Connecticut's 5th congressional district

Connecticut's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the western part of the state and spanning across parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, and Hartford Counties, the district runs from Meriden and New Britain in central Connecticut, westward to Danbury and the surrounding Housatonic Valley, encompassing the Farmington Valley, Upper Naugatuck River Valley, and the Litchfield Hills. The district also includes most of Waterbury.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Jahana Hayes. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+3, it is the least Democratic district in Connecticut, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.

History

In the early 20th century, the 5th congressional district included Waterbury, Litchfield County, and the Naugatuck Valley. It did not include any portion of Fairfield or Hartford counties and did not include the City of Meriden.

From 1964 to 1990, the 5th congressional district included many towns in Fairfield County which are now located in the 4th congressional district, such as Wilton, Monroe, Ridgefield, and Shelton. It also included the lower Naugatuck River Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Naugatuck which are now in the 3rd congressional district.

The current 5th congressional district was created in 2002 due to reapportionment following the 2000 U.S. census. Due to slow population growth, Connecticut lost a seat and the old Waterbury-based 5th district was merged with the New Britain-based 6th district. However, the merged district contained more of the old 6th's territory.

Although historically Republican, the 5th congressional district has been trending Democratic since 2004. John Kerry carried the district with 49.3% of the vote, a margin of 1,112 votes in the 2004 presidential election. Barack Obama carried the district in 2008 with 56.3% of the vote and in 2012 with 53.5% of the vote.

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), Connecticut's 5th district contains portions of four planning regions and 40 municipalities.

Capitol Planning Region (6)

Avon, Canton, Farmington, New Britain, Plainville, Simsbury

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (10)

Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Plymouth, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury (part; also 3rd), Watertown, Wolcott, Woodbury

Northwest Hills Planning Region (16)

Burlington, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington (part; also 1st) Warren, Washington South Central Connecticut Planning Region (1)

Meriden

Western Connecticut Planning Region (7)

Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Sherman

Voter registration Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2012 Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage Democratic 108,601 4,720 113,321 29.96% Republican 89,242 3,554 92,796 24.53% Minor parties 3,728 152 3,880 1.03% Unaffiliated 159,433 8,782 168,215 44.489% Total 361,004 17,208 378,212 100%

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 56% - 42%2010 SenateBlumenthal 50% - 49% GovernorFoley 55% - 44%2012 PresidentObama 54% - 46% SenateMurphy 51% - 49%2014 GovernorFoley 52% - 44%2016 PresidentClinton 50% - 46% SenateBlumenthal 58% - 40%2018 SenateMurphy 55% - 44% GovernorStefanowski 50% - 45% Attorney GeneralHatfield 51% - 48%2020 PresidentBiden 55% - 44%2022 SenateBlumenthal 52% - 48% GovernorLamont 50% - 49% Secretary of the StateThomas 50% - 48% TreasurerArora 50% - 47% ComptrollerFay 50.5% - 49.5% Attorney GeneralTong 52% - 47%2024 PresidentHarris 52% - 46% SenateMurphy 55% - 44%

Recent elections

List of members representing the district

District organized from Connecticut's at-large congressional district in 1837.

Representative Party Service Congress(es) Electoral history Location District created March 4, 1837 Lancelot Phelps Democratic March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 redistricted from the and re-elected in 1837.Retired. Truman Smith Whig March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1843 Elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1840.Retired. District eliminated following the 1840 census District organized from Connecticut's at-large congressional district in 1913 William Kennedy Democratic March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1915 Elected in 1912.Lost re-election. James P. Glynn Republican March 4, 1915 –March 3, 1923 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Lost re-election. Patrick B. O'Sullivan Democratic March 4, 1923 –March 3, 1925 Elected in 1922.Lost re-election. James P. Glynn Republican March 4, 1925 –March 6, 1930 Elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Died. Vacant March 6, 1930 –November 4, 1930 Edward W. Goss Republican November 4, 1930 –January 3, 1935 Elected to finish Glynn's term.Re-elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Lost re-election. J. Joseph Smith Democratic January 3, 1935 –November 4, 1941 Elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Resigned when appointed Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Vacant November 4, 1941 –January 20, 1942 Joseph E. Talbot Republican January 20, 1942 –January 3, 1947 Elected to finish Smith's term.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. James T. Patterson Republican January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1959 Elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Lost re-election. John S. Monagan Democratic January 3, 1959 –January 3, 1973 Elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Lost re-election. Ronald A. Sarasin Republican January 3, 1973 –January 3, 1979 Elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. William R. Ratchford Democratic January 3, 1979 –January 3, 1985 Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Lost re-election. John G. Rowland Republican January 3, 1985 –January 3, 1991 Elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. Gary Franks Republican January 3, 1991 –January 3, 1997 Elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Lost re-election. James H. Maloney Democratic January 3, 1997 –January 3, 2003 Elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Lost re-election. Nancy Johnson Republican January 3, 2003 –January 3, 2007 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Lost re-election. 2003–2013 Chris Murphy Democratic January 3, 2007 –January 3, 2013 Elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. Elizabeth Esty Democratic January 3, 2013 –January 3, 2019 Elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Retired. 2013–2023 Jahana Hayes Democratic January 3, 2019 –present Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–present

Connecticut's 5th congressional district

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