Luke Bronin will not seek a third term as Hartford mayor.

Democrat Luke Bronin is telling supporters Tuesday morning that he will not seek a third term in 2023. He is expected to make a public announcement at midday.

Bronin won the party organization endorsement in his first bid for the city’s top job in 2015. He defeated incumbent Pedro Segarra in the primary that summer of growing anxiety over a rise in crime in the capital city.

Bronin made a mark in the 2015 as a prodigious fundraiser, spending a staggering $170 per vote in his closer-than-expected win over Segarra.

The former counsel to Dannel P. Malloy easily won a second term four years ago, defeating disgraced former mayor Eddie Perez and then-state Representative Brandon McGee in a Democratic primary. In between his two primary and general election wins for mayor, Bronin made a brief bid for governor in 2018.

Leaving the mayor’s post of his won accord after two full terms will leave Bronin with political options for future campaigns.

Eric Coleman, a former state representative and state senator, and a Superior Court judge for a few more hours, is expected to announce his candidacy for mayor on Wednesday.

Published November 29, 2022.