Connecticut's 3rd congressional district

Connecticut's 3rd congressional district
Current Representative Rosa DeLauro (D–New Haven)
Area 485 mi²
Distribution 96.6% urban, 3.4% rural
Population (2000) 681,113
Median income $49,752
Ethnicity 76.1% White, 11.5% Black, 2.5% Asian, 8.0% Hispanic, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% other
Cook PVI D+9

Connecticut's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the central part of the state, the district includes the city of New Haven and its suburbs as well as surrounding areas.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Rosa DeLauro.

Contents

Characteristics

The 3rd congressional district has existed since 1837, having been organized from the At-Large Congressional District. It is centered on the city of New Haven and its immediate suburbs. The district occupies about four-fifths of New Haven County, a small portion of Middlesex County, and Stratford in Fairfield County. New Haven is the largest city and the focus of the district and the district is commonly referred to as "New Haven's district," but parts of the large cities of Middletown and Waterbury are also represented in this district.

Since New Haven and its nearby suburbs are largely Democratic, the district is seen as very Democratic leaning in both local and federal elections. Among Connecticut districts, only the Hartford-based 1st Congressional District is considered more Democratic. Democrats also poll strongly in the cities of New Haven, West Haven, and Hamden, which together comprise roughly one-third of the population of the district. John Kerry defeated George W. Bush by a comfortable 14 points in the district in 2004. Moderate Republicans running for governor such as John G. Rowland and M. Jodi Rell have carried the district in recent elections, though.

Democrats have held the district for all but six terms (1943–45, 1947–49, 1953–59, 1981–83) since 1933. Republicans were more competitive in this district in the 1980s, handing Joe Lieberman his one general election loss in the 1980 U.S. House race and strongly contesting the seat in 1982, 1984 and 1990. In that era Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush won the district due to huge suburban pluralities, which Republicans have not obtained in this region for federal candidates since the end of the Cold War.

Municipalities within the District

Voter registration

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[1]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
  Democratic 145,529 10,801 156,330 37.50%
  Republican 65,324 3,352 68,676 16.47%
  Unaffiliated 178,593 12,340 190,933 45.80%
  Minor Parties 873 120 993 0.24%
Total 390,319 26,613 416,932 100%

List of representatives

Representative Party Years District home Note
District organized from Connecticut's At-large congressional district in 1837
Thomas T. Whittlesey Democratic March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 Lost Re-election
Thomas W. Williams Whig March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
George S. Catlin Democratic March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
John A. Rockwell Whig March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1849 Lost Re-election
Chauncey Fitch Cleveland Democratic March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Nathan Belcher Democratic March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 Declined Nomination
Sidney Dean American March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 Changed Parties
Sidney Dean Republican March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 Declined Nomination
Alfred A. Burnham Republican March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863 Declined Nomination
Augustus Brandegee Republican March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867
Henry H. Starkweather Republican March 4, 1867 – January 28, 1876 Died
Vacant January 28, 1876 – April 12, 1876
John T. Wait Republican April 12, 1876 – March 3, 1887 Retired
Charles A. Russell Republican March 4, 1887 – October 23, 1902 Died
Vacant October 23, 1902 – November 4, 1902
Frank B. Brandegee Republican November 4, 1902 – May 10, 1905 Resigned on Election to US Senate
Vacant May 10, 1905 – October 2, 1905
Edwin W. Higgins Republican October 2, 1905 – March 3, 1913 Retired
Thomas L. Reilly Democratic March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 Lost Re-election
John Q. Tilson Republican March 4, 1915 – December 3, 1932 Resigned
Vacant December 3, 1932 – March 4, 1933
Francis T. Maloney Democratic March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 Retired to run for US Senate
James A. Shanley Democratic January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943 Lost Re-election
Ranulf Compton Republican January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 Lost Re-election
James P. Geelan Democratic January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 Lost Re-election
Ellsworth Foote Republican January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 Lost Re-election
John A. McGuire Democratic January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 Lost Re-election
Albert W. Cretella Republican January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959 Lost Re-election
Robert N. Giaimo Democratic January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1981 North Haven Retired
Lawrence Joseph DeNardis Republican January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 Hamden Lost Re-election
Bruce Morrison Democratic January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1991 Hamden Retired to run for Governor
Rosa L. DeLauro Democratic January 3, 1991 – present New Haven Incumbent

Election Results

US House election, 2010: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 134,544 60.97 -7.89
Republican Jerry Labriola, Jr. 74,107 33.58 +13.88
Working Families Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 9,021 4.09 -4.46
Green Charles A. Pillsbury 2,984 1.35 -1.55
Democratic hold Swing -13.12
Turnout 220,656
US House election, 2008: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 204,761 68.86 -7.15
Republican Boaz Itshaky 58,583 19.70 -2.73
Working Families Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 25,411 8.55 +8.55
Green Ralph A. Ferrucci 8,613 2.90 +1.34
Democratic hold Swing +2.07
Turnout 297,368
US House election, 2006: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 150,436 76.01 +3.57
Republican Joseph Vollano 44,386 22.43 -2.54
Green Daniel G. Sumrall 3,089 1.56 -1.03
Democratic hold Swing +3.06
Turnout 197,911
US House election, 2004: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 200,638 72.44 +6.86
Republican Richard Elser 69,160 24.97 -4.57
Green Ralph A. Ferrucci 7,182 2.59 -2.29
Democratic hold Swing +5.72
Turnout 276,980
US House election, 2002: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 121,557 65.58 -5.33
Republican Richard Elser 54,757 29.54 +2.03
Green Charles A. Pillsbury 9,050 4.88 +4.88
Democratic hold Swing -3.68
Turnout 185,364
US House election, 2000: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 156,910 71.91 +0.59
Republican June M. Gold 60,037 27.51 +0.15
Natural Law Gail Dalby 1,258 0.58 +0.18
Democratic hold Swing +0.37
Turnout 218,205
US House election, 1998: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 109,726 71.32 +6.45
Republican Martin T. Reust 42,090 27.36 -0.71
Term Limits Kristen J. Abbatiello 739 0.48 +0.48
Reform David P. Cole 676 0.44 +0.44
Natural Law Gail Dalby 620 0.40 -0.18
Democratic hold Swing +0.36
Turnout 153,851
US House election, 1996: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 137,108 64.87 +1.43
Republican John Coppola 59,335 28.07 -2.22
A Connecticut Party Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 13,690 6.48 +0.22
Natural Law Gail Dalby 1,219 0.58 +0.58
Democratic hold Swing +8.19
Turnout 211,352
US House election, 1994: Connecticut District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rosa DeLauro (inc.) 111,261 63.45
Republican Susan Johnson 53,110 30.29
A Connecticut Party Susan Johnson 10,984 6.26
Democratic hold Swing
Turnout 175,355

References

  1. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2006-09-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20060923151511/http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-02. 
Current districts: 1 2 3 4 5
All districts: At-large 1 2 3 4 5 6
See also: Connecticut's past & present Representatives, Senators, and Delegations, 2010 elections, 2012 elections
All U.S. districts – Apportionment – Redistricting – Gerrymandering – Maps