Democrat who froze up on House floor faces primary challenge
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Rep. John Larson exits the U.S. Capitol on July 23. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), the 77-year-old who froze up during a House floor speech in February due to what his staff said was a partial seizure, is now facing a primary challenger.
Why it matters: Like many of the younger insurgents trying to unseat longtime incumbents, challenger Luke Bronin is running explicitly on a message of generational change.
- "I respect people who have served in Congress for decades, but at a certain point, it's just time to let some new voices in," Bronin, 46, said in a video launching his campaign.
- Larson has served in Congress for more than 25 years, having been first elected in 1998.
State of play: Bronin, an Afghanistan veteran and lawyer, served as the mayor of Hartford from 2016 to 2024.
- In his launch video, Bronin channels the growing grassroots frustration with Democratic lawmakers, saying: "We have to change the way we're doing things, and we don't have time to wait."
- "I'm worried about our Democratic Party," he says. "If we're going to win back what we lost to Donald Trump, we need a party that's ... aggressive and clear about what we're fighting for and who we're fighting for."
The other side: "Congressman Larson is running for re-election and looks forward to formally launching his campaign later this month," Larson's campaign said in a statement.
- "The decision voters make will ultimately be about who is delivering for them and who has a plan for the future," the statement continued. "John is standing up for the residents of Connecticut's First District to take on Donald Trump every day."
- The congressman previously served in Democratic leadership and was chair of the House Democratic caucus during the first half of the Obama administration.
What to watch: Larson could face a tough battle to keep his seat, as Bronin has a past electoral record and Hartford is the largest population center in his district.
- Larson's health could be an obstacle for him as well, following the partial seizure that caused him to freeze up during a House floor speech, which his staff initially attributed to an "adverse reaction" to new medication.
- Larson said in a statement at the time that he had a heart valve replacement 15 years ago due to "a variation in the shape of my aortic valve that I was born with," which can later result in symptoms such as a "momentary change in speech or movement."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
