Gov. Ned Lamont formally announced he is running for reelection in Connecticut's 2022 gubernatorial race.

Lamont filed the paperwork Monday with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, and the official document was entered into the state system. He told reporters, "I have to make up my mind formally in the months to come."

Less than 24 hours later, the governor made the formal announcement that he was running during a news conference in New Britain on diversifying the teacher workforce in Connecticut.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz also filed her paperwork.

Lamont says he loves his job and thinks the state is better off today than three years ago.

"I love the job. I think we're making a difference, and I just didn't want to get tied down in the politics on it for the next six months, so I kept it a little ambiguous," he said.

A Sacred Heart poll out Monday gave Lamont a 50% approval rating.

Under Lamont, the state has one of the lowest COVID-19 rates in the nation and one of the highest vaccination rates.

He also got sports betting passed plus legalized marijuana.

But Republicans think they have a good chance next year, especially after a GOP win in Virginia last week. Republicans flipped more than a dozen towns in Connecticut.

"It's the Republicans who stopped tax increases that Ned Lamont wanted. It's Republicans who stopped the tolls in Connecticut," said Connecticut Republican Party Chair Ben Proto.

Former Republican House Minority Leader Themis Klarides has filed paperwork to use her own money for a possible run as a gubernatorial candidate but has not yet officially filed for candidacy.

Republican Bob Stefanowski, who lost the governor's race to Lamont in 2018, is also widely expected to run a campaign but has not filed any paperwork.

So far, neither Stefanowski nor Klarides are officially in the race. But Republicans are already blasting Lamont for letting a part-time state employee also run the state Democratic Party.

Matthew Brockman will serve as the party's executive director, while remaining as chief of staff for House Majority Leader Rep. Jason Rojas on a part-time basis.

"The notion that the Majority Leader's chief of staff should be allowed to work part time in that role, collecting a government paycheck, while also running the political shop for Governor Lamont and legislative Democrats seeking re-election, is disturbing and smacks of an arrogance that comes with one-party rule," said state Rep. Vin Candelora, the House Republican leader. "I urge my colleagues on the Joint Committee of Legislative Management to emphatically reject this employment arrangement, which would be a good first step toward restoring the steadily-eroding confidence residents have in government. To do otherwise would reflect poorly on all of us while leaving many Connecticut residents questioning our ability to make good decisions here at the Capitol."

A recent poll shows Lamont would easily defeat his two likely Republican challengers.

Public Policy Polling found 52% of voters would pick the governor versus 36% for Stefanowski and 32% for Klarides.