Governor Candidate McCaughey Sues NY to Cut Energy Bills for CT Residents
On April 14, 2026, Republican gubernatorial candidate Betsy McCaughey filed a federal lawsuit against New York Governor Kathy Hochul, accusing her of driving up electric rates by blocking cheap natural gas from entering Connecticut.
McCaughey is suing as a consumer and ratepayer, alleging New York unconstitutionally blocked the Constitution Pipeline from Pennsylvania by withholding water quality permits. Citing data from FERC Chair Laura Swett, the lawsuit claims the absence of the pipeline forces New Englanders to pay as much as 300% more for imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of cheaper domestic pipeline gas.
"The big question is why hasn’t CT Gov. Ned Lamont filed this suit... instead of kowtowing to a partisan buddy next door in New York State?" McCaughey asked in this Connecticut Mirror story. A spokesperson for Lamont, who has been in office since January 2019, countered that "expanding energy capacity is a top priority" for the administration. Meanwhile, GOP rival Senator Ryan Fazio noted he has been "talking about" such a suit for at least a year as a state-level consideration.
Between the Lines: In a race where utility bills are a "kitchen table" crisis, being the candidate who is actually moving the ball down the field—rather than just "discussing" the option—is a powerful play for the GOP base and frustrated ratepayers alike.