Tim Ackert bids his colleagues a bitter farewell. Stewart running mate feels “betrayed”–but not by her.

State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) had a month like few others in politics—and he’s seething. On April 15th, Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Erin Stewart announced Ackert would be her running mate. It was a late start for Ackert but Stewart’s sway with delegates at the May 16th nominating convention would have provided Ackert with enough votes to qualify for the August primary and maybe the convention’s endorsement. And then events intervened.

Stewart suspended her campaign for governor an hour after an investigation initiated by her successor as New Britain’s mayor, Bobby Sanchez, confirmed The Hartford Courant’s Ed Mahony’s May 10th report of Stewart’s alleged charging $207,000 in personal purchases on the city’s credit card.

Stewart’s exit from the campaign left Ackert on his own a day before the start of the Republican nominating convention. Rival Matt Corey, a favorite of local party organizations, had been campaigning for months and locking in delegate commitments.

The May 16th roll call for lieutenant governor at the state convention found Ackert trailing far behind Corey. When the tidal wave of delegate votes Ackert expected in the Second Congressional District–his home turf–never formed, the roll call was paused for Ackert to withdraw.

On Wednesday, Ackert used his cga.gov email account to tell his colleagues he would not seek another term from the 8th House District and, in case they did not know it, they had disappointed him. Ackert was surprised that legislators, staff members and state party committee members were busy confirming delegate support for Corey, That is what happens at conventions.

One argument Corey supporters made was that Ackert on the ticket would be a daily reminder of the brutal Stewart scandals. Ackert had, in his way, defended Stewart as revelations poured out into political ether.

Ackert concluded his message with the instruction that a response was not necessary and a list of Corey supporters he dubbed, “My Saturday morning surprise,” followed by a list of Corey endorsements.

If Ackert is so unhappy with Corey supporters to send an ill-judged message to them, imagine the coruscating email he must have written to Erin Stewart when the fiscal conservative learned his running mate had charged groceries, Peppa Pig party items, invitations, and hundreds of other purchases and transactions to city taxpayers during her 12 years as mayor.

It is a tough old business, these contested party nominations conventions. Tim Ackert had to have known that before he attached his future to Stewart.

Published May 21, 2026.