Notes: The rematch between Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) and businessman and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Thomas Foley (R) was close.  Polling showed Foley ahead throughout 2013 and into summer of 2014, but Malloy edged ahead in October and won a second term in November; the outcome was not quite as close as in 2010.  Also on the ballot as a petition candidate was Joe Visconti, a general contractor from West Hartford. 

Foley won the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party on May 17 at their convention in Uncasville and advanced to the general election by defeating state Senate Minority Leader John P. McKinney in the Aug. 12 primary.  Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton had suspended his campaign earlier, on June 18.

There were seven general election debates:

• Aug. 27 - Malloy and Foley at Norwich Free Academy, sponsored by The Bulletin. >
  
• Sept. 30 - Malloy and Foley at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford televised on WFSB.
• Oct. 2 - Malloy and Foley at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, sponsored by the Hartford Courant and FOX CT. >
  
• Oct. 9 - Malloy and Foley at the Hartford Hilton hosted by Connecticut Broadcasters Association. >
  
• Oct. 16 - Malloy, Foley and Visconti at the Garde Arts Center in New London hosted by The Day, CPTV and WNPR. >
• Oct. 23 - Malloy and Visconti at NBC 30 in West Hartford.
• Nov. 2 - Malloy and Foley at WTNH studios in New Haven.
  

The close race drew outside attention both in visits and money.  On Oct. 6 RGA chair Gov. Chris Christie put in an appearance in Trumbull (>).  On Oct. 30 First Lady Michelle Obama came in for a rally in New Haven to support Malloy (>).


Campaign Managers:
Dannel Malloy:  Jonathan Blair
(Mar. 2014)  Campaign manager on Robin Kelly for Congress (IL) April 2013 special election.  Worked on Martin Heinrich's 2012 U.S. Senate campaign in New Mexico.
 
Tom Foley:  Justin Clark
Partner at Davis, Clark & Bonafonte, LLC since Jan. 2011.  General counsel for the Connecticut Republican Party, Aug. 2011-Sept. 2013.  Political director on Linda McMahon's 2012 U.S. Senate campaign.  Campaign manager on Tom Foley's 2010 campaign for governor.  Attorney at Pepe & Hazard LLP, Oct. 2008-Jan. 2010.  Law clerk to Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Peter T. Zarella, May 2006-June 2007.  J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, 2004; B.A. in economics from Wesleyan University, 1997.  Based in West Hartford.

See also:
Christine Stuart.  "Ohio Group Enters Connecticut Governor's Race With $1.7 Million Donation."  CTNewsJunkie, Oct. 27, 2014.

Matthew Q Clarida.  "Political Operatives: Campaigns Tap Veteran Staffers for Governor's Race Rematch."  Hartford Courant, Aug. 31, 2014.

Mark Pazniokas.  "Yes, Dan Malloy is running in 2014."  CT Mirror, Mar. 28, 2014.