CT-01: Democrats head to August primary in 1st Congressional District after convention produces rare incumbent upset

Incumbent John Larson (D), Luke Bronin (D), Jillian Gilchrest (D), and three other candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Connecticut's 1st Congressional District on August 11, 2026. The filing deadline is June 9, 2026. As of May 2026, Larson, Bronin, and Gilchrest led in endorsements, fundraising, and local media attention.

At the May 2026 Democratic nominating convention, Larson, Bronin, and Gilchrest each received the 15% of the vote necessary to appear on the primary ballot. Bronin placed first with 51.2% of the vote in the final round.

The Hartford Courant's Christopher Keating said, "Bronin pulled off a stunning upset by defeating longtime U.S. Rep. John B. Larson at the Congressional convention." CT Insider's Dan Haar said, "Never in Connecticut's history, or so it is said, had a political party snubbed a sitting member of Congress vying to stay in office." The Connecticut Mirror's Mark Pazniokas and Lisa Hagen said Gilchrest "qualified for the primary ... with the help of Larson allies who prefer a three-way primary to a one-on-one fight with Bronin."

Larson was elected in 1998. He was a member of the Connecticut Senate from 1986 to 1998 and of the East Hartford Town Council from 1979 to 1983. Larson's campaign website says he has "delivered real results and real solutions on big issues – like infrastructure, and health care reform – and on local issues – helping over 17,500 constituents with problems involving veteran’s affairs, social security, immigration, and more." The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) endorsed Larson.





https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/05/26/connecticut-democrats-head-to-august-primary-in-1st-congressional-district-after-convention-produces-rare-incumbent-upset/