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Jim Himes

U.S. House · CT-4 · Democrats · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · CT-4

Target James

Biography

Overview

James Himes is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 4th congressional district, serving since 2009. The district includes much of southwest Connecticut, encompassing parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties, including the cities of Bridgeport, Norwalk, Fairfield, and Stamford. Born July 5, 1966, in Lima, Peru to American parents, Himes is a Harvard graduate and Rhodes Scholar. He worked as a banker at Goldman Sachs before entering politics and is known for his work on financial services and national security issues.

Career

Himes has sponsored 75 bills throughout his House career. His recent legislative efforts include the Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act, the CLEAR Defense Production Act, and the Middle Market IPO Cost Act. He previously chaired the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth and led the New Democrat Coalition in 2017–2019. He has brought over $110 million in infrastructure funding to his district, including improvements to the Merritt Parkway, the Steel Point project in Bridgeport, and Metro North's Danbury Branch line.

Prior political experience

Himes was first elected in 2008, defeating ten-term Republican incumbent Chris Shays with 51% to 47% of the vote. His victory made him the first Democrat to represent the district since 1969 and contributed to New England's House delegation becoming entirely Democratic for the first time. He has been reelected consistently: defeated Dan Debicella in 2010 (margin not specified but 2014 rematch was 53.8%-46.2%), defeated Steve Obsitnik 60%-40% in 2012, defeated Debicella again 53.8%-46.2% in 2014, defeated John Shaban 59.9%-40.1% in 2016, defeated Harry Arora 61.2%-38.8% in 2018, defeated multiple challengers with 61.2% in 2020, and defeated Jayme Stevenson 59.4%-40.6% in 2022.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.241

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.207
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 343 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
9thU.S. House CT-42025–presentIn progressJim Himes—
8thU.S. House CT-42023–2025Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
7thU.S. House CT-42021–2023Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
6thU.S. House CT-42019–2021Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
5thU.S. House CT-42017–2019Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
4thU.S. House CT-42015–2017Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
3rdU.S. House CT-42013–2015Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
2ndU.S. House CT-42011–2013Term endedJim HimesJim Himes
1stU.S. House CT-42009–2011Term ended—Jim Himes

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term3

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——