# CT-04 — 2026 U.S. House Race Democratic Rep. [[Jim Himes]] is seeking a tenth term in Connecticut's 4th district against Republican [[Michael Goldstein]], a Greenwich physician and lawyer he beat by 24 points in 2024. Independent Benjamin Wesley, who also ran in 2024, is on the ballot too. The [[Cook Political Report]] rates the seat Solid Democratic, and no major forecaster treats it as competitive. The race matters less for its outcome than for who holds the seat. Himes is the ranking Democrat on the [[House Intelligence Committee]], one of the "[[Gang of Eight]]" briefed on the most sensitive operations, and the House Democrat most involved in the fights over [[FISA Section 702]]. He spent early 2026 urging his party to extend the surveillance program, then turned against a short-term renewal in June after [[Bill Pulte]] became acting intelligence director. His full record is at [[Jim Himes]]. ## Where it stands As of October 28, 2026: - **[[Cook Political Report]]:** Solid Democratic, unchanged since early 2025. - **[[Sabato's Crystal Ball]]:** Safe Democratic. The seat does not appear among the Crystal Ball's competitive districts as of October 20, 2026. ## The district The 4th covers southwestern Connecticut's Fairfield County shoreline and its inland suburbs: 18 towns and cities including Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield and Bridgeport, reaching north to Ridgefield, Shelton and Oxford. Cook gives it a partisan lean of D+13. In 2024 Himes won 61.1 percent to Goldstein's 37.3 percent, with Wesley at 1.6 percent, out of about 329,000 votes. Republicans last won the seat in 2006, when Chris Shays held it; Himes unseated him in 2008. ## The candidates - **[[Jim Himes]] (D, incumbent).** Former [[Goldman Sachs]] banker, in Congress since 2009, ranking member of the intelligence committee since 2023. - **[[Michael Goldstein]] (R).** Physician and attorney from Greenwich and a past leader of the New York County Medical Society. He lost the 2022 Republican primary for this seat and the 2024 general election to Himes. - **Benjamin Wesley (Independent Party).** Manufacturing engineer who also ran in 2024. ## How the nominations were decided Goldstein won the party's endorsement at the May convention, and former pro hockey player Dan Miressi petitioned onto the ballot. In the August 11 primary Goldstein won about 74 percent of the vote to Miressi's 26 percent. Turnout was about 6,100 to 6,200 votes; reported totals differ slightly by source. ## Money From each campaign's filings with the Federal Election Commission, covering 2025–26 through October 14, 2026: | Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |---|---|---|---| | Jim Himes (D) | $1.70 million | $1.39 million | $2.42 million | | Michael Goldstein (R) | $59,000 | $33,000 | $27,000 | Goldstein's committee also reported about $29,000 in debts. ## What to watch - **The margin compared with 2024.** Himes won by about 24 points two years ago. - **The money gap.** Himes entered the final weeks with about $2.4 million in the bank; Goldstein had about $27,000. - **Himes's committee role in the next Congress.** Which party controls the House decides whether he leads the intelligence committee or remains its top Democrat, including on the next round of FISA Section 702 votes. ## Connections - [[Jim Himes]] · [[Michael Goldstein]] - [[House Intelligence Committee]] · [[Gang of Eight]] · [[FISA Section 702]] · [[Bill Pulte]] - [[2026 House Races Hub]] · [[2026 Key State Races Hub]] · [[2026 Midterms Hub]]