Redistricting Process: For congressional redistricting, the Connecticut General Assembly, composed of both houses of the State Legislature, names a committee to reapportion the state. The president pro-tempore and minority leader in the state Senate, as well as the speaker and minority leader of the House, each name two legislators to a Redistricting Committee. If there exists a third party in the General Assembly, two members of that party will also be named to the committee. The 8 (10 if there exists a third party in the state legislature) members of the committee will make a report of reapportionment recommendations which will be submitted to the General Assembly. The Assembly then can pass the plan by a two-thirds vote. Should the General Assembly not adopt the plan by September 15th of the year following the decennial census, the Governor appoints a back-up commission again designated by those who selected the Redistricting Committee. The commission then chooses a state elector to become part of the commission, bringing the number of commissioners to 9. The Commission has until November 30th to publish and submit a plan to the secretary of state, at which point it gains the force of law. If a plan is not submitted by that date, the secretary of state can request that the chief justice of Connecticut Supreme Court either compel the commission to come up with a plan or establish its own redistricting plan.
Governor: Democrat Dan Malloy
Legislature: Democrats control both chambers.
Number of Congressional Seats in 2011: 5 (no change from 2010)
2011 Ideal District Population: 714,819
Link to Connecticut General Assembly Reapportionment Information
Current District by District Politics and Demographics
1st District– Democrat John Larson
2010 Congressional Results: Larson 61%
2008 Congressional Results: Larson 72%
2006 Congressional Results: Larson 74%
2004 Congressional Results: Larson 73%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 33% Obama 66%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 39% Kerry 60%
District Population: 710,951
Over/Under Populated by: 3,868
White Population: 461,039
African American Population: 98,646
Hispanic Population: 104,848
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 1st District.*
2nd District– Democrat Joe Courtney
2010 Congressional Results: Courtney 60%
2008 Congressional Results: Courtney 66%
2006 Congressional Results: Courtney 50%
2004 Congressional Results: Rob Simmons (R) 54%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 40% Obama 58%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 44% Kerry 54%
District Population: 729,771
Over/Under Populated by: 14,952
White Population: 615,266
African American Population: 25,994
Hispanic Population: 48,781
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 2nd District.
3rd District– Democrat Rosa DeLauro
2010 Congressional Results: DeLauro 65%
2008 Congressional Results: DeLauro 77%
2006 Congressional Results: DeLauro 76%
2004 Congressional Results: DeLauro 72%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 36% Obama 62%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 42% Kerry 56%
District Population: 712,339
Over/Under Populated by: 2,480
White Population: 490,247
African American Population: 89,033
Hispanic Population: 90,670
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 3rd District.
4th District– Democrat Jim Himes
2010 Congressional Results: Himes 53%
2008 Congressional Results: Himes 51.3%
2006 Congressional Results: Christopher Shays (R) 51%
2004 Congressional Results: Shays 52%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 40% Obama 60%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 46% Kerry 52%
District Population: 706,740
Over/Under Populated by: 8,079
White Population: 456,810
African American Population: 79,467
Hispanic Population: 123,554
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 4th District.
5th District– Democrat Chris Murphy
2010 Congressional Results: Murphy 54%
2008 Congressional Results: Murphy 59%
2006 Congressional Results: Murphy 54%
2004 Congressional Results: Nancy Johnson (R) 60%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 42% Obama 56%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 49.0% Kerry 49.3%
District Population: 714,296
Over/Under Populated by: 523
White Population: 456,810
African American Population: 79,467
Hispanic Population: 123,554
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 5th District.
*In some browsers, the link to the 2010 Census page may link to a table
of demographics for several states as opposed to the districts for the
specific state. If this occurs, click the “Back to Search” link at the
top of the page and then click on the arrow next to “Geographies” in
the left column. Select “All Congressional Districts within Connecticut”
and then close the box. Click on the link for “Race, Hispanic or
Latino, Age and Housing Occupancy: 2010” and the correct table should
appear.
Redistricting Process taken from Rose Institute study “Redistricting in America.”