OPINION: Never too early to worry about who Connecticut Democrats field in 2026

Apr. 15—I worry, as a Connecticut Democrat disheartened by my party's leadership in the state right now, whether some new faces and energy can be found before the big 2026 election cycle.

After all, the way crazy American Republicans are blowing up their party these days, from outlawing most abortion to turning a blind eye to gun violence and giving solace to insurrectionists, election deniers and traitors, Democrats are the only ones most of us will be able to vote for in sensible, mainstream Connecticut.

I hope the dominant party's rank and file can demand better than the choices for 2026 that are already beginning to coalesce.

I heard someone from Gov. Ned Lamont's office recently make a big point ― as if it is the talk of the office water cooler every day ― that there are no term limits keeping the Connecticut governor from running for reelection.

Ouch.

I took Lamont at his word back in October, when the told Hearst Media that he was unlikely to run again for any office.

"I think eight years is a pretty good period of time to serve your state, to the best of your ability, period," Lamont said.

For the record, though, he did add a "never say never" qualifier.

At 69, Lamont is a relative youngster in the world of aging politicians, of both parties, and he still has a very fat checkbook to personally finance lingering ambitions.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's seat, which is one I'm sure the rich Connecticut governor would love to buy, is unlikely to be coming on the market any time soon, as Murphy coasts to reelection next year and nurses presidential ambitions for the post-Biden era.

The next U.S. Senate opportunity for Connecticut politicians may be when Richard Blumenthal's term expires in 2029. The senator will be 82 then, pretty old to run for a six-year-term, even for elderly politicians in age denial.

Blumenthal's son, state Rep. Matt Blumenthal, has recently injected the only excitement in Connecticut politics I've seen lately for those of us hungering for new blood from a younger generation.

Blumenthal the younger has silver-plated credentials, from Harvard and Yale degrees to a military tour in Afghanistan. He's also building a solid resume in Connecticut on hot-button issues like reproductive rights and gun control.

He's tried to usher in changes to Connecticut law that would change the qualifications for attorney general, eliminating the ten years of trial experience imposed by a Supreme Court interpretation.

The change, surprise surprise, would make Blumenthal eligible to run in '26 for the office held so long by his father.

I'd be very happy to see a Blumenthal in that office again, after the dismal years of William Tong, the worst attorney general in my long life in Connecticut.

Tong reportedly has ambitions to run for governor if Lamont makes good on his suggestion of stepping aside. It's hard to imagine his gubernatorial ambitions are bigger than those of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who I think may actually sleep with a facsimile of the governor's seal under her pillow.

It may seem like 2026 is a long way off. But time flies by fast when you're old like me, and I'd say Democrats can't start soon enough grooming some new recruits for the future of the party.

Please spare us a Bysiewicz/Tong gubernatorial contest.

Donald Trump is going to continue to destroy the Republican Party and there is no better time for Democrats in Connecticut to shake the trees and find a new generation of the best and brightest.

We can do a lot better.

This is the opinion of David Collins

d.collins@theday.com