Media

PRESS RELEASE                           

For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Anderson
Phone: 203 738 9319
Email: media@bonenbergerforgovernor.com
February 17, 2026

Adrian Bonenberger Announces Bid for Connecticut Governor as Independent / Unaffiliated Party

CONNECTICUT—Branford resident Adrian Bonenberger has announced he is running for governor of Connecticut as an Independent unaffiliated with any party for the upcoming 2026 November election.

Bonenberger’s focus as governor will be on the creation of a voluntary state guard that provides Connecticut towns and cities with autonomy by decentralizing and reducing reliance on the state and federal government. The state guard will be responsive to local needs, including community defense and disaster response.

“The creation of a voluntary state guard will help Connecticut residents resolve issues faster and more efficiently. Rather than defaulting to the deployment of the National Guard or federal law enforcement agencies, our state will have more control over its own resources and decisions,” said Bonenberger. “We are building a state that is self-reliant, decentralized, and strong. Strong towns make a safe state.”

This approach aims to empower local communities to lead, while maintaining a balance of power between state and federal authorities.

"Decades of foreign wars have undermined citizen confidence in military service, and especially service in the National Guard. At the same time the standards of a professional full-time standing army have placed military service out of reach for many,” Bonenberger said. “Opening service up to all citizens and giving towns and cities oversight will build national resilience, break down partisanship, and supercharge America's ability to defend itself. If you have the will to serve, we'll have a place for you.”

As an independent candidate, Bonenberger says the solution is not electing a democrat or republican. “We have too much partisanship in American politics. The solution is electing someone who is promising to stand as neither of those things and in order for it to work, we need buy-in from Democrats and Republicans—both conservatives and progressives.”

When it comes to the decentralization of energy independence, Connecticut has fallen behind other states at the same time that the U.S. has fallen behind other nations. The affordability and installation of renewables and home batteries are one of his top priorities, along with initiatives to make it easier to build and buy more affordable starter homes.

“Power bills shouldn't equal mortgage payments, and stable housing shouldn't be a luxury good. This should be a state where families can build a life without being priced out of the town of their birth, and seniors can afford to stay,” he added.

Bonenberger wants to freeze taxes so the state can meet existing obligations, and residents and businesses can plan for the future without fear of surprises. “In a volatile economy, the most valuable thing a government can offer is certainty. Families and small businesses are tired of the rollercoaster. The state can't afford to spend less money than we currently have committed—and individuals can't afford to spend another penny on taxes,” said Bonenberger.

In addition, as governor Bonenberger hopes to work with Yale and the federal government to direct endowment taxes into the state. He will also work with the state legislature to revisit a user-based revenue model for a transportation network that ensures Connecticut maintains first-world infrastructure while reducing the dependence on Washington’s debt.

Locally, Bonenberger served two terms on Branford’s representative town meeting. He was on the education committee and rules and ordinances committee from 2021–2023. He served as chair of the public services committee and was the secretary for the rules and ordinances committee during his second term from 2023–2025. During this time, Bonenberger worked on passing bills regulating short-term rentals, revising a local blight ordinance, and initiating a harbor commission in Branford.

A U.S. Army veteran, Bonenberger served two combat deployments in Afghanistan, one from 2007–08 and one from 2010–11, as an infantry officer. Most recently he traveled to Ukraine to train the military in small unit tactics and leadership. He’s also a writer and author, having published dozens of articles and op-eds on military topics, and published his war memoirs and a collection of short fiction. He lives in Branford with his family.

For more information, visit: www.bonenbergerforgovernor.com 

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