Events

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Amy Anderson 

Phone: 203 738 9319 

Email: media@bonenbergerforgovernor.com 

campaign@gwenforct.com 

June 10, 2026 

Veteran-Led Independents Launch Gubernatorial Race Focused On Decentralizing Power 

CONNECTICUT—Connecticut veterans Adrian Bonenberger and Gwen Samuel formally launched their campaign for Governor and Lieutenant Governor as an independent statewide ticket on Tuesday, June 9, at the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial in Hartford. 

At a time when many Connecticut residents are concerned about the state’s future, the Bonenberger-Samuel ticket offers voters a choice outside the traditional two-party system. 

“Many residents express frustration with the current political climate and wonder whether ordinary citizens can successfully compete in a system increasingly dominated by established political organizations,” said Bonenberger. “Connecticut voters deserve meaningful choices, and we are presenting voters with an innovative platform that emphasizes individual and local power.” 

The Bonenberger-Samuel campaign has four priorities: decentralizing disaster response capacity to the local level and encouraging volunteerism; returning the right of parents to determine their children’s education and refusing to pit the state against families; initiating a first-of-its-kind corruption audit of Connecticut politicians at the state and local level; and giving citizens more power over where their tax dollars go. 

“Connecticut has enjoyed independent leadership before. Three decades ago, voters looked beyond traditional party labels when they elected Lowell Weicker as Governor. While every election is different, that moment serves as a reminder that Connecticut voters are capable of charting their own course when presented with a compelling vision,” said Samuel. 

The campaign's launch marks one of the few recent efforts to place an independent gubernatorial ticket before Connecticut voters. The platform raises broader questions about

whether power should be centralized in Hartford or pushed down to municipalities and individuals. 

Running without the backing of either major political party or state CEP funding, the campaign begins the challenge of gathering the 7,500 valid signatures required to qualify for Connecticut's November 3, 2026, ballot. 

Adrian Bonenberger is an Army combat veteran of Afghanistan, Ukraine volunteer, author, and decentralization advocate who has challenged conventional thinking on leadership, emergency preparedness, and public service. 

Gwen Samuel is a Marine Corps veteran, mother, grandmother, community leader, and longtime advocate for families, civic engagement, educational opportunity, and community self-empowerment. 

“Connecticut needs leaders willing to put people above politics, solutions above division, and people above party labels. So when Adrian Bonenberger asked me to join him in running for Lieutenant Governor, I was humbled and honored," said Samuel. "As a veteran, mother, grandmother, taxpayer, and community advocate, I believe if we want a different future, we must be willing to do something different." 

Together, Bonenberger and Samuel bring years of service, leadership, and advocacy to the race. They also champion a vision for empowering citizens based on principles described in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. 

Bonenberger views the campaign as a responsibility. “Connecticut's future should not be limited to the same binary choice that has led to the current moment. We believe voters deserve another path forward. Some of the most pressing answers about what to do to secure a successful future can be found in the lessons of our shared past." 

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