Former Republican candidate for governor Erin Stewart closed out her campaign account with a reimbursement of more than $183,000 to the state’s Citizens Election Program. That’s roughly 23% of the almost $807,000 granted to the Stewart campaign in January by the taxpayer-funded program.
Including that reimbursement, the Stewart campaign spent $487,737 in the second quarter (April-June) of 2026, depleting the campaign’s account to a final minus-$75.
The data appeared in a termination report filed by the campaign last week to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. WTIC’s analysis of the report shows that most of the money was spent on what appear to be legitimate campaign expenses.
The campaign did write a check for $998 to Stewart herself. The payment is labeled “child care” and was made in April, well before she exited the race.
Also in the second quarter, the campaign spent more than $39,000 on the state Republican convention in May, where Stewart never appeared. Her campaign was suspended shortly before the event.
The campaign came to an abrupt halt after a report by a Hartford law firm concluded that, as mayor, Stewart used a New Britain city credit card to roll up $207,076 in personal expenses.
Stewart’s alleged self-dealing is under investigation by Connecticut State Police, federal prosecutors and New Britain itself.
Also from April through June, the Stewart campaign spent $69,200 on political consultants and paid almost $152,852 to the Republican consulting firm On Message, Inc. of Annapolis, MD.
