Luke Bronin in his campaign video: Source: Twitter

It’s Happening!

Luke Bronin, the former mayor of Hartford, released a campaign video Tuesday morning announcing a primary challenge to 14-term incumbent John Larson.

Overview

On Monday, I dropped an article discussing the prospects of multiple challengers to Congressman John Larson. I discussed the potential candidacies of Luke Bronin and State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, who could potentially join a crowded field with Hartford Board of Ed Member Ruth Fortune and Southington Town Councilor Jack Perry.

Now, Bronin has officially thrown his hat in the ring. He is currently Larson’s strongest challenger and will make Larson work for a potential 15th term in Congress.

Larson and Bronin

Larson was reportedly shocked when Bronin asked him to consider retirement. He said, “I thought he was kidding”. When Larson said he was going to run, Bronin told him he was going to run against him.

Larson told a dig at Bronin, offering a “new voice”. He said “You know, it takes work. It takes effort. It takes a plan. We’ve got them, and we’re going to deliver on it,” Larson said. “When you run for public office, it’s about what you’ve been able to deliver, what you’re currently working on today, and what your vision is for the future. What was Mr. Bronin’s?”

Bronin later remarked that he didn’t feel that Larson has the sense of urgency necessary. Larson told reporters how they don’t cover social security enough and the importance of the issue (and his bill on it), saying if Democrats win the House in 2026, he’ll regain his chairmanship.

However, he was unable to win passage when Democrats had unified control in 2021 and 2009, and Democrats won’t have control in 2026. Larson insisted that social security reforms were still possibly, and said next week, a bill will be dropped that addresses it, “first time a leader in the House of Representatives in more than 50 years has been out in front.”. He also hinted that Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies will come to Connecticut on his behalf.

The dam is broken in a state where ambitious politicians have long deferred to the state’s top officials, waiting for an open seat or opportunity. Larson was waltzing his way to another term, waiting to announce a campaign after local elections in November, as he only needs minimal fundraising in this safe Harris 61-38 district. However, these challenges have changed everything, and Larson announced a campaign kickoff next month, but told everyone he will be running again, and that he’s the best for the job.

Personal Background

Luke Bronin grew up in the wealthy communities of Rye, NY, and Greenwich, CT. The son of a doctor and a former teacher. Bronin grew up attending the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He lated attended recieved his undergraduate degree and law degree from Yale University. He was also a Rhodes Scholar.

Bronin has had many jobs before he became mayor.

He worked as the chief of staff for the president and property casualty operations at the Hartford Financial Services Group. Bronin worked at the US Department of the Treasury during the Obama administration. He was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes. His work involved working on the government’s efforts against regimes in Syria and Iran, blocking money from terrorist groups.

He served in the US Navy Reserve during a deployment in Afghanistan for six months, where he was part of an anti-corruption task force.

Just before his mayoral campaign, he worked as part of then-Gov. Dannell Malloy’s general counsel. He was also a partner in the law firm Hinckley Allen.

Hartford Mayoral Race in 2015

Bronin moved to Hartford in 2006 when his former wife, Sara, got a job the University of Connecticut School of Law. He left in 2009, for work in Washington, D.C, and in Afghanistan. He returned to the city in 2013.

Bronin challenged incumbent Mayor Pedro Seggara in 2015. The city of Hartford has faced many issues over the previous years. In 2010, Mayor Eddie Perez resigned after a conviction on corruption charges. Perez was known as exerting a huge control over the city.

Interestingly, Seggara was known as the opposite. Though he won the 2011 mayoral race, Seggara received a poor reputation as an executive and had poor relations with many of the state’s leaders. He was also seen as a weaker leader.

Seggara used tactics that will likely be used against Bronin in his congressional campaign, such as attacking his privileged upbringing, his background, and the fact that he was an outsider with weak ties to the city. Though it did not work, some of the attacks stuck with Bronin throughout his tenure.

In September of 2015, as expected, Bronin emerged victorious and won the Mayoral Race 55-45 over Seggara.

Mayoral Tenure

Dunkin Park in 2023. A huge economic benefit and developmental liability faced by Hartford: Source: Hartford Courant

Bronin faced immediate issues in a city that faced with some of the poorest precincts in the country. The city’s challenges were endless and difficult to contend with.

Bronin’s biggest accomplishment was likely leading the city out of the verge of bankruptcy by winning passage of state-financed bailout in 2017. He was also able to get business leaders and surrounding suburban communities on his side of the issue, agreeing to help out the city.

Ned Lamont praised Bronin’s tenure in 2022 as he announced he was stepping down. Lamont praised Bronin on helping many business stay in the area, and his better relationships with officals allowed Bronin to secure funding for the city’s infrastructure.

The city has also had many recent development areas for business and new housing. An aggressive push for mixed-income housing occurred. Through this, many communitiy intitvatives have taken place to help discconected youth. Bronin also received praise for his COVID-19 response and his style in informing city residents of the crisis,

Some debate if Bronin really solved the fiscal crisis or just convinced the state to pay for it. There was a debate from many people in surrounding areas whether they had to pay for Hartford’s mishandling of finances prior to Bronin’s tenure. Nevertheless, he’s been given credit for the city’s improved financial situation.

Bronin has also faced criticism for labor relations, due to his initial proposed concessions with city unions. In addition, gun violence and crime remained a large issue through his tenure with a spike occuring soon after the start of the pandemic. The city also faced isues from the developers of the Hartford Yard Goats stadium, and how the pandemic affected office buildings downtown.

Some critics also point to Bronin’s push for market race housing which was not seen as effective. Some felt he should have focused more against landlords.

Strengths of Candidacy

• Profile: Bronin has an appealing profile as a young elected official with a lot of experience. He served in the Treasury Department, had a tour in Afghanistan, and was a Rhodes Scholar. This could allow voters to be comforted by someone who is new, yet very experienced.
• Generational Change: Bronin is more than 30 years younger than Larson. Local voters will be happy to see an experienced candidate who is young and energetic. Bronin says an important reason on primarying Larson is the importance of communication through social media and other means. He says good policy does not get you as far in this environment. I believe this is a good argument to start with. But he has to put out content and positions that prove this point. Bronin, however, is ambitious and has been his entire career, so his energy to the race can help him.
• Connections: Bronin is a state staple who is well-known for being close with elected officials across the state in the district. Some say that he is good at connecting with others. Others note that he has kept up good relations with many leaders in the district, attending events, and keeping up connections. This can help him, as many other leaders in the district will endorse Larson. He can possibly get some endorsements from Hartford and the surrounding areas.
• Name ID and Fundraising: Looking at Bronin’s other opponents. Ruth Fortune and Jack Perry face massive issues in their name ID. No one knows who they are. Bronin’s leadership of the capital city and bid for governor in 2018 make him much more well-known to voters of the local area. Even if State Rep. Gilchrest jumps in, Bronin starts out ahead on a name ID level. For Democratic primary voters, this will help him more. In addition, during his 2015 mayoral campaign, Bronin prepared early and raised more than $800,000 against the incumbent, so his fundraising chops will come in handy for this race.
• First Significant Challenger: Though Larson has other challengers, Bronin is much more well-known than the others. This allows him an early start on fundraising and gives him the mantra of Larson’s main challenger. If someone else jumps in, they would have to compete with the others’ fundraising, with pressure for one of them to drop out to consolidate the Anti-Larson vote.

Weaknessess

• Profile: This can go both ways. Bronin will need to contend with his affluent upbringing and work to carefully make a profile to make residents believe he can understand their issues. Bronin shielded these attacks in 2015 by noting the difficult upbringing faced by his parents and family, and how they worked hard to give him a better life. How can he contend this in 2025, which will likely be similar, but involve a different angle. Bronin, a white-male guy in his 40s, needs to explain to a party of base voters that he can understand the plight of racial minorities in a district with a growing minority population. In addition, Bronin will need to be careful about fundraising, ensuring he gets it from small donors and not corporations or rich donors. Finally, Bronin will need to be careful to not hold an establishment reputation. Though that sentiment decrease with his challenge in the first place, people want someone new, not someone of the past. Bronin will need to prove that he is different than the current Democrats of Washington.
• Big-City Mayor: Being a mayor of a big city as its pros and cons. Facing systemic problems faced by the poorest of state residents is difficult. The city’s crime rates were high. Bronin will have to defend his mayoral tenure, faced by questions about the city’s schools and crime. A city that has faced scrutiny for it. In addition, many public comments about mistakes and governing abilities are likely due to the size of the city. Can Bronin said he made the city better than it was when he left during his eight-year tenure. If he struggles with this answer, people will question why they should make him a congressman.
• Ambition: Political opportunism is common in politics. But how people view is all dependent on the candidate. It’s no secret that Bronin wants to run for governor instead. Will voters not feel like he actually wants to be their congressman over higher aspirations? We won’t know this until the campaign kicks off in earnest.
• 5-Way Race: If this race were between Bronin and Larson, it could be much closer. If Gilchrest jumps into the race, and due to her more progressive reputation in the legislature, is able to take that mantle from Bronin as the change that is needed. She will dominate fundraising nationally over him. Bronin will get caught between them. However, a multi-way race will likely benefit Larson, who can win with a plurality of the vote.

Conclusion

This is a very different environment from when Bronin won his 2015 Democratic primary for mayor. He had the city’s establishment and leaders behind him. He will likely not enjoy that privilege this time. CT Mirror’s Mark Paznikos reports that since Larson’s issues earlier in the year, and the threat of challenges, he’s looks as energetic as ever running around the district.

Larson is a staple in the district. Explaining to voters why they should toss out an incumbent for age reasons only isn’t enough if Larson can prove he’s more effective.

Larson will sweep endorsements of the state’s federal delegation, likely. Local endorsements may vary, as Bronin definitely can get some endorsements from the city. Bronin has a good chance to make this a competitive race, but he needs to clearly define himself as more than a generational change.

Though this is a good start, he needs to start taking positions and try new ideas that either Larson hasn’t talked about, or that his opponents haven’t seized on. Whether it’s a national policy or a local policy, Using his current profile to make himself the favorite of the people willing to vote for change will be necessary.

Most importantly, he needs to do this before (and if) Gilchrest jumps into the race, and seize on this energy. Since Gilchrest has more reputation as a progressive, if that’s the direction he chooses, he needs to affirm if before he gets caught in the middle between her and Larson. If Gilchrest doesn’t jump in, he still needs to build a profile that can appeal to a wide range of residents.

He has a chance to change the dynamics of this district. What I’m sure of he will give Larson a good race. How far can he go?

We have to wait to see how his campaign takes off and the positions he takes. Importantly, how his opponents and Larson will navigate this new field.

Thanks for Reading!