A message to Gov. Lamont from the youth: Step Aside

Read my op-ed published July 14th, 2025 in The Day CT calling on Governor Ned Lamont to not run for a third-term.

As a Regional Director for College Democrats of America, I’ve spent countless hours organizing students, listening to young people, and fighting to make our voices heard at every level of government in multiple states. I’ve seen firsthand the energy, passion, and commitment of Connecticut’s youth, the students who knock doors, attend rallies, and stay up late working on policy proposals because they believe in a better future.

But that future is harder to believe in when our leaders ignore us. And that’s exactly what Governor Lamont has done. After nearly two full terms, Lamont is reportedly considering a run for a third. I am writing today to urge him, clearly and publicly, not to.

If Governor Lamont runs again, he’s running on a record of betrayal, especially when it comes to the youth and young families of Connecticut.

Let’s talk about housing, a crisis that hits my generation hard. Rent prices have skyrocketed, homeownership feels like a fantasy, and outdated zoning laws choke our options. Earlier this year, the legislature passed HB 5002, a bill that would have legalized “middle housing,” like duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, in walkable communities. It was a modest step forward, with broad support from housing advocates, students, and even local governments. But Governor Lamont vetoed it. He sided with wealthy suburban zoning boards over young renters struggling to stay in-state. He protected the comfort of the few at the expense of the many.

Then came SB 8, a commonsense labor bill that would have given unemployment benefits to workers on long-term strikes. It was about basic dignity. It was about fairness. It was about recognizing that many of us, young workers just starting out, can’t afford to risk everything to stand up for our rights. Lamont vetoed it anyway. He chose corporate donors over Connecticut’s labor movement and the young people it uplifts.

These aren’t isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern. Time and time again, Lamont has spoken the language of moderation while enacting a conservative agenda that leaves young people behind. He’s refused to embrace serious progressive revenue reform. He’s opposed regulating out-of-control consolidation in our healthcare system. He’s allowed property taxes to soar in working-class towns while leaving public schools underfunded. And while his administration boasts about budget surpluses and credit ratings, thousands of students are wondering whether they can afford to stay here after graduation.

To be clear, I don’t write this because I want a Republican Governor. I write this because I believe in a future of the Democratic Party, one that fights unapologetically for housing justice, economic fairness, and opportunity for the next generation. But that vision can’t be realized with Ned Lamont standing in the way.

Connecticut is ready for new leadership. The energy in our state’s progressive grassroots is real. I see it every day, from community college campuses to UCONN, from local town halls to protests statewide. Young people are stepping up. We’re ready to lead. We are tired of our future being put at risk.

Governor Lamont had his time. He got two terms, but if he truly believes in the promise of Connecticut’s future, he’ll do the responsible thing and step aside. Not for political convenience, but because our generation deserves a governor who sees us, hears us, and fights for us.

Ned Lamont has continuously failed to do that. That is why he should not run again.

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