Connecticut House
Filing Deadline: June 10, 2008 • Primary Date: Aug. 12, 2008 • General Election: Nov. 4, 2008District Profile: The 1st is centered on Hartford and upscale West Hartford. Politically, the Hartford area has long been more Democratic than the rest of Connecticut. Full Profile
2006 results: John Larson (D) defeated Scott MacLean (R) by 74-26%.
Incumbent
John Larson (D)
Elected in 1998; Seeking sixth term; Larson was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Joseph Visconti (R)Visconti, a West Hartford town councilman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: For many years, this was a politically marginal district. But as its politics trended Democratic, they grew more volatile, with substantial votes for Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. Full Profile
2006 results: Joe Courtney (D) defeated Rob Simmons (R) by 83 votes.
Incumbent
Joe Courtney (D)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Courtney was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Sean Sullivan (R)Sullivan, an attorney, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 3rd was a marginal district for many years, changing partisan hands in the 1980s as well as the 1940s and 1950s. But it has moved to the Democratic side. Full Profile
2006 results: Rosa DeLauro (D) defeated Joseph Vollano (R) by 76-22%.
Incumbent
Rosa DeLauro (D)
Elected in 1990; Seeking 10th term; DeLauro was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Boaz "Bo" Itshaky (R)Itshaky, an acupuncturist, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: More than the rest of Connecticut, the 4th is oriented toward New York, and its residents' political attitudes are shaped as much by what is happening in the Big Apple as in Hartford. Full Profile
2006 results: Christopher Shays (R) defeated Diane Farrell (D) by 51-48%.
Incumbent
Christopher Shays (R)Elected in Aug. 1987; Seeking 11th full term; Shays was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Jim Himes (D)
Himes, the Greenwich Democratic chair, was nominated with 87% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: This district merged the surviving pieces of the old 5th and 6th, and it was drawn to provide a "fair fight" between two incumbents forced into the same district. Full Profile
2006 results: Chris Murphy (D) defeated Nancy Johnson (R) by 54-44%.
Incumbent
Chris Murphy (D)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Murphy was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
David Cappiello (R)Cappiello, a state senator, was unopposed in the primary.
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Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
N.Y.-13
(Open-R)2.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)3.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)4.
Va.-11
(Open-R)5.
Fla.-16
(Mahoney-D)6.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)7.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)8.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)9.
Alaska-AL
(Young-R)10.
Fla.-24
(Feeney-R)11.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)12.
Colo.-04
(Musgrave-R)13.
Mich.-09
(Knollenberg-R)14.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)15.
Minn.-06
(Bachmann-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous Connecticut house races.
