2008Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
2008 election for Connecticut's 4th District
U.S. House · Connecticut
Jim Himes (D) won with 51.3% of the vote, defeating Christopher Shays (R) by 3.8 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Jim HimesDemocrat · winner
51.3%158,475
Christopher ShaysRepublican
47.6%146,854
Michael Anthony CarranoLibertarian
0.7%2,049
Richard Z. DuffeeGreen
0.4%1,388
308,776 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2008
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Jim HimesChristopher Shays
$3.9M
Raised by the campaign
$3.8M
$3.9M
Spent by the campaign
$3.8M
$30.1K
Cash on hand
$8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Jim Himes (D)Christopher Shays (R)
Also on the ballot: Michael Anthony Carrano (Libertarian), 0.7%; Richard Z. Duffee (Green), 0.4%