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From school funding to housing, CT’s biggest stories to watch in 2024


A new year has arrived in Connecticut, and that means new stories … and the continuation of some old ones.

While we at CT Insider don’t have a crystal ball, we do have some ideas about what might dominate the headlines in 2024. Here are a few to watch.

An election year

Nationwide, no story will be bigger in 2024 than the presidential race, and while Connecticut won’t be a swing state in November’s general election, that doesn’t mean voters here won’t play a role — or that there won’t be other races to watch. 

For one thing, Connecticut voters can participate in the state’s Democratic and Republican primaries on April 2, after the legislature voted this fall to move the date up four weeks. Sure, neither race looks particularly competitive at the moment, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump leading their respective contests comfortably, but if either one tightens for any reason, Connecticut could make a difference.

Come fall, Connecticut will vote not only for president but also for six of its seven congressional representatives, with all five incumbent U.S. Representatives on the ballot, along with Sen. Chris Murphy.

The race to watch will be the fifth-district rematch between Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democrat, and Republican challenger George Logan. Hayes narrowly defeated Logan in 2022, and their race will likely be close once again.

Closure in Bridgeport?

Before Connecticut can hold its 2024 elections, one city must finish its 2023 contests.

Amid voter fraud allegations stemming from Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim’s campaign’s alleged harvesting of absentee ballots in the November municipal elections, a judge ordered a new primary election pitting Ganim against fellow Democrat John Gomes, to be held on Jan. 23. If more than one candidate remains following the primary, the city will hold a second general election on Feb. 27.

So far, Ganim has defeated Gomes twice, in a September primary and the November general election, but he’ll have to do so again at least once — and possibly twice — to stay mayor.



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