Hartford Courant [Op-ed]: “With the stakes so high, we can’t afford weaker representation”
“While Bronin is facing opposition from labor, John Larson is one of the strongest advocates for labor and working families in Congress.”
East Hartford, CT — In a new op-ed, Manchester Democratic Town Committee Chair Mike Pohl explains why this race matters and why Connecticut needs experienced, proven leadership at a time when rising costs are squeezing working families. Pohl highlights Congressman John Larson’s long history of delivering for the state, from standing with labor and protecting tens of thousands of union jobs to bringing federal investment home and leading fights against Donald Trump.
Pohl also points to how that record translates at the ballot box, noting that Larson regularly earns more than 60 percent of the vote and outperformed the top of the ticket in 2024 — showing the deep trust voters place in his record and leadership.
In contrast, Pohl writes that “we can’t afford weaker representation from a candidate who is less engaged in the district,” pointing to Luke Bronin’s strained relationship with labor and watered-down leadership that lacks the record of success, relationships in Congress, and position of power needed to deliver real results.
See what people in the First District are reading:
Hartford Courant [Opinion]: Why Connecticut needs proven leadership in Congress
By Mike Pohl, 12/23/25
At a moment when Connecticut families are under real economic pressure and threatened by Donald Trump’s chaos, this election must be laser-focused on who is fighting for you and who will deliver for you.
That’s the standard that should guide any conversation about who represents us in Washington.
Measured against that test, voters in Connecticut’s First District are fortunate to have a relentless fighter, with deep ties in our communities in Rep. John Larson. He’s focused on making life more affordable and leading fights against Donald Trump.
Conversely, Luke Bronin’s case simply doesn’t hold up.
With the stakes so high, we can’t afford weaker representation from a candidate who is less engaged in the district. Bronin says he shares many of the same policy positions, but those positions come without the record of success, relationships in Congress, or position of power needed to deliver.
We don’t need a watered down version of the strong representation we already have.
And truth be told, there are some real differences. While Bronin is facing opposition from labor, John Larson is one of the strongest advocates for labor and working families in Congress.
He has joined unions on the picket line, passed bills with incentives to create union jobs, and created and protected tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, including over 20,000 union jobs at Pratt & Whitney by protecting the F135 engine program.
Larson’s ferocious advocacy for Connecticut, from bringing federal funds to help build affordable housing, to fighting to lower health care costs, to protecting Social Security is why Connecticut voters have overwhelmingly supported him election after election.
In 2024, he outperformed the top of the ticket, continuing a long pattern of drawing broad, durable backing across the district. He’s regularly won at least 60 percent of the vote, a clear signal that Democratic voters trust him to deliver and to fight for their priorities.
That trust wasn’t granted by accident. It was earned.
Against that backdrop, the argument for replacing a proven advocate for a candidate who lacks the same depth of connection to the district, hasn’t demonstrated an ability to deliver results, and appears to view the seat as a stepping stone rather than a responsibility is hard to justify. Now is not the time to weaken our own voice.
Standing up for working people requires leaders who can win these fights.
John Larson has been doing the work. His record makes that clear. At this moment, we cannot afford to settle for less.
Mike Pohl is the Democratic Town Committee chair in Manchester and a resident of the First Congressional District.
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