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. Democratic strength is strongest in 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.
Read more about this topic: Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District