Connecticut's 5th congressional district

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Connecticut's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the western part of the state and spanning across parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, and Hartford Counties, the district runs from Meriden and New Britain in central Connecticut, westward to Danbury and the surrounding Housatonic Valley, encompassing the Farmington Valley, Upper Naugatuck River Valley, and the Litchfield Hills. The district also includes most of Waterbury.^[1]

The district is currently represented by Democrat Jahana Hayes. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+3, it is the least Democratic district in Connecticut, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.^[2]

History

In the early 20th century, the 5th congressional district included Waterbury, Litchfield County, and the Naugatuck Valley. It did not include any portion of Fairfield or Hartford counties and did not include the City of Meriden.

From 1964 to 1990, the 5th congressional district included many towns in Fairfield County which are now located in the 4th congressional district, such as Wilton, Monroe, Ridgefield, and Shelton. It also included the lower Naugatuck River Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Naugatuck which are now in the 3rd congressional district.

The current 5th congressional district was created in 2002 due to reapportionment following the 2000 U.S. census. Due to slow population growth, Connecticut lost a seat and the old Waterbury-based 5th district was merged with the New Britain-based 6th district. However, the merged district contained more of the old 6th's territory.

Although historically Republican, the 5th congressional district has been trending Democratic since 2004. John Kerry carried the district with 49.3% of the vote, a margin of 1,112 votes in the 2004 presidential election. Barack Obama carried the district in 2008 with 56.3% of the vote and in 2012 with 53.5% of the vote.

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), Connecticut's 5th district contains portions of four planning regions and 40 municipalities.^[3]

Capitol Planning Region (6)

Avon, Canton, Farmington, New Britain, Plainville, Simsbury

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (10)

Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Plymouth, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury (part; also 3rd), Watertown, Wolcott, Woodbury

Northwest Hills Planning Region (16)

Burlington, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington (part; also 1st) Warren, Washington

South Central Connecticut Planning Region (1)

Meriden

Western Connecticut Planning Region (7)

Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury (part; also 4th), New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Sherman

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2012^[4]
Party		Active voters	Inactive voters	Total voters	Percentage
	Democratic	108,601	4,720	113,321	29.96%
	Republican	89,242	3,554	92,796	24.53%
	Minor parties	3,728	152	3,880	1.03%
	Unaffiliated	159,433	8,782	168,215	44.489%
Total		361,004	17,208	378,212	100%