[2] Larson was raised in Mayberry Village and attended East Hartford High School, graduating in 1976.
[7] Larson remained active in politics by helping his brother John run his gubernatorial campaign in 1994.
[8][9] When DeCrescenzo announced that he would not seek another term in office, both Larson and Henry Genga sought the mayoralty as Democrats.
[10][11] Larson accepted the endorsement of the local Democratic Party in July 1997,[12] and defeated Genga in a primary that September.
[21] He retained his seat in 2016, winning 56.4% of the vote against Carolyn Streeter Mirek, deputy mayor of South Windsor.