t see a real need for [term limits]. It is rare that a governor gets elected a third time. It seems that you can only be effective for so long in Connecticut.”
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CT News Junkie columnist Susan Bigelow wrote in 2015 that,” historically, the deck is stacked against third terms. Times change, the economy sours, and, most importantly, the public often just wants someone new.”
Wharton added, “Term limits often center more around preventing longtime leadership and influential personalities from remaining in office for an extended period.”
It appears that Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Greenwich) wants to enter the Connecticut Guinness Book of Records.
All signs indicate that he will seek a third term next year. If he wins and stays in office until January 2031, the end of the next term, he would become the longest serving governor since Connecticut made the transition from being a colony to becoming a state.
There is friction between him and some progressive Democratic state legislators.
Yet, Lamont may still be more popular than Arlo Guthrie at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
Wharton noted that he is “one of the top five moist popular governors” in the country.
Democratic State Party Secretary Audrey Blondin of Goshen has said that part of the reason for state Rep. Josh Elliott’s (D-88) entry into the Democratic gubernatorial race is generational. The Millennials – Elliott is 40– are seeking to ascend after the Baby Boomers – Lamont is 71 – have had an extended run in prominent government positions.
However, she also has said it is due to Connecticut being one of just 13 states that don’t have term limits for governor.
In 2002, Republican John Rowland captured a third term, but resigned about a year and half later facing ethics charges that resulted in him serving time in prison.
In 1980 Democrat Bill O’Neill of East Hampton succeeded Democrat Ella Grasso of Windsor Locks over the final two years of her second term and was elected to two four years terms for a total of 10 years in office. Democrat John Dempsey of Preston succeeded Democrat Abraham Ribicoff of New Britain in 1961 and was in office for just under 10 years after he scored two election victories of his own.
Is there a hazard in having term limits? Shouldn’t the voters have the right to decide if a governor can have a third or even a fourth term is he is popular and competent?
Said Wharton, “Sure, if voters want to keep them there. If there is interest in doing that.”
Critics have said that governors get burnt out after two terms.
Wharton said it depends on the individual.
“There is no one size that fits all,” he commented.
If Julio Franco clubbed a home run for the Mets in 2007 at age 48, then why can’t a Connecticut governor serve for 12 years or more with zest?
Also, how realistic is to expect candidates to make considerable personal sacrifices if they can’t have a long career in office?
Former state Sen. Mark Nielsen (R-24) of Danbury told The Brookfield Journal in 1998 that he and his wife spent $121,000 of t heir own money on his campaign in the Fifth Congressional District. Nielsen compared it to making an investment in a small business. He also pledged to only serve three terms – six years.
How many people would make an investment in a small business when, at most, you could only operate it for six years, and to get to those six years you would have opponents airing television commercials criticizing your performance? Plus, in addition to spending your own money you would devote many hours calling people in hopes that they would contribute to your campaign.
In Connecticut, most gubernatorial candidates need at least six months to collect the small contributions needed to qualify for the Citizen Election Program grants, which have been available since the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Wharton acknowledged that elected officials have to make large investments in money and time to stay in office. But he added that some of them “make more money in the private sector” after they leave office – whether it be as a result of term limits or getting defeated in an election.
Governors also can lose some leverage when they can’t seek re-election.
Even though Connecticut doesn’t have term limits, former Gov. Dannel Malloy (D-Essex) announced in April 2017 that he would not run for a third term the following year and after he vetoed a budget that fall, the legislative leaders negotiated a new package without him or his budget director in the room.
Wharton remarked, “Under term limits, you are an ineffective governor because you can only do so much in your remaining months” without the ability to seek re-election. “Lawmakers and lobbyists are aware that you can only do so much in your last few months in office.”
Resources:
Phone interview with Jonathan Wharton, Patch.com, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
E-mail interview with Jonathan Wharton, Patch.com, on Friday, September 12, 2025.
https://patch.com/connecticut/brookfield/elliott-s-challenge-partly-generational-change
Mark Nielsen interview with The Brookfield Journal, September 8, 1998.
