Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin defeated longtime U.S. Rep. John B. Larson on Tuesday night to win the Democratic nomination for Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District, ending Larson’s 28-year tenure in the U.S. House.

By Mia Jaworski 

In Tuesday’s Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin won 53.5% of the vote to incumbent U.S. Rep. John Larson’s 34.7%, according to the unofficial primary results. Before 10 p.m., Larson conceded the race.

The victory puts Bronin, who had received the Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year after three rounds of voting at the party convention, in a position to face Republican Amy Chai in the Nov. 3 general election. Bronin will not become the district’s representative unless he wins the general election.

Speaking at his victory celebration at J Under the Dome in Hartford, Bronin called for a new direction for the Democratic Party, emphasizing what he described as a need for greater energy, courage and ambition.

“We need to build a Democratic Party that will bring a whole new energy to this fight,” Bronin said.

He said Democrats should be “courageous and bold and clear about what we are fighting for and who we are fighting for.”

Bronin outlined a vision that included making health care and housing more affordable, lowering child care costs, expanding renewable energy, improving infrastructure and addressing the risks and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

He also called for protecting children, guarding against the loss of jobs and pursuing policies that demonstrate what the country is capable of accomplishing.

“We are capable of making these big changes,” Bronin said.

Bronin also paid tribute to Larson and his nearly five decades in public service, which included positions on the East Hartford Board of Education and Town Council, service in the Connecticut Senate and nearly 30 years in Congress.

“Throughout this campaign, I have said that John Larson is a good man who has devoted his whole life to making life better for other people,” Bronin said. “Anyone who knows Congressman Larson knows he wears a small pin on his lapel with the portrait of John F. Kennedy. And he has lived out President Kennedy’s words, asking not what our country could do for him, but what he could do for our country,” said Bronin.

“As a constituent, as a Democrat, as someone who partnered with him as mayor, I’m grateful for his service. He’s earned all of our respect and gratitude.”

Bronin also thanked state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and Ruth Fortune, who also competed in the Democratic primary.

“I also want to recognize Jillian Gilchrest and thank her for running a great race and for nearly a decade of service in the state legislature, and I want to congratulate Ruth Fortune for the determination and perspective she brought to this campaign and for her service in Hartford,” Bronin said.

“To everyone who supported John, Jillian, Ruth, or didn’t vote, it is now my job to earn your trust and your vote. I take that responsibility seriously, and I’m going to work every day between now and November to do it.”

Larson, in his concession speech, said he appreciated the trust and friendship of his supporters over his years in Congress. He vowed to continue to fight against the administration of President Donald Trump for the remainder of his time in office.

“We still have a lot of fight left and a lot to be done,” said Larson. “I intend to fulfill my responsibility until the last day.”

Gilchrest, a West Hartford resident who currently serves in the State House, representing the 18th District, also thanked her supporters after the race.

“I’m grateful to all the volunteers and supporters who believed in our campaign. I’ll keep pushing for a Democratic Party that takes action to represent the needs of the people and for campaign finance reform,” said Gilchrest, who received roughly 8% of the overall vote in the race.

Bronin closed his speech by emphasizing the responsibility ahead and the need for Democrats to turn their campaign promises into action.

He said the belief that “we still have the ability to do big things for the common good” will guide his work in the months ahead.

“We refuse to wait because there is too much at stake,” Bronin said.

According to the unofficial results reported to the Secretary of the State, Bronin was the winner in all 1st District towns other than Larson’s hometown of East Hartford and the small town of Hartland. As of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, results for Cromwell and Hartford had not yet been posted.

Bronin will now turn his attention to the November general election, where he will seek to carry his primary momentum into a campaign to represent Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District.

Kate Santini, CTNewsJunkie, contributed to this story.

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