Former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin wins Democratic endorsement over Rep. Larson
Former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin has officially won the Democratic endorsement for the CT-01 primary.
He defeated 28-year incumbent Rep. John Larson, who has held his seat since 1999 and never faced a primary challenge until now.
Bronin said that Connecticut Democrats made history and chose a path of “new energy and new leadership.”
“I respect John Larson deeply, but I hope he listens to the message that was sent tonight by the most active, loyal Democrats in that party – that it’s time to pass the torch,” Bronin said in a statement.
He said that with Donald Trump in the White House, democracy was under attack, and Democrats needed to bring new energy to the fight.
Bronin was first elected in 2016 as Hartford’s mayor, serving until 2024. He announced in July 2025 that he would run for Larson’s seat, even though Larson was the incumbent.
In a statement, Larson’s campaign said that he holds a commanding lead in polls and in endorsements heading into the primary. He continues saying that it’s “East Hartford against Greenwich:”
“We’re in this fight on behalf of the working people who I serve. We’re taking on Trump every single day, and I’m proud to be on the hit list of Members he wants out of Congress. That’s not going to happen. The people in this district know what we’ve done, they know what we’ve been able to deliver, and they know that we’re in this fight. Project kids don’t give up. Project kids lean into a fight like this.”
The primary will take place on August 11.
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