Connecticut's 4th congressional district

Connecticut's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the southwestern part of the state, 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] 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.

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 (including Plattsville), Fairfield (including Fairfield University, Mill Plain, Murray, Sacred Heart University, and Southport), Monroe (including East Village and Stepney), Trumbull (including Daniels Farm, Long Hill, Tashua, and Trumbull Center)

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (2)

Oxford, Shelton (part; also 3rd)

Western Connecticut Planning Region (11)

Danbury (part; also 5th), Darien (including Darien Downtown, Noroton, Noroton Heights, and Tokeneke), Greenwich (including Byram, Cos Cob, Glenville, Greenwich CDP, Indian Field, Old Greenwich, Pemberwick, Riverside, and Rock Ridge), New Canaan (including New Cannan CDP), Norwalk, Redding (part of Georgetown, Redding Center, and Topstone), Ridgefield (including Lakes East, Lakes West, Mamanasco Lake, Ridgebury, Ridgefield CDP, Route 7 Gateway, and West Mountain), Stamford, Weston (including part of Georgetown and Weston CDP), Westport (including Coleytown, Compo, Greens Farms, Old Hill, Poplar Plains, Saugatuck, Staples, and Westport Village), Wilton (including Cannondale, part of Georgetown, South Wilton, and Wilton Center)

• Connecticut's congressional districts
• List of United States congressional districts

Notes

Bibliography

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

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