Longtime Democratic Rep.John Larson’s defeat in Connecticut on Tuesday makes him the 10th House incumbent to lose a primary so far this cycle — an unusually high figure that comes as Democrats push their leaders to pass the torch to a new, more progressive generation and Republicans continue to reckon with a party rebuilt in President Donald Trump’s image.
That’s layering on top of extra, mid-decade redistricting, which has driven yet more instability by packing some districts with a handful of new voters with no loyalty to their incumbent representative.Taken together, it’s why more incumbents have lost primaries this election cycle than any year since 1970, national redistricting years excepted.
Seeking a new generation of leadersLarson, 78, had been a member of party leadership and collected powerful Democratic allies over four decades in Connecticut politics.But he immediately found himself on defense when former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin jumped into the race, with the 47-year-old calling for new urgency among Democrats and for voters to turn the page.
Bronin proved to be a strong fundraiser and drew significant support from wealthy allies.The challenger framed his candidacy as one that was better positioned to meet the energy and gravity of the moment, ultimately winning the support of a majority of primary voters.
“It’s so important to have Democratic members of Congress using that platform not just to give red face speeches to an empty chamber for the C-SPAN cameras, but to … carry our message, to win people back who lost faith in our party,” he told NBC News in an interview in May.“Congressional seats were not meant to be lifetime appointments and the Democratic Party would be so much stronger if we had more people who recognize that part of leadership is knowing when it’s time to pass the torch,” Bronin added.
Age has been a key dynamic in a slew of challenges to incumbent Democrats this year — some successful, some unsucces...