1987 Connecticut's 4th congressional district special election

none February 2026 February 2026 1987 United States House of Representatives elections 1987 Connecticut's 4th congressional district special election Connecticut presidential no 1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut 1986 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4 1988 August 18, 1987 33.6%34% turnout 'phenomenal' - Shays' margin exceeds McKinney's in 1986 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1287634886 Newspapers.com subscription Christopher Keating August 19, 1987 Stamford Advocate File:Chris Shays official photo (cropped).jpg Chris Shays Republican Party (US) 50,518 57.17% File:3x4.svg Christine Niedermeier Democratic Party (US) 37,293 42.21% U.S. Representative Stewart McKinney Republican Party (United States) Chris Shays Republican Party (United States) A special election was held on August 18, 1987 to determine the next member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 4th congressional district. The election was held to complete the unexpired term of Stewart McKinney, who died on May 7, 1987. Chris Shays, a State Representative from Stamford, beat Democratic opponent Christine Niedermeier, the nominee for this district in 1986 and a former State Representative from Fairfield. Shays would go on to represent the district until eventually losing re-election to Jim Himes in 2008. Republican primary State representative Ralph E. Van Norstrand, who was widely considered the front-runner early on in the race, dropped out on June 4 for personal reasons. Fellow state representative William H. Nickerson attempted to contest the convention, but dropped out on June 27 after it became apparent that most of the delegates from his home town of Greenwich supported businessman John T. Becker.Nickerson may drop out of 4th District GOP race https://books.google.com/books?id=3HUfAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5&dq=&article_id=3061,5049103&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0xZuHkZeUAxWeCnkGHXIdAukQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=false Mary McGee June 27, 1987 The Norwalk Hour The Republican convention was held on June 29 inside the Norwalk High School auditorium. There were 124 delegates to the convention in total. In order to win the party endorsement, a majority was needed, or 63 votes. To be able to force a primary, it required 20%, or 25 votes on any ballot. The official vote for the first ballot was 51 for Rich, 34 for Becker, 21 for Shays, and 18 for Metsopoulos. On the second roll call, Rich's support rose to 52, Becker received 35, Shays declined to 20, and Metsopoulos garnered 17 votes. Shays' candidacy appeared in jeopardy. Then, in the pivotal move of the convention, Fairfield First Selectman Jacquelyn Durrell, a delegate who had voted as part of the unanimous Fairfield bloc for Metsopoulos, switched her vote to Shays. This move was quickly imitated by three other Fairfield delegates, and Shays suddenly had 24 votes, one short of the 25 threshold needed to force a primary. Then, Eleanor Yudain, a delegate from Stamford announced she was switching her vote from Becker to Shays "to allow a good friend a chance at a primary", giving Shays the threshold needed to contest a primary. On the third ballot, the Fairfield delegation unanimously stuck to Metsopoulos, and along with defections from Becker, it allowed him to garner 35 votes, reaching well above the threshold to enter the primary. Rich received 53, and both Becker and Shays garnerned 18. At the end of the third ballot, the convention adjourned, with four candidates advancing to the July 21 primary.GOP will have 4-way primary https://www.newspapers.com/image/1320594486 Newspapers.com subscription Robert Roehr July 1, 1987 Westport News4 Republicans qualify for House Runoff https://www.newspapers.com/image/372057746 Newspapers.com subscription Charles F.J. Morse June 30, 1987 Hartford Courant Candidates Nominee Chris Shays, state representative for the 147th district from Stamford. Eliminated in primary John T. Becker, Greenwich businessman and nominee for state treasurer in 1982. Frank D. Rich Jr., Darien developer. John G. Metsopoulos, state representative for the 132nd district from Fairfield. Withdrew Ralph E. Van Norstrand, state representative for the 141st district and former Speaker of the state house from Darien.Van Norstrand drops out, Cunningham drops in https://www.newspapers.com/image/1287144814 Newspapers.com subscription Avice Meehan June 4, 1987 Stamford Advocate William H. Nickerson, state representative for the 149th district from Greenwich. (Endorsed Becker) Paul Giusti, Fairfield businessman. Disqualified Richard H. G. Cunningham, former state Representative for the 148th district (1985-1987) and state Senator for the 27th district (1979-1981) from Stamford.Stamford Republican fails to force primary https://www.newspapers.com/image/1251894533 Newspapers.com subscription Jim Callahan August 17, 1987 Bridgeport Telegram Declined Julie Belaga, former state representative for the 136th district from Westport (1977–1987) and nominee for governor in 1986. (Endorsed Shays)Belaga decides against bid to fill 4th District vacancy https://www.newspapers.com/image/372683412 Newspapers.com subscription Michele Jacklin May 20, 1987 Hartford Courant Emil Benvenuto, state representative for the 151st district from Greenwich. Convention Republican convention, June 29 Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Votes % Votes % Votes % Frank D. Rich Jr. 51 41.1% 52 41.9% 53 42.8% John Metsopoulos 18 14.5% 13 10.5% 35 28.2% John Becker 34 27.4% 34 27.4% 18 14.5% Chris Shays 21 17.0% 25 20.2% 18 14.5% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots 0 ballots 0 ballots Results July 21, 1987 Republican primary Republican Party (US) Chris Shays 11,142 38.50% Republican Party (US) John T. Becker 7,740 26.74% Republican Party (US) Frank D. Rich Jr. 7,185 24.82% Republican Party (US) John G. Metsopoulos 2,876 9.94% 28,943 100.00% Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Christine Niedermeier, former state representative for the 134th district from Fairfield and nominee for this district in 1986. Eliminated in primary Margaret E. Morton, state senator for the 23rd district from Bridgeport. Michael G. Morgan, chairman of the Stamford Board of Finance and nominee for this district in 1978. Withdrew William A. Collins, Mayor of Norwalk.Norwalk mayor aborts bid for 4th District nomination https://www.newspapers.com/image/1287150722 Newspapers.com subscription Beth Cooney Steven Crabill June 26, 1987 Stamford Advocate Convention Democratic convention, June 301 ballot, 3 Democratic candidates https://www.newspapers.com/image/1289479045 Steven Crabill Newspapers.com subscription Stamford Advocate July 1, 1987 Candidate Round 1 Votes % Margaret E. Morton 80 38.65% Christine Niedermeier 71 34.30% Michael G. Morgan 56 27.05% Inactive Ballots 0 ballots Results July 21, 1987 Democratic primary Democratic Party (US) Christine Niedermeier 13,422 52.60% Democratic Party (US) Margaret E. Morton 7,143 27.99% Democratic Party (US) Michael G. Morgan 4,954 19.41% 25,519 100.00% General election Results Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District special election, 1987Special election - Vote for Representative in Congress, August 18, 1987 - Fourth Congressional district https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/get_source_documentation/35543/1 Connecticut Secretary of StateConnecticut State Register and Manual, 1988 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073065982&seq=1 Connecticut State Library Republican Party (US) Chris Shays 50,518 57.17% Democratic Party (US) Christine Niedermeier 37,293 42.21% War Against AIDS Nicholas J. Tarzia 524 0.59% Write-in 28 0.03% 88,363 100.00% Republican Party (US) References Connecticut 1987 04 1987 04 Connecticut 04 United States House of Representatives 04 Category:United States House of Representatives special elections in Connecticut Category:August 1987 in the United States