History
Historically Republican, the Fifth Congressional District has been treading Democratic since 2004. John Kerry carried the district with 49.3% of the vote, a margin of 1,112 votes in the 2004 presidential election. Obama carried the district in 2008 with 56.3% of the vote and in 2012 with 53.5% of the vote.
The current 5th Congressional District was created in 2002 due to reapportionment following the 2000 U.S. Census. Due to slow population growth, Connecticut lost a seat and the district was merged with the previous Sixth Congressional District.
From 1964 to 1990 the 5th Congressional District included many towns in Fairfield County which are now located in the 4th Congressional District, such as Wilton, Monroe, Ridgefield, and Shelton. It also included the lower Naugatuck River Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Naugatuck which are now in the 3rd Congressional District.
In the early 20th century the 5th Congressional District included Waterbury, Litchfield County, and the Naugatuck Valley. It did not include any portion of Fairfield or Hartford counties and did not include the City of Meriden.
Read more about this topic: Connecticut's 5th Congressional District
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