Connecticut's 4th congressional district

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. It is also the wealthiest district in the state of Connecticut and the sixteenth wealthiest district in the United States, with 30.6 percent of households earning over $200,000, per a 2024 study.

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.

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 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 Results2008 PresidentObama 60% - 39%2010 SenateBlumenthal 52% - 47% GovernorMalloy 50% - 49%2012 PresidentObama 56% - 44% SenateMurphy 54% - 46%2014 GovernorMalloy 50% - 49%2016 PresidentClinton 60% - 36% SenateBlumenthal 62% - 36%2018 SenateMurphy 63% - 36% GovernorLamont 54% - 44% Attorney GeneralTong 58% - 42%2020 PresidentBiden 65% - 34%2022 SenateBlumenthal 61% - 39% GovernorLamont 60% - 39% Secretary of the StateThomas 58% - 40% TreasurerRussell 53% - 45% ComptrollerScanlon 57% - 43% Attorney GeneralTong 59% - 40%2024 PresidentHarris 61% - 38% SenateMurphy 62% - 37%

Recent elections

1987 (special)

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

List of members representing the district Member Party Years of service Congress(es) Electoral history Location District created March 4, 1837 Thomas T. Whittlesey Democratic March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1837.Lost re-election. Thomas B. Osborne Whig March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1843 Elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1840.Retired. Samuel Simons Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Elected in 1843.Retired. Truman Smith Whig March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1845.Re-elected in 1847.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Thomas B. Butler Whig March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1849.Lost re-election. Origen S. Seymour Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1851.Re-elected in 1853.Retired to become judge of the Connecticut Superior Court. William W. Welch American March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 Elected in 1855.Retired. William D. Bishop Democratic March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1859 Elected in 1857.Lost re-election. Orris S. Ferry Republican March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1861 Elected in 1859.Lost re-election. George C. Woodruff Democratic March 4, 1861 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1861.Lost re-election. John Henry Hubbard Republican March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1863.Re-elected in 1865.Lost re-election. William Henry Barnum Democratic March 4, 1867 –May 18, 1876 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 Levi Warner Democratic December 4, 1876 –March 3, 1879 Elected to finish Barnum's term.Also elected to the next term in 1876.Retired. Frederick Miles Republican March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Retired. Edward Woodruff Seymour Democratic March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Retired. Miles T. Granger Democratic March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1889 Elected in 1886.Retired. Frederick Miles Republican March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1888.Lost re-election. Robert E. De Forest Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Lost re-election. Ebenezer J. Hill Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1913 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 Democratic March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1915 Elected in 1912.Lost re-election. Ebenezer J. Hill Republican March 4, 1915 –September 27, 1917 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Died. Vacant September 27, 1917 –November 6, 1917 Schuyler Merritt Republican November 6, 1917 –March 3, 1931 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 Democratic March 4, 1931 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1930.Lost re-election. Schuyler Merritt Republican March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1937 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Lost re-election. Alfred N. Phillips Democratic January 3, 1937 –January 3, 1939 Elected in 1936.Lost re-election. Albert E. Austin Republican January 3, 1939 –January 3, 1941 Elected in 1938.Lost re-election. Le Roy D. Downs Democratic January 3, 1941 –January 3, 1943 Elected in 1940.Lost re-election. Clare Boothe Luce Republican January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1947 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Retired. John Davis Lodge Republican January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1951 Elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. Albert P. Morano Republican January 3, 1951 –January 3, 1959 Elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Lost re-election. Donald J. Irwin Democratic January 3, 1959 –January 3, 1961 Elected in 1958.Lost re-election. Abner W. Sibal Republican January 3, 1961 –January 3, 1965 Elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Lost re-election. Donald J. Irwin Democratic January 3, 1965 –January 3, 1969 Elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Lost re-election. Lowell Weicker Republican January 3, 1969 –January 3, 1971 Elected in 1968.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Stewart McKinney Republican January 3, 1971 –May 7, 1987 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 Christopher Shays Republican August 18, 1987 –January 3, 2009 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 2003–2013 Jim Himes Democratic January 3, 2009 –present 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

Connecticut's 4th congressional district

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