Edward Miner Lamont Jr.[1] (/ləˈmɒnt/ lə-MONT;[2] born January 3, 1954) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 89th governor of Connecticut since 2019.

[5][a] Lamont ran for governor in 2010 but lost the Democratic primary to former Stamford mayor Dannel Malloy, who won the general election.

His mother was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to parents from the U.S. mainland, and later worked as a staffer for Senator Estes Kefauver.

[11] His father, an economist, worked on the Marshall Plan and served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Nixon administration.

After graduating from Phillips Exeter in 1972, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Harvard College in 1976 and a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management in 1980.

[20] After graduating from Yale, he entered the cable television industry, managing the startup operation in Fairfield County, Connecticut, for Cablevision.

[25][22] Lamont has served on the board of trustees for the Conservation Services Group,[26] Mercy Corps,[27] the Norman Rockwell Museum,[28] the YMCA, and the Young Presidents' Organization.

[35] On July 6, Lamont debated Lieberman on television, covering issues such as the Iraq War, energy policy, and immigration.

During the debate, Lieberman argued he was being subjected to a litmus test on the war, insisted he was a "bread-and-butter Democrat", and repeatedly asked, "Who is Ned Lamont?"

[36] Lamont focused on Lieberman's supportive relationship with Republicans, telling him "if you won't challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will."

In response to the assertion that he supported Republican policies, Lieberman stated he had voted with Senate Democrats 90% of the time.

Lamont argued the three-term incumbent lacked the courage to challenge the Bush administration on the Iraq War.

[39] The same day, The Sunday Times reported that Bill Clinton warned Lieberman not to run as an independent if he lost the primary to Lamont.

[40] Pledging to refuse money from lobbyists during the election, Lamont funded most of his own campaign, with donations exceeding $12.7 million.

In his concession speech, Lieberman announced he was standing by his earlier statements that he would run as an independent if he lost the primary.

[53] Obama's victory in the Connecticut Democratic primary was credited to Lamont's ability to turn out the voter base he had built during his Senate campaign.

[55] Before the 2006 election, Lamont volunteered at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, where he focused on teaching entrepreneurship and coordinating internships with local businesses.

While missing the 15% threshold, Bridgeport mayor and ex-convict Joe Ganim gathered enough signatures to appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

[69] Some of his top priorities upon taking office included implementing electronic tolls on state highways; taxing online streaming services; restoring the property tax credit; legalizing marijuana for recreational use; increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour; instituting paid family and medical leave; renegotiating contracts with public-sector unions; and legalizing sports betting.

In April 2019, Lamont signed his first executive order, which directed state office buildings and vehicle fleets to become more energy-efficient through an expanded "Lead By Example Sustainability Initiative".

[73] To balance the budget (as legally required) without increasing income taxes, two state pension funds were restructured to reduce expenses for two years.

As cases continued to rise, he limited gathering sizes to five people and mandated face coverings in public.

The balanced budget, passed with bipartisan support,[78] expanded HUSKY A health insurance for 40,000 people, increased the state's rainy day fund to $4.5 billion, and increased the state's earned income tax credit for low-income earners to 30% of the federal credit, up from 23%,[79] and also legalized recreational marijuana usage for adults and created a legal framework for retailers.

The state's ranking was driven by improvements in business friendliness, access to capital, infrastructure, and economy categories.

Bets can be made online at sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel and at a select few locations, including Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino.

His second swearing-in took place on January 4, 2023, at the State Arsenal and Armory, along with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and constitutional officers.

[6] On July 19, 2023, Lamont signed into law a series of bills aimed at protecting reproductive rights and increasing public access to birth control in Connecticut.

These included Public Act 23-128, which protects medical providers from receiving "adverse actions" another state may try to enforce.