2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut

none February 2026 September 2023 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut Connecticut legislative no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut 2010 All 5 Connecticut seats to the United States House of Representatives 2008 11 04 Democratic Party (United States) 4 5 1 1,006,915 65.29% 4.94% Republican Party (United States) 1 0 1 504,785 32.73% 6.34% 250px District results 250px Municipality results Democratic #B9D7FF 40–50% #86B6F2 50–60% #4389E3 60–70% #1666CB 70–80% #0645B4 80–90% #002B84 90–100% Republican #F2B3BE 40–50% #E27F90 50–60% #CC2F4A 60–70% The 2008 congressional elections in Connecticut were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential election. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The Primary election was held on August 12.November 4, 2008 State Election Calendar https://web.archive.org/web/20080910021551/http://www.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/calendars/2008election/2008.pdf September 10, 2008 Connecticut Secretary of State Connecticut has five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of four Democrats and one Republican. In the 2008 elections, District 4 changed from Republican to Democratic, so Connecticut's congressional delegation to the 111th Congress consists of five Democrats, giving Connecticut an all-Democratic congressional delegation for the 1st time since 1967. This election also marked the last time any seat in the Connecticut congressional delegation changed partisan control. This marked the first time since the founding of the Republican Party in 1854 that they failed to hold any House seat in New England. Prior to the election, CQ Politics forecasted districts 2, 4, and 5 to be at some risk for the incumbent party. Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 2008http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/turnout_statistics_by_cd.pdf Election Day Registration, Turnout and Absentee Ballot Statistics Secretary of the State of Connecticut PDF 2009-10-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20091008133836/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/turnout_statistics_by_cd.pdf 2009-10-08 dead PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Democratic 924,061 59.92% 5 +1 Working Familiesnote A A 82,854 5.37% Republican 504,785 32.73% 0 –1 Green 25,376 1.65% 0 0 Independent 3,082 0.20% 0 0 Libertarian 2,049 0.13% 0 0 Write-in candidates 42 0.00% 0 0 Valid votes 1,542,249 93.76% — — Invalid or blank votes 102,596 6.24% — — Totals 1,644,845 100.00% 5 — Voter turnout 78.14% dist5note A A The Working Families Party endorsed all the Democratic candidates on a fusion ticket. In the previous election, it only endorsed one Democratic candidate. By district District Incumbent 2008 Status Democratic Republican Green Libertarian Other Party 1John B. Larson Re-electionJohn B. Larson Joe Visconti Stephen E. D. Fournier 2Joe Courtney Re-electionJoe Courtney Sean Sullivan G. Scott Deshefy Daniel J. Reale Todd Vachon 3Rosa DeLauro Re-electionRosa DeLauro Bo Itshaky Ralph Ferrucci 4Christopher Shays Re-electionJim Himes Christopher Shays Richard Duffee Chris Angle 5Chris Murphy Re-electionChris Murphy David Cappiello Harold Burbank Tom Winn District 1 thumb Connecticut's 1st congressional district This district covers much of central Connecticut and includes municipalities within Hartford, Litchfield, and Middlesex counties. Five-term incumbent John B. Larson faced Republican Joe Visconti and Green Party candidate Stephen E. D. Fournier. Larson's campaign website Visconti's campaign website Fournier's campaign website Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Competitive House Race Chart http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php House: Race Ratings The Cook Political Report 6 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106112035/http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php 6 November 2008Safe D November 6, 2008 Rothenberg2008 House Ratings https://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report 2 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106133426/http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html 6 November 2008Safe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball2008 House http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ Sabato's Crystal Ball 6 November 2008 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106144620/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ 6 November 2008Safe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsBattle for the House of Representatives http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html realclearpolitics.com Real Clear Politics 9 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081217170047/http://www.realclearpolitics.com:80/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html 17 December 2008 7 November 2008Safe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: House http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house cqpolitics.com Congressional Quarterly Inc 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106054801/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house 6 November 2008Safe D November 6, 2008 Results Incumbent John B. Larson retained his seat with over 71 percent of the vote. Connecticut's 1st congressional district election, 200811/04/2008 General Election results for Representative in Congress http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/2008_representative_in_congress.pdf 20 January 2009 PDF State of Connecticut Secretary of the State dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090203051504/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/2008_representative_in_congress.pdf February 3, 2009 Connecticut Democratic Party John B. Larson (incumbent)dist1note A A 211,493 71.6 Connecticut Republican Party Joe Visconti 76,860 26.0 Green Party of Connecticut Stephen E. D. Fournier 7,201 2.4 Write-in candidate Matthew Coleman 3 0.0 295,557 100.0 Connecticut Democratic Party dist1note A AIncludes 17,000 votes from the Working Families Party line, which endorsed Larson on a fusion ticket.http://www.ct-workingfamilies.org/elections/fullendorsementlist.php 2008 WFP Endorsement List 20 January 2009 Connecticut Working Families Party dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090219182545/http://www.ct-workingfamilies.org/elections/fullendorsementlist.php February 19, 2009 District 2 thumb Connecticut's 2nd congressional district This district covers eastern Connecticut, including New London and Norwich. In the closest U.S. House race of 2006, Democrat Joe Courtney unseated three-term incumbent Republican Rob Simmons by only 82 votes. Courtney's chance at reelection increased when Simmons decided against a rematch. Former Naval Submarine Base New London base commander Sean Sullivan was the Republican candidate.http://www.sullivan2008.com/content/AboutSeanSullivan/tabid/56/Default.aspx About Sean Sullivan Sean Sullivan for Congress 2008 25 January 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090110103033/http://www.sullivan2008.com/content/AboutSeanSullivan/tabid/56/Default.aspx January 10, 2009 Third-party challengers included former State Department Of Environmental Protection scientist G. Scott Deshefy for the Green Partyhttp://www.gp.org/press/states/ct/ct_2007_12_07.shtml gp.org 2008-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20080806223628/http://www.gp.org/press/states/ct/ct_2007_12_07.shtml 2008-08-06 dead http://newmenu.org/blog.php?blogOK=7&candidate=deshefy4congress_ct newmenu.org 2008-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727121650/http://www.newmenu.org/blog.php?blogOK=7&candidate=deshefy4congress_ct 2011-07-27 dead and Todd Vachon for the Socialist Party, running as a write-in candidate."Vachon for Congress https://web.archive.org/web/20080921113747/http://www.votevachon.com/ September 21, 2008 " (accessed 10 February 2008). Courtney's campaign website Sullivan's campaign website Deshefy's campaign website Vachon's campaign website https://web.archive.org/web/20080921113747/http://www.votevachon.com/ September 21, 2008 Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsLikely D November 6, 2008 Results Joe Courtney was reelected with a substantially larger margin than in 2006, winning nearly 66 percent of the vote. Connecticut's 2nd congressional district election, 2008 Connecticut Democratic Party Joe Courtney (incumbent)dist2note A A 212,148 65.7 Connecticut Republican Party Sean Sullivan 104,574 32.4 Green Party of Connecticut G. Scott Deshefy 6,300 2.0 Write-in candidate Todd Vachon 19 0.0 323,041 100.00 Connecticut Democratic Party dist2note A AIncludes 13,164 votes from the Working Families Party line, which endorsed Courtney on a fusion ticket. District 3 thumb Connecticut's 3rd congressional district This district is centered on the city of New Haven and its immediate suburbs. The district has been represented by Democrat Rosa DeLauro since 1991. Her challengers in this election included Republican Bo Itshaky and Green Ralph Ferrucci. DeLauro's campaign website Itshaky's campaign website Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 Results Rosa DeLauro was easily reelected to a tenth term, receiving over 77 percent of the vote. Connecticut's 3rd congressional district election, 2008 Connecticut Democratic Party Rosa DeLauro (incumbent)dist3note A A 230,172 77.5 Connecticut Republican Party Bo Itshaky 58,583 19.7 Green Party of Connecticut Ralph Ferrucci 8,163 2.7 296,918 100.00 Connecticut Democratic Party dist3note A AIncludes 25,411 votes from the Working Families Party line, which endorsed DeLauro on a fusion ticket. District 4 Connecticut's 4th congressional district 2008 Connecticut's 4th congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4 2010 x150px File:Jim Himes official portrait, 113th Congress (3x4).jpg Jim Himes Democratic Party (United States) 158,475 51.3% File:Chris Shays official photo (cropped).jpg Chris Shays Republican Party (United States) 146,854 47.6% 2008 CT-04 election results.svg 200px Municipality results Himes: #8da9e2 50–60% #4170cd 70–80% Shays: #ed8783 50–60% #e55651 60–70% U.S. Representative Chris Shays Republican Party (United States) Jim Himes Democratic Party (United States) This district includes portions of Fairfield and New Haven counties in southwestern Connecticut. Democratic nominee Jim Himes, a former Goldman Sachs executive, won against Republican incumbent Chris Shays and third-party candidates Richard Duffee, who withdrew from the 2006 race, and Michael Anthony Carrano.https://richardduffee.blogspot.com/ Republic Not Empire richardduffee.blogspot.com Shays won 51% of the vote in 2006 and 52% in 2004 in a district that went to John Kerry with 53% in 2004 (CPVI=D+5). In September, 2007, Shays indicated that if he was not given the top Republican seat on the Governmental Oversight Committee, he would retire. The only Republican House member in New England, he was expected to be a top target of Democrats. Democrat Himes announced his candidacy in April 2007. 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont was considered a potential candidate, although he lost in this district to incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman, whom Shays had endorsed. Other possible Democratic candidates included state Senators Bob Duff and Andrew MacDonald. Former professional hockey player Mike Richter, once considered a possible candidate, announced that he was not interested in running in 2008. It was thought Lowell P. Weicker Jr. might try to reclaim his old seat. Shay's campaign website Himes' campaign website Duffee's campaign website https://web.archive.org/web/20080801031538/http://www.richardduffee.com/ August 1, 2008 Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportTossup November 6, 2008 RothenbergTilt D flip November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallLean D flip November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsTossup November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsTossup November 6, 2008 Results Jim Himes defeated incumbent Christopher Shays, receiving slightly more than 51 percent of the vote. With Himes' victory, the Democrats now control all five of Connecticut's House seats, as well as all other House seats in New England. Connecticut's 4th congressional district election, 2008 Connecticut Democratic Party Jim Himesdist4note A A 158,475 51.3 Connecticut Republican Party Chris Shays (incumbent) 146,854 47.6 Libertarian Party of Connecticut Michael Anthony Carrano 2,049 0.7 Green Party of Connecticut Richard Duffee 1,388 0.4 Write-in candidate Eugene Flanagan 10 0.0 308,776 100.00 Connecticut Democratic Party Connecticut Republican Party dist4note A AIncludes 9,130 votes from the Working Families Party line, which endorsed Himes on a fusion ticket. District 5 Connecticut's 5th congressional district 2008 Connecticut's 5th congressional district election Connecticut presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 5 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 5 2010 x150px File:Chris Murphy official photo (cropped).jpg Chris Murphy Democratic Party (United States) Working Families Party 179,327 59.9% File:DavidCappiello.jpg David Cappiello Republican Party (United States) 117,914 39.4% 2008 CT-05 election results.svg 200px Municipality results Murphy: #b4c7ec 40–50% #8da9e2 50–60% #678cd7 60–70% #4170cd 70–80% Cappiello: #f1b4b2 40–50% #ed8783 50–60% U.S. Representative Chris Murphy Democratic Party (United States) Chris Murphy Democratic Party (United States) This district includes all of Northwestern Connecticut, and runs from Meriden and New Britain in Central Connecticut, to Waterbury, the Litchfield Hills, and the Farmington River Valley. Freshman Democrat Chris Murphy unseated 24-year incumbent Nancy Johnson with 56% of the vote in 2006. Nonetheless, the district is arguably Connecticut's most conservative (CPVI=D+4), and some considered Murphy vulnerable. State Senator David Cappiello was the Republican candidate.newsday.comMay 2026 medicmedic Tony Nania also considered a run, but withdrew from consideration for the Republican nomination in May.Nania Withdraws https://web.archive.org/web/20080807070728/http://www.everydayrepublican.com/2008/05/08/nania-withdraws-to-support-cappiello/ 2008-08-07 , The Everyday Republican, May 8, 2008 GOP state chairman Chris Healy dismissed claims that Murphy's large campaign warchest of $420,000 in the first quarter of 2007 may scare off potential challengers, as Cappiello filed as a candidate in April 2007.http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ctcappiello0426.artapr26,0,4411932.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics-state courant.comDecember 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes National Republicans ran radio ads in the summer of 2007 claiming Murphy has adopted special interest fundraising politics he had claimed to oppose. In addition, Cappiello accused Murphy of missing important votes.https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign Campaign The Hill Third-party candidates included Canton attorney Harold Burbank for the Green Party and Watertown resident Tom Winn, running as an independent candidate.http://www.newmenu.org/haroldburbank newmenu.org 2008-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20080705125553/http://www.newmenu.org/haroldburbank 2008-07-05 dead afterdowningstreet.org Murphy's campaign website https://web.archive.org/web/20080917212849/http://www.murphyforcongress.org/ September 17, 2008 Cappiello's campaign website https://web.archive.org/web/20080806235508/http://davidcappiello.com/dc/ 2008-08-06 Burbank's campaign website Winn's campaign website Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsLean D November 6, 2008 Results Chris Murphy retained his seat, receiving just under 60 percent of the vote. Connecticut's 5th congressional district election, 2008 Connecticut Democratic Party Chris Murphy (incumbent)dist5note A A 179,327 59.9 Connecticut Republican Party David Cappiello 117,914 39.4 Independent (politician) Thomas L. Winn 3,082 1.0 Green Party of Connecticut Harold H. Burbank II 2,324 0.8 Write-in candidate Walter Gengarelly 10 0.0 299,575 100.00 Connecticut Democratic Party dist5note A AIncludes 18,149 votes from the Working Families Party line, which endorsed Murphy on a fusion ticket. References 30em External links Elections and Voting from the Connecticut Secretary of State U.S. Congress candidates for Connecticut at Project Vote Smart Connecticut U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions for Connecticut congressional races from OpenSecrets 2006 elections United States House elections in Connecticut2008 2010 elections 2008 Connecticut United States House of Representatives