New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart announces she will not run for a seventh term – NBC Connecticut

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart has announced that she will not run for re-election for a seventh term.

When Stewart was elected in 2013 at age 26, she was the youngest person ever to hold the office, and she is the city's longest-serving Republican mayor.

In November 2023, she was elected to a sixth two-year term.

On Tuesday, Stewart said the decision had dragged on for two months and was “bittersweet.”

She said she would “stay on the gas pedal” until the end of her term.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart announced in a video on Facebook Tuesday morning that she will not run for re-election for a seventh term.

Stewart was asked during a press conference Tuesday morning if she planned to run for governor. She said she did not know.

“The pieces are coming together, but I know I have to look at this and take it very seriously,” Stewart said.

“This is not something I want to just jump into. I tried it in 2018. I know what it takes, but I know I can't do this and do it effectively while also being mayor. I have to be able to give it my all if I want to get there,” she added.

Governor Ned Lamont was asked Tuesday about the possibility of Stewart running for governor.

“Look, I love Erin,” Lamont said Tuesday. “I've known her for a very, very long time and I wish her all the best. She will be missed in New Britain.”

Lamont was non-committal about his plans to run again.

“We'll see, it's still a long way off, I have to decide for myself,” said Lamont.

Stewart was also asked if she had thought about Congress.

“Everyone has been asking me to do this for years. I say no and it's a big risk just because I have little babies and mommy has to be there for them,” she said.

Stewart first announced her decision not to run for mayor in November 2025 on Facebook Tuesday morning and held a press conference later that morning to further discuss her decision.

You can see their full Facebook statement below.