From machinists and nurses to environmentalists and abortion rights advocates, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson is rolling out a series of prominent endorsements in the four-way battle for Congress in Greater Hartford.
The biggest endorsement came from Planned Parenthood, which is a key player in Democratic politics and a sought-after backer in high-profile elections. Larson, 77, is running in his toughest race in more than 25 years as he battles former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford, and Hartford attorney Ruth R. Fortune. They are all raising money and collecting endorsements before a convention on May 11 to determine which candidates can receive at least 15% of the delegates to automatically qualify for the August primary.
Besides Planned Parenthood, Larson announced endorsements from a wide spectrum that includes The National Alliance for Retired Americans, Nurses for America, League of Conservation Voters, International Association of Machinists Union International, IAM District 26, and the Connecticut State Council of Machinists.
“Congressman Larson has been a champion for reproductive rights throughout his career,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement released by Larson’s campaign. “In the state Senate, he helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to enshrine abortion rights in state law. Today in Congress, Rep. Larson is fighting to protect these rights nationwide.”
She added that Larson “consistently opposed President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ ‘defunding’ Planned Parenthood, and continues to fight to remove financial barriers to abortion care. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Congressman Larson — a champion fighting back against attacks on reproductive freedom, protecting access to care, and ensuring every person can make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures.”
The League of Conservation Voters has been a longtime leader in environmental advocacy at the state Capitol in Hartford and at the national level.
“As our climate and our democracy face unprecedented attacks, it has never been more important to elect fighters who will stand up for our rights and our planet,” said Craig Auster, the vice president of political affairs for the LCV Action Fund. “From creating thousands of clean energy jobs to co-sponsoring the Green New Deal and helping pass the hydrogen energy tax credit, Representative Larson has been a relentless champion for climate action. He’s also taken the fight directly to Trump, demanding the restoration of funding for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and opposing efforts to open new areas to offshore drilling.”
The National Alliance for Retired Americans serves more than 4 million members, and the AFL-CIO-created group focuses on strengthening retirement security nationwide. In addition, the Connecticut Alliance also endorsed him.
“Congressman Larson has been fighting for American families on all fronts –– working to cut costs, defend their rights, and protect and expand their hard-earned benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” said Robert Roach, Jr., president of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “He’s been one of the strongest fighters for workers, unions, and the retirement security of all American families. In the face of relentless attacks on our working families, seniors, and labor organizations, we need his leadership, tenacity, and unyielding vigor in the fight to expand access to the social safety net and protect the number 1 anti-poverty program in the world.”
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