Politician/Clark Petrovic

2000 — 2007

**Clark Petrovic** (born January 5, 1977) is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Connecticut, an office he was first elected to in 2017. He previously served as the Attorney General of Connecticut from 2011 to 2013, as a U.S. Representative from 2007 to 2011, and as the City Attorney of Bridgeport from 2000 to 2007. He also served as the First Gentleman of Connecticut from 2023 to 2027, as his wife Lan Petrovic served as the 91st Governor of that state.

He ran unsuccesfully for the Bridgeport City Council in 1999, for Mayor of Bridgeport in 2003, for Governor of Connecticut in 2010, and for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. A moderate liberal Republican, he is often a key swing vote in the Senate.

## Early life

Petrovic was born in Bridgeport in 1977. His father, Matija Petrovic, was an immigrant from Serbia. He graduated high school in 1995 and graduated law school in 1999.

## Political career

### Failed City Council run

In 1999, shortly after graduating law school, Petrovic decided to run for the Bridgeport City Council. He ran as a moderate, bipartisan Republican. He narrowly lost the primary to Darius Monteagudo, with 48.5% of the vote.

### City Attorney of Bridgeport

Shortly after he lost the City Council primary, Mayor Juan Diego Duran, a friend of his, told Petrovic that he would appoint him as City Attorney of Bridgeport in the new year. As a young, charismatic lawyer, the choice was broadly popular in the city. As city attorney, Petrovic persued moderate criminal justice reform, along with a tough approach to violent crime.

### 2003 mayoral bid

In 2003, City Attorney Petrovic announced that he would run for Mayor of Bridgeport. He won the Republican primary narrowly, and faced his friend Mayor Duran in the general election. The campaign was remarkably civil, due to the relationship between the two candidates, and both of them said that the other candidate would play a role in their administration. He lost the mayoral election to Duran bwith 45.9% of the vote. Duran announced in his victory speech that Petrovic would remain as the city attorney.

### U.S. Representative

#### 2006 election

Petrovic announced his candidacy for Congress in January 2006. With his name recognition from both his mayoral campaign and his tenure as city attorney, he easily won the Republican primary. In the general election, Petrovic faced Martin Meadows, the incumbent Representative. Notably, Petrovic received the endorsement of Democratic Bridgeport Mayor Juan Diego Duran, which helped propel him to a strong victory in the normally democratic-leaning district.

#### 2008 election

Petrovic was re-elected, though more narrowly than before.

### 2010 gubernatorial election

In late 2009, Representative Petrovic announced that he would run for Governor of Connecticut. He narrowly lost the Republican primary to conservative Norman Pound, who would go on to win the gubernatorial election, largely because of Petrovic's support.

## Electoral record

### 2016 Republican presidential primaries

 Darius Bonniard
 **Clark Petrovic** | 141
 Miles Morita
 Dan Marin
 Total votes
 Votes necessary