Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin won the Democratic primary against Rep. John Larson (D-CT) on Tuesday evening, receiving 54% of the vote compared to Larson's 34%. The Associated Press called the race at 10 p.m. Bronin's victory reflects a trend among Democratic voters favoring younger candidates over long-serving incumbents.
Larson, who has represented the 1st District since 1999, faced scrutiny regarding his age and health after experiencing a seizure on the House floor last year. He had hoped that his progressive voting record, which included efforts to impeach former President Donald Trump, would help him secure the nomination.
The 1st District is heavily Democratic, with Kamala Harris having won the seat by 23 percentage points in the 2024 election, indicating that Bronin is likely to win in the general election. Other candidates in the primary included attorney Ruth Fortune with 5% of the vote and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest with 7%.
Bronin's win surprised many in the state Democratic establishment, particularly after he secured the party's endorsement at the convention earlier this year, where Larson attempted to influence delegate support for Gilchrest. Larson received an endorsement from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), which may reflect on Murphy's political influence as he considers a presidential run in 2028.