How did Larson lose big and Lamont win big? It's complicated, experts say
Democrats ousted 14-term Rep. John Larson in favor of a much younger candidate, promising generational change. Those same voters opted to stick with 72-year-old Gov. Ned Lamont.
More Stories
John Larson is 78 years old. Gov. Ned Lamont is 72.
Both are establishment Democrats.
But only one of them survived Tuesday’s primary election.
So how did Lamont pull it off and buck a national trend?
There's not one single answer, political observers said.
POLITICAL SHOCKWAVE
It’s the political earthquake making waves from Connecticut to California.
Luke Bronin, the former Hartford mayor, toppled the 14-term congressman by a huge margin. Bronin, who is 47, argued that Larson is symbolic of a broken system in Washington.
“If we are going to fix this mess that we’re in, we need to build a Democratic Party that’s bringing a whole new energy to this fight," Bronin told supporters.
Larson is just the latest establishment Democrat ousted by voters. In New York City, longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat lost his primary challenge to a Democratic Socialist backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“There's still a lot of fight left and a lot to be done, and I intend fulfill my responsibility to the last day,” Larson said.
LARSON LOSES, BUT LAMONT WINS
While Larson lost big, Lamont scored an overwhelming victory over a younger progressive, state Rep. Josh Elliott.
Primary voters told News 12 that after seven years, they trust Lamont.
“I think he’s done a great job,” said Bridgeport voter Andree Halcott. “Definitely going to vote for him.”
Lamont’s campaign heard that, too.
“It was really about turning out our base – people who know the governor and support him,” said Lauren Gray, the Lamont campaign’s communications director. “One message we got today, ‘You were with us through COVID. You were with us through so much.’”
While Bronin is well-known across the state, Elliott suffered from a lack of name recognition.
“Who’s this guy? Who is he?” Bridgeport voter Tony Mastronardi said. “The guy against [Lamont], I don't even know who he is.”
Despite their age difference, the Connecticut Democratic Party chair thinks that Bronin and Lamont actually have a lot in common in terms of policy and experience.
“Former Mayor Bronin is somebody who comes with experience. He has a track record and folks are ready for his energy, too,” said Roberto Alves, who is also mayor Danbury. “Connecticut is [also] very unique. So, 169 different municipalities – 169 different ideas. The first congressional [district] has their own.”
