Greenwich voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, with Rep. Jim Himes defending his 4th Congressional District seat against Republican Michael Goldstein for the second straight election.

Himes, a Democrat, has held the seat since 2008, when he defeated moderate Republican Chris Shays. Shays was the last Republican from Connecticut to serve in Congress, CT Public reported. The district, which stretches from Greenwich along the coast to Bridgeport and north to Ridgefield, was a Republican stronghold for 40 years before Himes flipped it.

Independent Party nominee Benjamin Wesley, a mechanical engineer running for a second time, is also on the ballot.

A district that shifted blue

Himes told CT Public the district's voters haven't changed as much as the party they left behind.

"The nature of the district hasn't changed that much. The Republican Party has changed radically, and so my district is in the category of educated districts in which independent voters and even some Republican voters have abandoned the Republican Party," Himes said.

Members of the Bush political dynasty have strong ties to Greenwich and the 4th District, CT Public noted. Himes said the shift began under George W. Bush as the GOP became more socially conservative.

Goldstein on healthcare, energy and polarization

Goldstein, a board-certified ophthalmologist and attorney from Greenwich, lost the Republican primary in 2022 but won the nomination in 2024, losing to Himes in the general election. He won the GOP primary again on Aug. 11, defeating Daniel Miressi, Greenwich Time reported.

Healthcare is a top priority for Goldstein. He opposes single-payer proposals and wants more competition to lower costs. He has also campaigned on high energy prices and I-95 congestion, calling the highway a "parking lot," according to CT Public. He said he wants to expand trade schools to provide what he called "AI-proof" jobs.

Goldstein said he worries about what he described as a leftward pull in the Democratic Party and called socialism a "failed ideology." He told CT Public that growing political polarization is "just bad for our democracy."

Fundraising

Himes had $2.4 million cash on hand, the largest campaign account of any Connecticut Democrat running for Congress, CT Mirror reported. He raised nearly $299,000 in the last quarter and spent $387,000.

Goldstein raised about $59,000 for the entire campaign and entered the final weeks with roughly $25,000 in the bank, CT Mirror reported. He spent on SMS advertising and yard signs. Goldstein said the state Republican Party has offered little help, with resources focused on the governor's race.

How to vote

Early voting in Greenwich runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, at Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days, with extended hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, according to the town's voting website. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, Nov. 2.

On Election Day, polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 12 locations across town.