Connecticut's 4th congressional district

Connecticut's 4th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area539 mi2 (1,400 km2)
Distribution
  • 95.76% urban
  • 4.24% rural
Population (2024)739,251
Median household
income		$122,642[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+13[2]

Connecticut's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the panhandle, the district is largely suburban and extends from Bridgeport, the largest city in the state, to Greenwich – an area largely coextensive with the Connecticut side of the New York metropolitan area. The district also extends inland, toward Danbury and toward the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Jim Himes. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+13, it is the most Democratic district in Connecticut, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.[2] It is also the wealthiest district in the state of Connecticut.[3]

Historically, the 4th was a classic "Yankee Republican" district. However, it has not supported a Republican for president since 1988, and has swung increasingly Democratic at the national level since the 1990s. This culminated in 2020, when Joe Biden won it with 64 percent of the vote, his best showing in the state.

However, even as the district swung increasingly Democratic at the national level, Republicans usually held this district without serious difficulty until the turn of the millennium. In 2004, however, Democrat Diane Farrell held longtime incumbent Chris Shays to only 52 percent of the vote, the closest race in the district in 30 years. Shays fended off an equally spirited challenge from Farrell in 2006 before losing to Himes in 2008. Himes has held the seat ever since.

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), Connecticut's 4th district contains portions of three planning regions and 18 municipalities.[4]

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region (5)

Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (2)

Oxford, Shelton (part; also 3rd)

Western Connecticut Planning Region (11)

Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, Wilton

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2012[5]
Party Active Inactive Total Percentage
Democratic 141,355 9,427 150,782 36.17%
Republican 98,663 5,106 103,769 24.89%
Minor Parties 3,737 312 4,049 0.97%
Unaffiliated 146,218 12,043 158,261 37.97%
Total 389,973 26,888 416,861 100.00%

Recent election results from statewide races

Year Office Results[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
2008 President Obama 60% - 39%
2010 Senate Blumenthal 52% - 47%
Governor Malloy 50% - 49%
2012 President Obama 56% - 44%
Senate Murphy 54% - 46%
2014 Governor Malloy 50% - 49%
2016 President Clinton 60% - 36%
Senate Blumenthal 62% - 36%
2018 Senate Murphy 63% - 36%
Governor Lamont 54% - 44%
Attorney General Tong 58% - 42%
2020 President Biden 65% - 34%
2022 Senate Blumenthal 61% - 39%
Governor Lamont 60% - 39%
Secretary of the State Thomas 58% - 40%
Treasurer Russell 53% - 45%
Comptroller Scanlon 57% - 43%
Attorney General Tong 59% - 40%
2024 President Harris 61% - 38%
Senate Murphy 62% - 37%

Recent elections

1987 (special)

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1987: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays 50,518 57%
Democratic Christine Niedermeier 37,293 42%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 87,811 100%

1988

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1988: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 147,843 72%
Democratic Roger J. Pearson 55,751 27%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 203,594 100%

1990

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1990: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 105,682 77%
Democratic Al Smith 32,352 23%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 138,034 100%

1992

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1992: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 147,816 67%
Democratic Dave Schropfer 58,666 27%
A Connecticut Party (1990) Al Smith 11,679 5%
Natural Law Ronald M. Fried 1,445 1%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 219,606 100%

1994

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1994: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 109,436 74%
Democratic Jonathan Kantrowitz 34,962 24%
Libertarian Irving Sussman 1,976 1%
Natural Law Terry M. Nevas 688 0.47%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 147,062 100%

1996

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1996: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 121,949 60%
Democratic William Finch 75,902 38%
Libertarian Edward H. Tonkin 2,815 1%
Natural Law Terry M. Nevas 1,046 1%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 201,712 100%

1998

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 1998: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 94,767 69%
Democratic Jonathan Kantrowitz 40,988 28%
Libertarian Marshall C. Harrison 1,449 1%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 137,204 100%

2000

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2000: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 119,155 58%
Democratic Stephanie Sanchez 84,472 41%
Libertarian Daniel Gislao 2,034 1%
Independent Frank M. Don 1,097 0.53%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 206,758 100%

2002

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2002: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 113,197 64%
Democratic Stephanie Sanchez 62,491 36%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 175,688 100%

2004

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2004: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 149,891 52%
Democratic Diane Farrell 136,481 48%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 286,372 100%

2006

Main article: Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2006
Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2006: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 106,510 51%
Democratic Diane Farrell 99,450 48%
Libertarian Phil Maymin 3,058 1%
Republican hold Swing
Turnout 209,018 100%

2008

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2008: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes 159,694 51%
Republican Christopher Shays (incumbent) 147,356 47%
Libertarian Michael A. Carrano 2,036 1%
Green Richard Z. Duffee 1,377 0.44%
Turnout 310,463 100%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

2010

Connecticut 4th congressional district election, 2010: Connecticut District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 115,351 53%
Republican Daniel Debicella 102,030 47%
Turnout 217,381 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2012

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 174,461 60%
Republican Steve Obsitnik 117,463 40%
Turnout 291,924 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2014

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 106,873 54%
Republican Dan Debicella 91,922 46%
Turnout 198,800 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2016

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 185,928 60%
Republican John Shaban 123,630 40%
Turnout 309,558 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2018

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 168,726 61%
Republican Harry Arora 106,921 38%
Turnout 275,651 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2020

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 223,832 62%
Republican Jonathan Riddle 130,627 36%
Independent Brian Merlen 5,656 1%
Write-in N/A 10 0%
Turnout 360,125 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2022

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 140,262 59.4% −2.6
Republican Jayme Stevenson 95,822 40.6% +4.6
Turnout 236,084 100%
Democratic hold Swing

2024

Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election, 2024
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Himes (incumbent) 200,791 61.1% +1.7
Republican Michael Goldstein 122,793 37.3% −3.3
Independent Benjamin Wesley 5,273 1.6%
Turnout 328,857 100%
Democratic hold Swing

List of members representing the district

Member
(Residence) 		Party Years of service Cong
ress(es) 		Electoral history Location
District created March 4, 1837
Thomas T. Whittlesey
(Danbury) 		Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839 		25th Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1837.
Lost re-election.

Thomas B. Osborne
(Fairfield) 		Whig March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1843 		26th
27th 		Elected in 1839.
Re-elected in 1840.
Retired.
Samuel Simons
(Bridgeport) 		Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845 		28th Elected in 1843.
Retired.

Truman Smith
(Litchfield) 		Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1849 		29th
30th 		Elected in 1845.
Re-elected in 1847.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Thomas B. Butler
(Norwalk) 		Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851 		31st Elected in 1849.
Lost re-election.

Origen S. Seymour
(Litchfield) 		Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1855 		32nd
33rd 		Elected in 1851.
Re-elected in 1853.
Retired to become judge of the Connecticut Superior Court.
William W. Welch
(Norfolk) 		American March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857 		34th Elected in 1855.
Retired.

William D. Bishop
(Bridgeport) 		Democratic March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859 		35th Elected in 1857.
Lost re-election.

Orris S. Ferry
(Norwalk) 		Republican March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861 		36th Elected in 1859.
Lost re-election.

George C. Woodruff
(Litchfield) 		Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863 		37th Elected in 1861.
Lost re-election.

John Henry Hubbard
(Litchfield) 		Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1867 		38th
39th 		Elected in 1863.
Re-elected in 1865.
Lost re-election.

William Henry Barnum
(Lime Rock) 		Democratic March 4, 1867 –
May 18, 1876 		40th
41st
42nd
43rd
44th 		Elected in 1867.
Re-elected in 1869.
Re-elected in 1871.
Re-elected in 1873.
Re-elected in 1875.
Resigned when elected U.S. senator.
Vacant May 18, 1876 –
December 4, 1876 		44th

Levi Warner
(Norwalk) 		Democratic December 4, 1876 –
March 3, 1879 		44th
45th 		Elected to finish Barnum's term.
Also elected to the next term in 1876.
Retired.

Frederick Miles
(Chapinville) 		Republican March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1883 		46th
47th 		Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.

Edward Woodruff Seymour
(Litchfield) 		Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887 		48th
49th 		Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Retired.

Miles T. Granger
(Canaan) 		Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889 		50th Elected in 1886.
Retired.

Frederick Miles
(Chapinville) 		Republican March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1891 		51st Elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.

Robert E. De Forest
(Bridgeport) 		Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895 		52nd
53rd 		Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.

Ebenezer J. Hill
(Norwalk) 		Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1913 		54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd 		Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.

Jeremiah Donovan
(South Norwalk) 		Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915 		63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.

Ebenezer J. Hill
(Norwalk) 		Republican March 4, 1915 –
September 27, 1917 		64th
65th 		Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Died.
Vacant September 27, 1917 –
November 6, 1917 		65th

Schuyler Merritt
(Stamford) 		Republican November 6, 1917 –
March 3, 1931 		65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st 		Elected to finish Hill's term.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.
William L. Tierney
(Greenwich) 		Democratic March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933 		72nd Elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.

Schuyler Merritt
(Stamford) 		Republican March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1937 		73rd
74th 		Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Lost re-election.

Alfred N. Phillips
(Stamford) 		Democratic January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1939 		75th Elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.
Albert E. Austin
(Old Greenwich) 		Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1941 		76th Elected in 1938.
Lost re-election.

Le Roy D. Downs
(South Norwalk) 		Democratic January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1943 		77th Elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.

Clare Boothe Luce
(Greenwich) 		Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1947 		78th
79th 		Elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Retired.

John Davis Lodge
(Westport) 		Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1951 		80th
81st 		Elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut.

Albert P. Morano
(Greenwich) 		Republican January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1959 		82nd
83rd
84th
85th 		Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Lost re-election.

Donald J. Irwin
(Norwalk) 		Democratic January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1961 		86th Elected in 1958.
Lost re-election.

Abner W. Sibal
(Norwalk) 		Republican January 3, 1961 –
January 3, 1965 		87th
88th 		Elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Lost re-election.

Donald J. Irwin
(Norwalk) 		Democratic January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1969 		89th
90th 		Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Lost re-election.

Lowell Weicker
(Greenwich) 		Republican January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1971 		91st Elected in 1968.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Stewart McKinney
(Westport) 		Republican January 3, 1971 –
May 7, 1987 		92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th 		Elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Died.
Vacant May 7, 1987 –
August 18, 1987 		100th

Christopher Shays
(Bridgeport) 		Republican August 18, 1987 –
January 3, 2009 		100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th 		Elected to finish McKinney's term.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Lost re-election.
1993–2003
[data missing]
2003–2013

Jim Himes
(Cos Cob) 		Democratic January 3, 2009 –
present 		111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
119th 		Elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2013–2023
2023–present

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ a b "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  3. ^ DePietro, Andrew. "The Richest Congressional Districts In Every State Of 2024". Forbes. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  4. ^ "118th Congress of the United States Connecticut - Congressional District 4" (PDF). www2.census.gov.
  5. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 30, 2012" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  6. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  7. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: United States Senator :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  8. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: Governor :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  9. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: Attorney General :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  10. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: Secretary of the State :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: Treasurer :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: Comptroller :: State of Connecticut". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). Secretary of the State of Connecticut. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
Bibliography

41°11′49″N 73°23′19″W / 41.19694°N 73.38861°W / 41.19694; -73.38861

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