Republican Suspends Governor Campaign After Credit Card Misuse Allegations

Former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart announced that she is suspending her campaign shortly after a report alleged she had used a city-issued card for “routine living expenses” during her time in office.

Connecticut has remained under Democrat leadership since 2011 when Dannel Malloy took office, making an uphill battle for any Republican seeking to turn the political tide in the state.

However, Stewart ultimately decided to suspend her campaign after her successor Bobby Sanchez referred the results of an investigation into Stewart’s spending to state and federal prosecutors.

“I take the allegations that have been made against me very seriously, and for that reason, I am suspending my gubernatorial campaign effective immediately so that I can focus on addressing those claims,” Stewart wrote in a statement issued to the media.

“Yesterday I requested copies of of the relevant documents and I will be reviewing them carefully,” Stewart wrote. “I will take accountability for any mistakes, and I intend to make full and complete restitution to the City of New Britain - my home - for anything that I owe. It is extraordinarily difficult to make this decision because we have run an amazing campaign so far.”

Newsweek reached out to Stewart’s campaign by email on Thursday afternoon for further comment.

Stewart has previously criticized Sanchez and his administration for their investigations, which have already led to the firing of New Britain’s tax collector. Stewart characterized the investigation as a politically motivated “witch hunt” that aimed to derail her campaign.

Local outlet News 8 WTNH obtained copies of the expense reports Stewart filed during her decade-long tenure, which indicated that she had used her card for buying clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and “numerous instances in which reports for large purchases were unaccompanied by receipts.

A University of New Hampshire (UNH) poll in February found Stewart had the second-highest favorability among Republican primary candidates – just behind Ryan Fazio – while having the highest unfavourability among the candidates at 22 percent. Stewart had skipped a debate earlier this month that would have seen her face off with her party rivals.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 1:24 PM.