State Sen. Ryan Fazio and Gov. Ned Lamont, both Greenwich residents, face off in their first debate Thursday, Oct. 22. The one-hour televised event comes as early voting began Oct. 19 across Connecticut.

The debate, co-hosted by WFSB and CT Insider, begins at 7 p.m. at WFSB's studios in Rocky Hill. WFSB anchor Erin Connolly will moderate. WFSB chief political reporter Susan Raff and CT Insider columnist Dan Haar will serve as panelists.

It marks the first time the two candidates have shared a stage, according to CT Insider, despite appearing separately at several forums during the campaign. Fazio had pushed for six head-to-head debates. Lamont agreed to two, saying 10 scheduled forums and two debates would be enough, CT Insider reported. The second is set for Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Mohegan Sun, hosted by WTNH and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

Fazio, 36, is a Republican who represents Greenwich in the state Senate. He is trying to do something no one has done in 72 years: unseat a sitting Connecticut governor, according to a CT Public profile published in September. Lamont, 72, a Democrat, is seeking a third term.

Polls

A Quinnipiac University poll released Oct. 14 found Lamont leading 58% to 38% among likely voters, according to WTNH. An Emerson College/Nexstar poll released Oct. 15 put Lamont at 51% and Fazio at 38%, WTNH reported. A third poll, conducted for WFSB and published Oct. 19, showed Lamont ahead 59.3% to 32.7% among likely voters.

Doug Schwartz, director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, attributed part of the gap to the fact that 30% of likely voters said they hadn't heard enough about Fazio to form an opinion.

Fazio has used some of the $18 million in public financing available to him to boost his name recognition, CT Insider reported.

Affordability dominates the race

Cost of living, taxes, housing and energy prices have dominated the campaign, according to CT Insider. In the Quinnipiac poll, cost of living ranked as the top issue at 24%. The economy followed at 21%. The Emerson poll found 48% of voters named the economy, taxes or jobs as their top concern.

"It feels like the property taxes are like a second mortgage, and the electric bills are like rent," Fazio said at a campaign stop, according to CT Public.

Fazio won a special election for his Senate seat in August 2021. He claims credit for $100 million in savings to electric ratepayers through a bipartisan energy bill, according to CT Public. Lamont himself acknowledged Fazio's role after the bill passed, telling reporters that Fazio was someone the administration could work with.

Election Day is Nov. 3.