U.S. House, Connecticut - 5th District
West -- Danbury, New Britain, most of Waterbury
Race Forecast: Leans Democratic
2008: Rep.
2006:
Two young hot-shots of the Connecticut state legislature are competing for the state’s western district. Democrat Murphy is a former state senator who who unseated Johnson in ‘06 and is running for a second term while GOP state Sen. David Cappiello argues he better suits district voters as a fiscal conservative and social moderate. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Murphy has been in the center of the financial crisis and supported the so-called bailout package, arguing it would have been calamitous not to support the measure.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D
- First Elected: 2006 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (56.46%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Leans Democratic
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
Based in the hilly western part of the state, the 5th is a mix of rolling bucolic farmland and mid-size industrial cities. Its longstanding manufacturing cities are making the difficult transition into successful centers of technology and skilled manufacturing.
Waterbury is the district’s most populous city, with about 80 percent of residents living in the 5th (the rest live in the 3rd). It is middle-class and diverse, with blacks and Hispanics together totaling 40 percent of the population. East of Waterbury, on the 5th’s southeastern edge, are Cheshire, an upper-income, Republican-leaning area, and Meriden, a Democratic-voting area.
North and east of Waterbury, the district branches off to take in New Britain, where the Hand Tools Division of Stanley Works is a major employer. New Britain votes Democratic and is home to a very large Polish community, in addition to an ample Hispanic community. Growing Danbury, located in the 5th’s southwestern corner, has experienced a recent influx of immigrants. Employers in Danbury include Praxair, which makes industrial gases, and Scholastic Library Publishing.
The 5th is politically competitive. John Kerry barely won the 2004 presidential vote here, and the House seat changed hands in 2006. George W. Bush carried several towns north and east of Danbury, including burgeoning New Milford and Newtown, in 2004.
Major Industry
Manufacturing, health care
Cities
Waterbury (pt.), 88,624; Danbury, 74,848; New Britain, 71,538; Meriden, 58,244
notable
Cheshire was designated the “Bedding Plant Capital of Connecticut” by the state legislature.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 681,113
- Under 18: 25%
- Over 65: 14%
- Married: 56.1%
- Non-Hispanic White: 80%
- Black: 5%
- Hispanic: 11%
- Asian: 2%
- Foreign Born: 10.9%
- Language other than English: 19.9%
- Median Household Income: 53,118
- Owner Occupied Housing: 68%
- Income above $200k: 4
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 62.9%
- Blue Collar: 22.6%
- Services: 14.4%
- Bachelor's Degree: 30%
- Graduate Education: 12.0%
- Civilian Veterans: 60,778
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Christopher Murphy (D) | 170,985 | 59.2% |
| David Cappiello (R) | 112,473 | 38.9% | ||
| Harold Burbank (GREEN) | 2,809 | 1% | ||
| Thomas Winn (I) | 2,709 | 0.9% | ||
| 2006 | general | Christopher Murphy (D, WFM) | 122,980 | 56.5% |
| Nancy Johnson (R) | 94,824 | 43.5% | ||
| 2004 | general | Nancy Johnson (R) | 168,268 | 59.8% |
| Theresa Gerratana (D) | 107,438 | 38.2% | ||
| Fernando Ramirez (WFM) | 3,196 | 1.1% | ||
| Wildey Moore (CC) | 2,545 | 0.9% | ||
| 2002 | general | Nancy Johnson (R) | 113,626 | 54.2% |
| Jim Maloney (D) | 90,616 | 43.3% | ||
| Joseph Zdonczyk (CC) | 3,709 | 1.8% | ||
| Walter Gengarelly (LIBERT) | 1,503 | 0.7% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 49.3% | George W. Bush: 49% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 52% | George W. Bush: 43% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPPIELLO, DAVID J (R) | November 24, 2008 | $1,357,194.00 | $1,315,063.00 | $90,000.00 | $819,318.00 | $42,059.00 | |
| VANCE, J PAUL JR (D) | February 11, 2007 | $590.00 | |||||
| MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER S MR. (D) | November 24, 2008 | $3,077,567.00 | $2,985,657.00 | $108,598.00 | $1,972,076.00 | $142,613.00 | |
| JOHNSON, NANCY L. (R) | November 19, 2007 | $7,271.00 | $113,184.00 | ||||
| MALONEY, JAMES H (D) | September 30, 2008 | $17.00 | $40,332.00 | ||||
| NANIA, ANTHONY JOSEPH (R) | July 10, 2008 | $47,448.00 | $47,448.00 | $44,498.00 | |||
