Lacking political support and name recognition, a former Southington town council member announced Monday that he has dropped out of the five-way race for Congress.
Jack Perry had pledged to spend $500,000 of his own money in the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. John B. Larson and three other opponents in the hard-fought race for Congress. But both Larson and former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin pulled ahead of Perry by raising more than $1 million each and criss-crossing the 27-town district in the battle for support in a critical primary next August.
Perry made his announcement on a video on social media, and word spread quickly among his fellow Democratic candidates.
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to be straight with you,” Perry said in the video. “I’ve decided to end the campaign for Congress in Connecticut’s First District. When I got into this race, it wasn’t because I needed a title or a job in politics. I already have a job. I started work at the age of 13, built a small business from the ground up, and I’ve been proud to create good-paying jobs and even serve my local community on the Southington town council.”
Perry, 35, noted that he started from behind in the race as an underdog.
“If you don’t grow up with deep connections, if you didn’t spend years climbing the political ladder, if you’re not backed by special interests and wealthy donors, the barriers are enormous,” Perry said.
“My heart is still with the working and middle-class families who are struggling with healthcare costs, with rent, the mortgages … and the high grocery bills we’re all seeing. … I may not be on the ballot in this race, but I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
From the start, Perry admitted that he did not have the normal pedigree for a member of Congress.
After spending a career in the garbage hauling business, Perry gained attention by pledging to spend $500,000 of his own money by using part of the proceeds from selling his family-owned garbage business that he started in 2008.
When he jumped into the race last summer, he told The Courant that he knew he had a different pedigree than other elected officials.
“I’m not a typical politician. I mean, seriously, how many can drive a garbage truck?” Perry asked then. “I’m a working-class guy who 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.”
As a Democratic member of Southington’s Republican-controlled town council, Perry is not well known statewide. But he gained additional name recognition in his hometown when running for state Senate in 2020 against conservative firebrand Rob Sampson of Wolcott. Sampson won by 54% to 46% in the year that incumbent President Donald Trump ran strongly in the district despite losing in Connecticut and nationwide to Democrat Joe Biden.
Perry spent 16 years in the family business, HQ Dumpsters and Recycling, before it was sold last year to trash hauler CWPM in Plainville. While no longer the owner, he still oversees the daily operations for the new owner, the Manafort family, in a position he says is far less stressful.
With a mother who was an immigrant from Poland and a biological father who was absent from his life, Perry was raised with the help of his stepfather. He started working in the family’s landscaping business at the age of 13, and has continued working ever since.
Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and U.S. Rep. John B. Larson both praised former Southington town council member Jack Perry after he dropped out of the five-way primary. Larson and Bronin are former allies who are shown here working together when Bronin was serving as mayor and they jointly announced $1,858,938 in grants to 63 different youth-serving providers. (File photo)
Fellow candidates
As the first candidate to drop out of the race, Perry received plaudits Monday from his fellow opponents, who said they hope he continues to make contributions in Connecticut as a Democrat.
“Like Jack, I grew up in a working-class family, and that perspective has always guided my work for Connecticut,” Larson said. “I appreciate that he also centered working people in this race, especially at a time when families are feeling squeezed by rising costs and workers’ rights are under threat.”
Bronin said, “Jack’s been a strong voice advocating for change, and his focus on affordability and economic opportunity for working families and the middle class is exactly where we need to be focused as a Democratic Party. Jack’s got a powerful story of building a small business from the ground up and serving his community in a lot of different ways, and I really hope that he stays involved in politics and public service.”
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford applauded the efforts of former Southington town council member Jack Perry in the race for Congress. Here, she celebrates at her campaign headquarters on Election Day when she won her race for state legislature in November 2018.
“It’s good for our democracy to include more voices — especially at a time when politics has become an exclusive club,” said state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford. “There are a lot of people interested in making this a two-man race, but we need new kinds of leaders in Washington if we’re ever going to change anything. I’m running to make a difference and I’m not going anywhere.”
Hartford attorney Ruth Fortune said, “Running for Congress is no small undertaking. Challenging an incumbent is even harder. I wish him well and know he will continue to serve in other capacities.”
Hartford Attorney Ruth Fortune hailed Southington garbage hauler Jack Perry’s efforts in the race for Congress. Fortune and three others remain in the four-way race for the 2026 Democratic primary.
Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
