John Larson

John Larson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 6, 1999
Preceded by	Barbara Kennelly
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	July 22 1948 ( 1948--) (age 59) Hartford, Connecticut
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Leslie Larson
Religion	Roman Catholic

John B. Larson (born July 22 1948), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing Connecticut's 1st congressional district (map). He was born in Hartford, Connecticut and educated at Central Connecticut State University. Larson was a teacher and served on the Board of Education and Town Council of East Hartford. He was eventually elected as a member of the Connecticut Senate from East Hartford and became the longest-serving President Pro Tempore.

In 1994, Larson sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut but was defeated by liberal Bill Curry in a primary. He entered private business but was able to maintain his political credentials and won retiring Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly's seat in 1998. As a member of Congress, Larson currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. On February 1, 2006 he was elected Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, making him the fifth highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives.

John Larson is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Larson was re-elected to a fifth term in Congress in 2006, receiving 74% of the vote against Republican challenger Scott MacLean. After the election, Larson declined to run for chairman of the Democratic Caucus, instead running unopposed for re-election as vice chairman.

External links

• U.S. Congressman John B. Larson official House site
• John Larson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — John B. Larson campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — John Larson issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — John B. Larson campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative John B. Larson (CT) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia - John Larson profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: John Larson voting record

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