By Chris Powell
Why are the three most senior members of Connecticut’s all-Democratic five-member delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives apparently facing primary challenges for renomination next year?
Are Connecticut Democrats as far left as Gov. Lamont’s rival?
Hartford, Bridgeport schools urgently need state takeover
State government’s growth causes record spending on lobbyists
In the 1st District, the Hartford area, a member of Hartford’s Board of Education, Ruth R. Fortune, unknown outside the city, has filed to deny the Democratic endorsement to U.S. Rep. John B. Larson. Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a heavy hitter politically, is said to be thinking about trying to do the same thing.
In the 2nd District, eastern Connecticut, Kyle Gauck of East Hampton, another unknown, wants to wrest the Democratic nomination from U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney.
In the 3rd District, the New Haven area, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is being challenged for another Democratic nomination by a lawyer from the city, Damjan DeNoble.
Why?
The challengers haven’t criticized the incumbents on issues or ideologies. Larson, Courtney, and DeLauro are traditional liberals in the Democratic mainstream with long records of success in their districts. Larson is in his 13th term, Courtney his ninth, and DeLauro her 17th. Only one seems ever to have had a close election for Congress, Courtney’s first in 2006. Any substantial dissatisfaction with them in the party has yet to manifest itself.
If there will be issues for a primary, one could be age. Larson is 76, Courtney 72, and DeLauro 82.
Yet all three remain vigorous. In February while speaking in the House, Larson froze briefly as if he was having a stroke. But he said it was an adverse reaction to medication and he has manifested no problem since.
Thomas Jefferson was thinking about a politician in Connecticut in 1801 when he wrote what was turned into the aphorism “Few die and none resign.” But at least until the era of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, age often correlated with wisdom rather than senility. In any case in Congress seniority usually correlates with power.
Larson serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is the ranking Democratic member on its Social Security subcommittee. The primary legislation that would strengthen Social Security is his doing. It would be nice if he could see it through.
Courtney is on the House Armed Services Committee and ranking Democratic member on its subcommittee with jurisdiction over the submarines that get built in Groton back in his district.
DeLauro is ranking Democratic member of the House Appropriations Committee, which she chaired when the House majority was Democratic. She might be chairwoman again. Immense patronage is dispensed there.
Are their constituents tired of all the goodies Larson, Courtney, and DeLauro have brought home over the years? Any Democrats replacing them might have similar ideologies but would start at the bottom.
Then there is the pitch for “generational change.” New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, seeking the Republican nomination for governor, is making it, as is DeLauro challenger DeNoble, who says DeLauro has done a good job but isn’t the right person to represent her district for the next 15 to 30 years. Insofar as DeLauro would be at least 97 or at most 112 then, she probably wouldn’t argue. Maybe that’s why she has sought only two more years at a time.
Indeed, the “generational change” pitch is used by candidates who have nothing relevant to say about the issues, if they even know any issues.
Of course there are many issues Republican challengers might use against Larson, Courtney, and DeLauro — inflation, illegal immigration, taxes, transgenderism, poverty, social disintegration, and such. But that’s only if well-informed Republicans could be found to run and raise enough campaign money to be heard.
Courtney’s district, the 2nd, can be competitive for an open seat but still would lean Democratic. The Hartford-area district hasn’t elected a Republican since 1956 and the New Haven-area district hasn’t elected a Republican since 1980. Despite any policy successes President Trump may achieve, his bad manners won’t make things easier for Republicans in Connecticut next year.
Chris Powell has written about Connecticut government and politics for many years. (CPowell@cox.net)
-END-
Chris Powell column 
My friends are convinced that Trump is the Anti-Christ and they are angry that incumbent Democrats haven’t stopped him. The “No Kings” people are looking for leadership. They don’t trust the existing system of laws and checks and balances. “What this country needs is a few less laws and a few more strong capable leaders.” Remember the Adorno psychology test for fascist tendencies?
LikeLike