Southington Democrat Joins Crowded 1st District Congressional Race

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Southington Democrat in a GOP-controlled town officially joined a crowded field aiming to unseat longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District.

Democratic Southington Town Councilman Jack Perry announced Tuesday he is running for Larson's seat in 2026, a seat Larson has held since 1998.

Perry, 35, said he is a "working-class small businessman, entrepreneur."

He founded his own trash-hauling company in Plantsville before selling it to another company last year, where he currently works

Perry said he is "fed up" with the way things are now.

“I’m running for Congress because, like so many others, I am fed up with this broken economic system that is rigged against the working and middle class," he said in a statement
Tuesday.

"We need fresh leadership in Congress who will boldly fight back against Trump, MAGA Republicans, and corporate special interests to put people first."

Perry described himself as not being a "typical politician" who said he can drive a garbage truck and is a "working-class guy."

He said he is "unafraid to take on big challenges and stand up for people."

"I’m not trying to climb a political ladder for myself. I want to make sure everyone has ladders to climb and can afford to live and retire comfortably in Connecticut. I’ll fight for the people, not the powerful,” Perry said.

Perry co-founded Plantsville-based HQ Dumpsters & Recycling, a company that was then sold to Plainville-based CWPM last year, where Perry is now operations manager.

He cites his past and current business experience, which he said gives him the skills needed to serve the 1st Congressional District, which comprises several towns in Hartford, Litchfield, and Middlesex counties.

Perry is already joining a crowded field of hopefuls for the seat, including Democrats Larson of East Hartford and Hartford school board member Ruth Fortune.

Republican Amy Chai, who ran for Congress in 2022 as an independent for the 3rd Congressional District, is listed as a GOP challenger for 2026.