Hayes Wins Easily Wins Democratic Endorsement; Bronin Wins Upset Against Larson; Possible 3 Way Primary in 1st CD

Photojournalism by Dr Frank Gerratana. Cover photo by Dr Frank Gerratana. Staff reports.

US Rep Jahana Hayes (D-5) easily won the Democratic endorsement for re-election, but longtime US Rep John Larson (D-1) narrowly lost the Democratic endorsement to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin (D).

Both votes were at the Democratic Party Congressional district conventions, held yesterday in the first of Democratic endorsement conventions for different offices this week, culminating in the state Democratic Convention on Saturday. Republicans will hold their Congressional and state conventions on Saturday, as well.

Party conventions are a longstanding part of the major party nomination processes in Connecticut. At the conventions, delegates chosen from local party committees meet statewide or for federal or multi-town state legislative districts to endorse candidates for different offices.

If a candidate endorsed at a party convention is not challenged in a party primary, they become the official party nominee. Challengers can qualify for a primary by gaining 15% of the delegate vote at the party convention or a certain number of petition signatures. If there is a primary, the voters who are members of their party choose their party nominee in the primary election.

As reported by the CT Mirror, Bronin won the nomination at the convention on the second ballot. The CT Mirror reported that State Rep Jillian Gilchrest (D-18) succeeded in gaining the 15% of the delegate vote during the first ballot and withdrew before the second ballot. “In a two-way race, Bronin beat Larson on the second ballot, 51.2% to 48.8%,” the CT Mirror reported.

That means that there could be a three-way Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District, with Bronin, Larson and Gilchrest as candidates.

Far from the drama in the 1st Congressional District, Rep Hayes easily won the Democratic Party endorsement in the 5th Congressional District and appears headed to be the Democratic Party nominee for re-election.