HARTFORD — Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin defeated 14-term U.S. Representative John Larson in Connecticut’s Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, ending Larson’s nearly three-decade tenure in Congress and marking the first time in modern Connecticut history that a sitting House member has lost a primary, according to election results reported after Tuesday’s vote.
Bronin, 47, won about 53% of the vote, compared with 33% for Larson, 78, while state Representative Jillian Gilchrest received about 9% and Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune about 5%, according to the reported results.
The result caps an unusually competitive challenge to Larson, who was first elected to the House in 1998 and had never previously faced a primary challenge as an incumbent. Larson initially entered the contest with the backing of Democratic establishment figures and labor organizations, while Bronin campaigned on generational change and a new approach to leadership in Washington.
Bronin had also gained momentum before the primary. He defeated Larson 214-204 at the May Democratic convention to secure the party endorsement, forcing Larson into the primary. A May poll conducted by Global Strategy Group showed Bronin leading Larson 38% to 30% among likely Democratic primary voters, with Gilchrest at 10% and Fortune at 4%.
Larson conceded the primary in remarks to supporters in East Hartford, saying, “Tonight, the people have spoken. They made it clear what their decision is, and now is the time for all of us to come together,” according to Connecticut reporting.
Bronin, who served as Hartford’s mayor from 2016 to 2024 and previously worked in the Obama administration, emphasized lowering costs and changing Democratic leadership during his campaign. He will face Republican nominee Dr. Amy Chai in the Nov. 3 general election. The district has historically favored Democrats, making the Democratic nomination highly consequential for control of the seat.
Larson’s defeat is part of a broader series of primary losses for veteran House Democrats in 2026. Axios reported that he became the seventh Democratic House incumbent defeated in a primary this year.
Bronin now moves forward as the Democratic nominee for Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District, with the general election scheduled for November 3.
