Connecticut's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the central part of the state, the district includes the city of New Haven and its surrounding suburbs.

Principal cities include: Middletown, New Haven, and Stratford.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Rosa DeLauro.

History The 3rd congressional district has existed since 1837, having been organized from the at-large congressional district. It is centered on New Haven and its suburbs. The district comprises four-fifths of New Haven County, a small portion of Middlesex County, including most of Middletown, and most of Stratford and a small section of Shelton in Fairfield County.

New Haven and its surrounding suburbs are largely Democratic, making the district very Democratic in local and federal elections. Among districts statewide, only the 1st congressional district is considered more Democratic. Four Democratic strongholds, New Haven, Hamden, Middletown, and West Haven, comprise 40% of the total district population. Since 2000, Democratic presidential candidates have carried the district by a margin of 26 points. John Kerry, being the exception, still defeated George W. Bush by a comfortable 14 points. On the state level, moderate Republicans John G. Rowland and M. Jodi Rell have also carried the district.

Since 1933, Democrats have held the district for all but six terms (1943–45, 1947–49, 1953–59, 1981–83). Between 1972-1988, every Republican nominee for President carried the district, along with the state itself. In his sole run for a House seat, Joe Lieberman, lost the district to a Republican in 1980.

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), Connecticut's 3rd district contains portions of four planning regions and 25 municipalities.

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region (1)

Stratford

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region (3)

Durham, Middlefield, Middletown (part; also 1st)

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (8)

Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton (part; also 4th), Waterbury (part; also 5th)

South Central Connecticut Planning Region (13)

Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Milford, North Branford, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge

Voter registration Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2012 Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage Democratic 145,529 10,801 156,330 37.50% Republican 65,324 3,352 68,676 16.47% Minor Parties 873 120 993 0.24% Unaffiliated 178,593 12,340 190,933 45.80% Total 390,319 26,613 416,932 100%

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 62% - 37%2010 SenateBlumenthal 60% - 39% GovernorMalloy 54% - 45%2012 PresidentObama 63% - 37% SenateMurphy 60% - 40%2014 GovernorMalloy 55% - 43%2016 PresidentClinton 55% - 41% SenateBlumenthal 67% - 31%2018 SenateMurphy 61% - 38% GovernorLamont 51% - 46% Attorney GeneralTong 54% - 45%2020 PresidentBiden 59% - 39%2022 SenateBlumenthal 58% - 42% GovernorLamont 56% - 43% Secretary of the StateThomas 56% - 42% TreasurerRussell 54% - 44% ComptrollerScanlon 57% - 43% Attorney GeneralTong 58% - 40%2024 PresidentHarris 56% - 42% SenateMurphy 59% - 39%

Recent elections

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

List of members representing the district Member Party Years of service Congress Electoral history Location District created March 4, 1837 Elisha Haley Democratic March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1837.Retired. Thomas Wheeler Williams Whig March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1843 Elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1840.Retired. George S. Catlin Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Elected in 1843.Retired. John A. Rockwell Whig March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1845.Re-elected in 1847.Lost re-election. Chauncey Fitch Cleveland Democratic March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1849.Re-elected in 1851.Retired. Nathan Belcher Democratic March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1853.Retired. Sidney Dean Know Nothing March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 Elected in 1855.Re-elected in 1857.Retired. Republican March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1859 Alfred A. Burnham Republican March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1859.Re-elected in 1861.Retired. Augustus Brandegee Republican March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1863.Re-elected in 1865. Henry H. Starkweather Republican March 4, 1867 –January 28, 1876 Elected in 1867.Re-elected in 1869.Re-elected in 1871.Re-elected in 1873.Re-elected in 1875.Died. Vacant January 28, 1876 –April 12, 1876 John T. Wait Republican April 12, 1876 –March 3, 1887 Elected to finish Starkweather's term.Re-elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Retired. Charles Addison Russell Republican March 4, 1887 –October 23, 1902 Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Died. Vacant October 23, 1902 –November 4, 1902 Frank B. Brandegee Republican November 4, 1902 –May 10, 1905 Elected to finish Russell's term.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Resigned when elected to the US Senate Vacant May 10, 1905 –October 2, 1905 Edwin W. Higgins Republican October 2, 1905 –March 3, 1913 Elected to finish Brandegee's term.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Retired. Thomas L. Reilly Democratic March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1915 Elected in 1912.Lost re-election. John Q. Tilson Republican March 4, 1915 –December 3, 1932 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Resigned. Vacant December 3, 1932 –March 3, 1933 Francis T. Maloney Democratic March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1935 Elected in 1932.Retired to run for U.S. senator. James A. Shanley Democratic January 3, 1935 –January 3, 1943 Elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Lost re-election. Ranulf Compton Republican January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1945 Elected in 1942.Lost re-election. James P. Geelan Democratic January 3, 1945 –January 3, 1947 Elected in 1944.Lost re-election. Ellsworth Foote Republican January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1949 Elected in 1946.Lost re-election. John A. McGuire Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1953 Elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Lost re-election. Albert W. Cretella Republican January 3, 1953 –January 3, 1959 Elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Lost re-election. Robert Giaimo Democratic January 3, 1959 –January 3, 1981 Elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Retired. Lawrence J. DeNardis Republican January 3, 1981 –January 3, 1983 Elected in 1980.Lost re-election. Bruce Morrison Democratic January 3, 1983 –January 3, 1991 Elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Retired to run for Governor of Connecticut. Rosa DeLauro Democratic January 3, 1991 –present Elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 1993–2003 2003–2013 2013–2023 2023–present

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present