EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Connecticut Democrats held conventions Monday evening to endorse candidates for five U.S. House of Representatives seats.
The conventions took place at locations in each of the five congressional districts.
The 1st Congressional District convention in East Hartford started at 6 p.m. Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin beat incumbent Democratic Rep. John Larson by 10 votes to secure the party’s endorsement.
Things were calm at the start, but when delegates began voting, it started shaking things up.
Larson was up 13 points over Bronin and Jillian Gilchrest seemed to have gotten the 15% of the votes she needed to be on the primary ballot. Ruth Fortune didn’t have enough to go forward.
When the delegates started switching, Larson was tense. Bronin, on the other hand, was more relaxed and also working the crowd.
“I want to be clear about one thing. What we have witnessed here in this convention hall is a political earthquake,” said Bronin. “What you saw tonight was how strong the hunger for change is out there. And this sends a powerful, powerful message.”
Larson has held the seat since 1999 and didn’t win the convention for the first time in his nearly 30 year career. Bronin announced his campaign in July 2025.
Bronin waged a tough campaign and has spent a lot of money. Both candidates have raised over $1 million.
“This is democracy at work, this is the first step, and now I think it’s going to be mayberry versus Greenwich. We are in the fight on behalf of the working people that I have served for 28 years in the us congress,” said Larson.
State Representative Jillian Gilchrest got enough votes to force a primary with Larson and Bronin.
“People still think money equals viability, but it’s getting out there, talking to folks and making relationships and people want a different kind of politics and I hope they see that in me,” she said.
Mike Pohl, the democratic chair of the Manchester delegation, feels that rocking the boat isn’t a good thing.
“The strongest congressional delegation that we have ever had in in Washington right now. Why would we want to change that,” he said.
Bronin was mayor of Hartford from 2016 to 2024.
The democratic primary is on August 11th.
This story is breaking. Stay with Channel 3 for updates.
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