in 2017, ganim filed paperwork creating an exploratory committee to run for governor of connecticut in 2018. ganim requested public campaign financing, which in connecticut is available to qualified candidates. in april 2017, however, the connecticut elections enforcement commission denied his request due to a state law denying public funding to candidates convicted of "felonies related to public office." ganim challenged the denial in federal court on constitutional grounds, but the u.s. district court dismissed his suit in november 2017.