1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election

The 1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill O'Neill had assumed the governor's office in 1980 after Ella Grasso resigned due to poor health. Grasso died just weeks later on February 5, 1981. Governor O'Neill defeated former Connecticut state senator Lewis Rome for his first full term in the governor's office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican nominee

Lewis Rome, former Senate majority leader, former state Senator from the 8th district, former mayor of Bloomfield, and candidate for this seat in 1978.

Defeated at convention

Gerald Labriola, state senator from the 15th district. ''.''

Withdrew after convention

Richard C. Bozzuto, former Senate minority leader, former state senator from the 32nd district, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1980.

Withdrew before convention

Russell L. Post Jr., state senator from the 8th district.

After the first round of voting, Labriola withdrew, not reaching the 20% threshold needed to enter a primary. He freed his delegates 'to support the candidates of their choice.' He added, however, that his personal choice was Rome.
Although he met the threshold standards to launch a primary, on August 4, eleven days after the convention, Bozzuto finally announced that he would not seek a primary against Rome.