Rep. John Larson Loses Connecticut Primary to Luke Bronin
NBC News projects that the 78-year-old Democrat, in Congress for nearly three decades, was defeated by former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who campaigned on generational change.
Democratic Rep. John Larson of Connecticut has lost his primary to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, NBC News projects, the latest sign of Democratic voters' willingness to replace long-serving House incumbents with younger candidates.
Larson, 78, has been a fixture in Connecticut politics, serving more than a decade in the state Legislature and almost three decades in Congress. A former member of party leadership, he campaigned on his work on Social Security and was backed by the state's congressional delegation, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and key unions.
Bronin, 47, built a serious challenge around a call for generational change, arguing that President Donald Trump's second term demanded new energy and a new direction from Democratic lawmakers. He outraised Larson and won over party activists at the state convention, capturing the state party's endorsement.
Larson is the 10th House member to lose a primary this year: seven Democrats and three Republicans.
"In this moment, when Donald Trump is president, the job of a member of Congress isn't just in the subcommittee rooms, it's what you are doing outside the walls of the Capitol to build a movement," Bronin said in a late May interview. He added that it was important for Democrats in Congress to use their platform "not just to give red-faced speeches to an empty chamber for the C-SPAN cameras, but to ... carry our message, to win people back who lost faith in our party."
Asked Monday on NBC News' "Meet the Press Now" about the push for generational change in his party, Larson said, "I think the change that we need is to continue to go after Donald Trump," and pointed to his own record.
"I have the endorsement of more elected officials, every sitting member in the congressional delegation, because they understand what I've been able to deliver," Larson said. "Luke Bronin has no record. I'm running on a record of accomplishment and achievement."
Bronin responded that Larson had been in office "for about 50 years, and for the last 10 years or so, I just think he's gotten stuck in a routine." He added: "This is not a moment that we can keep doing the same thing."
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
