U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who nudged a 78-year-old New York congressman into abandoning thoughts of reelection last year, came to Hartford on Monday to endorse the reelection campaign of a Connecticut congressman who turns 78 in July.
In a press conference outside the Old State House, Raskin said there was no contradiction in endorsing U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, for reelection against three Democratic challengers who are making a call for generational change in Congress.
“I just came here to tell you, John Larson is somebody we need in Washington, and there’s no reason for us to replace him right now in the middle of the biggest fight of our lives,” said Raskin, who came to prominence five years ago as the House manager of the second impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump.
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On Monday, Raskin said every election should be resolved by weighing the all qualities of the candidates, not just age or longevity. He did not claim any knowledge about the challengers Larson is facing: Luke Bronin and Ruth Fortune of Hartford and Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford.
“Just speaking about John’s case, we’ve got an energetic, fired-up fighter for American democracy and the programs that have made America great, right here in John Larson,” Raskin said. “I don’t know a lot about what’s going on, but I tell you, in Washington, everybody looks to John Larson, and everybody needs John Larson.”
Larson said his challengers are “good people.”
“But as Jamie said, we’re in the middle of a crisis, probably the most important crisis in my lifetime in this individual that we’re facing,” Larson said. “Now is the time for us to unite as Democrats and to move forward and take on Donald Trump every single day.”
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