Another Greenwich Resident Has Announced A Campaign For CT Governor

GREENWICH, CT — Another Greenwich resident has thrown their hat into the ring to become governor of Connecticut.

Betsy McCaughey, a Republican who once served as lieutenant governor of New York from 1995 to 1998 alongside then-Gov. George Pataki (R), officially announced on Thursday her Connecticut gubernatorial campaign.

"Today, I’m officially announcing my run for Governor of Connecticut," McCaughey posted on X. "Our state needs a fighter. If you’re tired of high property taxes, unaffordable electric bills, and jobs moving out of the state, I’ve got solutions for you."

McCaughey, 77, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. and grew up in Milford and Westport. She has a PhD in constitutional history, is a columnist for the New York Post, and is a host on the cable news network Newsmax. McCaughey has also authored several books and contributed to FOX News and CNBC.

"I've been taking on the political establishment for years, as the former lieutenant governor of New York, in my New York Post column, and on my television show, and now I'm ready to take on the biggest battle of my life - to make Connecticut a booming, prosperous state," McCaughey said in a nearly three-minute long campaign announcement video.

"I want to protect your suburban neighborhood and your home. I want my children and grandchildren and yours to be able to plan their careers right here in Connecticut," she added.

McCaughey said CT residents are "struggling with unaffordable property taxes and unaffordable electric bills," and she criticized Gov. Ned Lamont's recent housing bill.

Lamont is seeking a third term in office.

"Lamont's law says if you've worked hard to earn a single-family home in a quiet neighborhood, you can't have that," McCaughey said. "The government is going to put affordable housing complexes right next door to you, all for the sake of 'economic diversity,' whatever that means."

In addition to combating Lamont's housing bill, McCaughey said in her X post that she plans to halt property tax reassessments and limit property tax hikes to 2 percent. She also said she'll exempt all seniors from property taxes, lower energy costs, eliminate the public benefit charge from electric bills, and ban "costly" offshore wind.

"Lowering taxes and energy costs will bring employers back to Connecticut," she said.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-36), also a Greenwich resident, announced last year that he's seeking to become Connecticut's chief elected official.

Another GOP front-runner for governor is former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart.

Democrat Josh Elliot is challenging Lamont.