Republican gubernatorial candidate Erin Stewart suspended her campaign for Connecticut governor on Thursday, May 14, just days before the party’s nominating convention.
This is after a blistering report accused her of misusing a city-issued credit card for nearly $207,000 in personal and undocumented expenses during her time as mayor of New Britain.
In a statement posted on X, Stewart said she was stepping aside immediately to focus on the allegations.
“I take the allegations that have been made against me very seriously,” she wrote. “And for that reason, I am suspending my gubernatorial campaign effective immediately so that I can focus on addressing those claims.”
She added that she requested copies of the relevant documents on Wednesday and plans to review them. Stewart said she will take responsibility for any mistakes and make full restitution to the city for any amounts she owes.
The move comes after current New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat, released a report from the Crumbie Law Group that examined Stewart’s use of a city purchasing card from 2016 to 2025.
The review found more than $207,000 in charges with little or no supporting documentation. Many of the purchases appeared to be for personal use, family expenses, and other non-government purposes.
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According to the report, Stewart spent tens of thousands of dollars on Amazon, including items for her daughter’s Peppa Pig-themed second birthday party and preschool graduation decorations.
Those charges were logged in city records as “office supplies.” She also racked up more than $19,000 in membership dues and related costs at the Hartford Club, even hosting a campaign fundraiser there.
Other notable spending included nearly $19,000 at Costco and more than $7,400 on Instacart.
City policy strictly limits the use of the cards to authorized business purposes. The cardholder agreement makes the employee personally liable for any unauthorized purchases.
Sanchez called the findings “outrageous,” saying they showed a consistent pattern over nearly a decade that violated city rules and eroded public trust.
He referred the report to state and federal prosecutors. Connecticut State Police confirmed they have opened an investigation.
Stewart Endorses Sen. Ryan Fazio
Stewart had been the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Political observers expected her to easily win the party’s endorsement at Saturday’s convention and gain access to nearly $3 million in public campaign financing for the general election against Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont.
In her statement Thursday, Stewart endorsed state Sen. Ryan Fazio, her main Republican rival, to carry the party’s banner.
The controversy first gained traction last weekend when news outlets obtained expense records through Freedom of Information requests.
Reports detailed purchases of clothing, shoes, cosmetics, groceries, baby formula, and other household items charged to the city card. Some deliveries went straight to Stewart’s home.
Before Thursday’s suspension, Stewart had pushed back, calling the review a politically motivated “witch hunt” by Sanchez.
She said many expenses were budgeted, submitted, and subject to annual audits. But she stopped short of explaining or denying specific personal purchases.
With the primary just around the corner, the party now scrambles to unify behind Fazio as the likely nominee. Stewart’s running mate, state Rep. Tim Ackert, was also part of the short-lived ticket.
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Stewart served as New Britain’s mayor for 12 years before deciding not to seek re-election in 2025 to run for governor.
Many Republicans who supported her viewed her as a strong candidate who could appeal to suburban and independent voters.
The Crumbie report stated that many of the charges lacked receipts and appeared to be for normal living expenses rather than legitimate business.
Stewart’s decision to suspend rather than fight through the allegations suggests the evidence did not give her many good options.
She hopes to contain the damage and move toward restoring her reputation away from the glare of a high-profile campaign.
