U.S. Rep. John B. Larson is facing a possible reelection challenge next year from former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin that would represent Larson’s toughest race since winning the seat in 1998.

Bronin told Democratic colleagues in conversations at the Women’s Leadership Annual Lunch in Southington that he is considering challenging Larson, according to Hartford Courant columnist Kevin F. Rennie. Bronin had previously been considering running for governor, particularly if Gov. Ned Lamont decided not to run for a third term. While Lamont has not officially announced his intentions, Bronin’s consideration of avoiding the governor’s race “is another sign that Lamont is likely to run again,” Rennie said in his political blog.

Bronin would be the highest-profile challenger in years for Larson, who has won 14 consecutive elections. As a graduate of Yale Law School, a Rhodes Scholar, and a U.S. Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan, Bronin has a wide range of contacts and has shown his fundraising prowess when he won the Democratic primary for mayor in Hartford by unseating incumbent Pedro Segarra.

Bronin declined to comment Wednesday on his future plans, but those familiar with his thinking say he has been making phone calls to fellow Democrats and is “seriously considering” running against Larson.

Larson’s spokesman said flatly that Larson, who turns 77 years old next week, is definitely seeking reelection.

“Congressman Larson spoke directly with Luke Bronin and said that he was running,” said Charles Perosino, a spokesman for Larson’s campaign. “We don’t typically make a formal announcement until after the municipal elections, but he has made it clear to everyone, including Luke, that he will be running for reelection.”

Larson’s health became an issue in February when he suddenly froze during a televised speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as he suffered a “complex partial seizure” that raised concerns.

Larson underwent tests and said later that the event was related to a heart valve replacement he had years earlier.

“Fifteen years ago, I had a heart valve replacement due to a variation in the shape of my aortic valve that I was born with. Sometimes, people with this condition can later develop symptoms such as the momentary change in speech or movement that was apparent yesterday,” Larson said in a statement at the time. “The doctors have prescribed medication that, according to them, will greatly reduce the chance of this happening again.”

He suffered a second incident in April during a press conference at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, where he paused again during an answer before recovering and soon after having his picture taken with other attendees.

Larson issued another statement on that incident: “As I shared in February, I recently received a diagnosis, and have been prescribed medication to treat it. I appreciate you reaching out with your concerns,” the statement said. “I spoke to my doctors out of precaution and have been assured by my medical providers that I am on the appropriate therapy and while I understand your concern, I assure you that I am fine and am continuing to follow medical advice.”

Larson and Bronin did not discuss the issue of Larson’s health during their meeting, officials said.

Recently, Larson has delivered his brand of fiery speeches and pointed remarks, including recently on Medicaid cuts at the Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford. He blasted President Donald Trump for signing an executive order to cut federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, saying it followed a long-running pattern of attempting to silence criticism.

“They didn’t want a voice or voices that are critical of the king,” Larson said. “That was the King of England. Today, it’s King Trump.”

Larson added, “What’s the truth? Who will tell the truth? We will. But the media will fact-check and follow through and help the public understand exactly what’s going on here. … Rise up, America! Rise up and speak up!”

Another candidate, Hartford school board member and attorney Ruth R. Fortune, has filed official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run against Larson as a Democrat.

After emigrating to the United States at age 12 from Haiti, Fortune grew up in the Nassau County town of Westbury on Long Island. She graduated from Baruch College in Manhattan and later received a law degree from the University of Connecticut.

A Hartford resident since 2012, she has two children attending the Hartford public schools and a younger sibling starting pre-K this year. A former financial adviser at Merrill Lynch, she now works at the law firm of Wiggin and Dana in the trust and estates department.

Courtney, Hayes, and DeLauro

Besides the Larson race, challengers are stepping forward against Connecticut’s longtime officeholders across the state with less than 16 months from Election Day.

The incumbents have repeatedly won their races every two years, but the challengers are trying to break that streak. Democrats have won all Congressional races in Connecticut since Republican Chris Shays lost in 2008 to Democrat Jim Himes of Greenwich.

In other races, Democrat Kyle Gauck of East Hampton has filed paperwork to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, who has won every race since defeating Republican Rob Simmons in 2006. Courtney had $353,976 in cash on hand as of March 31, while Gauck had less than $1,000 on hand as of June 30, according to federal records.

“A military veteran, Kyle enlisted in 2010, serving as a specialist with the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Ky,” he says on his campaign website. “During his service, he deployed to the Kuwait/Iraq border in 2013 and completed 87 jumps between helicopters and planes. His military service shaped his strong sense of duty, leadership, and resilience — qualities he now brings to his campaign.”

Gauck continued, “Now a local business-minded Democrat working on his MBA from UCONN, Kyle is focused on real-world solutions for working families. … Whether it’s improving healthcare, supporting local businesses, or ensuring a safer, stronger future for the next generation, Kyle is ready to serve with the same passion that has defined every chapter of his life. He’s not interested in partisanship — he’s running to serve, not to score political points.”

In the 5th District, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes of Wolcott is seeking reelection after two tough races in 2022 and 2024 against Republican George Logan. Republicans believed that they had their best chance in years to recapture the seat but Hayes won both races against Logan, and is facing new challengers in 2026.

A newcomer named Jackson Taddeo-Waite has filed federal paperwork as a Democrat in the race, while Jonathan DeBarros of the Terryville section of Plymouth is seeking the Republican nomination as a conservative supporter of the Second Amendment.

After the hotly contested races against Logan, two well-respected political analysts in Washington, D.C. say that the Hayes seat is currently “likely Democratic” in the 2026 election.

As of this month, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rated the 5th District as “likely Democratic,” as did Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball. Both prognosticators have been closely watched by political insiders for years as they handicap political races across the country and have a longtime record of overall accuracy.

State Republican chairman Ben Proto noted that Democrats are challenging their own longtime incumbents in potential primaries across the state. Aside from Congress, that includes state Rep. Josh Elliott against Gov. Ned Lamont on a platform that Lamont has not been progressive enough on taxes and other issues.

“I find it interesting that people are coming after members of the Congressional delegation — running to their left,” Proto told The Courant. “Clearly, they don’t think the Democrats in Washington are liberal enough or progressive enough. I find that amazing. With Josh Elliott and the governor, they’re running to the left of Democrats is what the Democratic Party is doing. It’s pretty interesting in this state.”

The dean of the delegation, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of New Haven, is running again for her long-held seat. DeLauro, 82, will be battling against Democrat Damjan DeNoble, a New Haven attorney who lives in Guilford with his family.

Based on DeLauro’s popularity, her series of blowout victories by wide margins, and the overwhelming Democratic registration in the district, the ratings agencies say she is a prohibitive favorite. The seat is rated by the Cook report as “solid Democratic” and by Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball as “safe Democratic.”

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