Longtime Congressman John Larson, D-1st District, announced Friday morning his intentions to run for a 13th term.
Larson, 73, sits on the influential House Ways and Means Committee as its chairman and has represented the First District, which includes Hartford, since 1999. Larson also chaired the Democratic caucus during the 111th and 112th Congress.
“I’ve traveled throughout the towns of the First District, listening to the concerns of the people who live and work here,” Larson said in a statement. “I am focused on the challenges they face in their daily lives. It is those challenges that reinforce my commitment to public service, and to helping the people of Connecticut… The heart of this job is helping people, listening to their concerns, understanding their problems, and working to ease their burdens.”
This week Larson voted for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. He also recently voted for the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes $17 million for the Connecticut Air National Guard at Bradley Airport.
To date, Democrat Muad Hrezi, a teacher and a progressive challenger, has announced plans to challenge the Democratic incumbent. Insurance agent Andrew Legnani was a primary challenger, but has since dropped out and thrown his support behind Hrezi. The primary will be held Aug. 9 this year and the general election is Nov. 8. To date, no Republicans have announced their intentions to challenge Larson.
