Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Elliott meets with Norwalkers at Greer Southern Table

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalkers had the opportunity to meet State Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, who is a democratic candidate for Governor of Connecticut, on September 13th, 2025, 1-2:30 PM at Greer Southern Table. This event was hosted by Norwalk’s Sustainable Streets, Nora Niedzielski-Eichner, and others.

Nora Niedzielski-Eichner, who served on the Norwalk Board of Ethics from 2018 to 2021, said that she thinks he is a candidate who people really deserve a chance to meet. This meet and greet was an opportunity to organize that for Norwalkers. According to the co-hosts of the event, the meet-and-greet is not an endorsement of Elliott, but rather a platform for people to meet the candidate.

Elliott mingled with prospective voters before introducing himself to a packed room. Affordable Housing, Racial Inequality, Immigration, public Funding, and Policy Advocacy were some of the topics discussed during a round robin style Q&A.

“I believe that you can talk about the things that matter to you, and you can be very bold, you can be progressive, and you’ve got to have the customer service side down,” said Elliott. “This is a serious job, and I think people in this room understand that and recognize that the amount of time and sacrifice that doing this job well takes in the meantime.”

Gov. Ned Lamont has yet to officially announce a run for a third term. The Republican candidates are Jennifer Tooker, first selectwoman of Westport, and Ryan Fazio, state senator from the 36th district. The gubernatorial election will take place next year on November 3.

Affordable Housing 

Norwalkers mostly focused on questions on affordable housing and Immigration. Focus was put on H.B. No. 5002, which was a bill vetoed by Governor Lamont that would have attempted to address Connecticut’s housing shortage and help homeless individuals. Also, questions regarding ICE and how Elliot would respond to their activities if elected as governor. 

Elliot came out opposing the governor’s veto and believes the rationale behind the veto was not centered on policy. 

“When you look at the press conference for 5002, it’s very clear the Governor did not know what was in the bill, which means that vetoing the bill is not based on the policy. It was based on the politics,” he said.

He added his preference would have been for the governor to have passed H.B. No. 5002 and make tweaks while the bill is enacted, rather than run the risk of the bill never being revisited.

“I don’t know if we’re coming back. First, it was we [would] come back in July, then if we’d come back in August,” he said. “Now we’re looking till late October, at a certain point, people are gonna be like, ‘Oh, I would just come back next year.’”

Tanner Thompson of Sustainable Streets said that he and others were not thrilled with the bill’s demise.

  “A lot of us had called the governor’s office about [H.B. No. 5002] and we were really disappointed to see the governor veto that bill,” said Thompson.

He said that he believes that there’s a big disconnect between the people in power and the people who are experiencing the housing crisis. Thompson said that, based on what he heard from Elliott, he believes Elliott understands.

“I’m sure that the housing crisis doesn’t really affect Governor Lamont,” said Thompson. “I’m sure that he’s very secure in his housing, but a lot of us, especially on the younger side, and also people of color and people who have less means, [the housing crisis] that really affects us.” 

Romney Donald, representing Black Voices for Empowerment and Progress in Norwalk, said she showed up to represent her community. She had the opportunity to ask what community partnership means to Elliot and how he plans on making sure he has proper representation during his gubernatorial campaign.

“I’m constantly evolving, and my recognition was that part of the privilege that I have is not having to talk about race,” said Elliot. “But that’s not a privilege everybody has. And so now it’s a practice of mine to always be talking about race in a way that brings people in.”

He acknowledged that there are “very specific ways” that the political system in the United States and Connecticut attempts to put certain people in certain places and divest from those same places. He said he believes his campaign will talk about race and Racial Inequality. Emphasized that he has a diverse team to ensure those voices flow through the campaign.

Donald said she felt that Representative Elliot had answered her question sufficiently. She attended the event because she wanted to ensure he was open to having more diverse conversations. She said she believes housing issues should focus on how to currently help people who are having issues paying their bills, having a livelihood, and keeping their children fed, rather than on building more units in the city.

“So, what are we doing for people that are already here, already paying an insane amount of money to live, just on a day-to-day?” Donald rhetorically asked.

Skeptical Votes

Norwalker Bernardo Torres said he had grown tired of politicians who make grandiose promises but end up falling short. He provided an example of Norwalk officials being against “ICE kidnappings” but then saying their “hands are tied” or empty promises by politicians who promise to make the rich pay their share.

“What is it really about voting for you or anybody different from the establishment that is going to guarantee that things are going to change?” Torres had asked Elliot.  “Because I am not seeing that change.”

Elliot had said to Torres that he understands voters become cynical after each election, when people who make big promises do not follow through. All he can do, Elliott said, is to do his best to fight for his legislative goals even if that means he goes down swinging.

“I’m really driven by this work. I know what I want to do. I’m okay losing a fight in here. I’m going to come back every year,” he said. “You can look again at my track record, and you just get used to as somebody who’s elected, you’re losing 90% of your fights, but when you get those wins, they’re really, really amazing!”

Torres said he viewed Elliot’s initial remarks as stereotypical talking points that the majority of politicians would say. As Torres listened to how Elliot answered questions, his opinions began to change.

“At one point, I realized that he was being very authentic,” Torres said.  “He changed my mind in terms of the ideas that he’s putting forth, and I started to believe that he can actually, or he at least, wants to make a change.”