M. Jodi Rell, the second woman to serve as governor of Connecticut and a notable member of the Republican party, passed away on November 20, 2024. She succumbed to a brief illness in a Florida hospital at the age of 78.
From 2004 to 2011, Rell held the position of the 87th governor of Connecticut, succeeding Governor John G. Rowland upon his resignation due to a corruption scandal. This made her the first Republican woman to become governor in the history of Connecticut.
During her tenure, Rell prioritized restoring public trust through ethics reform and bipartisan governing. She successfully advocated for and signed into law legislation that established public financing for political campaigns. In 2009, under her leadership, Connecticut became one of the first states to recognize same-sex civil unions.
In a reflection on her political journey, Rell expressed that she would not opt to run for office in the current atmosphere of severe political divisiveness and personal vilification. During a one-hour conversation on political civility with Governor Ned Lamont at the University of Hartford, she voiced her concerns about the escalating negativity in politics potentially discouraging individuals from seeking public service roles.
Rell’s political journey started in the Connecticut General Assembly, where she served from 1985 to 1995. She then progressed to the role of lieutenant governor from 1995 to 2004 before taking on the governorship. Her full term as governor started with her electoral victory in 2006.
Early in her term as governor, Rell was diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. However, she continued to perform her duties without any interruption.
Former Democratic Governor Dannel P. Malloy commended Rell for her leadership, stating, “She steadied the ship and returned a sense of decency and honesty to state government at a time when both were sorely needed.”
Former Danbury, Connecticut Mayor Mark Boughton recounted Rell, a longtime resident of Brookfield, as “the state’s mother” who brought a “maternal instinct to the governor’s office.”
Throughout her term, Rell consistently supported veterans, military families, and the Connecticut National Guard.
Her last years in office were marked by the 2008 recession and escalating budget deficits. After stepping down from office in 2011, she remained engaged in public life while voicing her worries about the growing political divide.
Rell, born in Virginia, relocated to Connecticut in 1969. She was known for her composed demeanor and readiness to collaborate with all political parties. During her term, she restructured the state’s ethics commission and introduced new standards for state contracts.
In honor of Rell, current Governor Ned Lamont has ordered all U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be flown at half-staff until her burial, the date of which is yet to be determined.