Southington Democrat Jack Perry challenges Larson, pledges $500k of his own money. Trash hauler denied he had a hand in March poll on Larson.

Jack Perry, a Southington Democrat, became the second member of his party to announce he is running for his party’s 2026 nomination in the First Congressional District. Perry joins Hartford school board member Ruth R. Fortune in the growing contest to challenge 14-term Democratic incumbent John Larson.

Daily Ructions reported in March that Perry was included in a survey asking respondents their choice from a long list in a Democratic primary that included Larson and 10 other Democrats, including Perry in the pole positing against Larson. Contacted at the time, Perry said he knew nothing of the poll. It did not include Luke Bronin, the former Hartford mayor seen as Larson’s most formidable potential challenger. It did include state Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), who sounds tempted nearly beyond her strength to jump in to what may be an epic contest–and the state’s first primary challenge of a Democratic member of the House since primaries were enacted more than 50 years ago.

The prospect of five candidates vying for delegate support could complicate next year’s town committee elections. Candidates will want to win 15% of the delegate votes in order to avoid the time consuming and expensive task of collecting thousands of signatures to qualify for the primary ballot. Town committees choose the delegates to the convention and that could cause some intense contests within local party organizations. It will also require Larson to measure his support in many of the district’s 27 party committees.

Gilchrest is popular in West Hartford, one of the district’s powerhouses. Bronin should be able to count on the large Hartford delegation and several other towns where he has successfully cultivated support.

Published July 23, 2025.