Jim Himes

James Himes
James Himes
Born	July 5, 1966 (age 60); Lima, Peru
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, legislator
Years active	2009–present
Known for	U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 4th congressional district

James Andrew Himes (born July 5, 1966) is an American entrepreneur and legislator who has represented Connecticut's 4th district in the United States House of Representatives since 2009. He affiliates with the Democratic Party.

The district Himes represents encompasses a large portion of southwestern Connecticut, largely coinciding with the state's section of the New York metropolitan area. It includes areas within Fairfield County and New Haven County, featuring prominent cities such as Bridgeport, Norwalk, Fairfield, and Stamford.

Currently, he serves as the senior Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee.

In previous roles, Himes led the United States House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth as chair and headed the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy. Since 2013, he has been part of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and ascended to its Ranking Member position in 2023. Moreover, during the 115th Congress (2017–2019), he was chair of the New Democrat Coalition.

Early life and education

Born on July 5, 1966, in Lima, Peru, Himes is the son of American parents. His father, James R. Himes, was employed by the Ford Foundation in Lima before serving as director of the UNICEF Innocenti Center for child development research located in Florence, Italy. His mother, Judith A. Himes, worked as director of board activities for New Jersey’s Board of Higher Education based in Trenton.

Himes spent his formative years living in Lima and later in Bogotá, Colombia. Following his parents’ divorce, he relocated with his mother and two sisters to Pennington, New Jersey, where he completed his secondary education at Hopewell Valley Central High School.

He matriculated at Harvard College, where he captained the university’s lightweight rowing team and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988. Awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, he pursued graduate studies in Latin American studies at St Edmund Hall, part of Oxford, earning a Master of Philosophy degree in 1990. In recognition of his achievements, he was granted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Bridgeport in 2012.

Early career

Himes began his professional career in 1995 at Goldman Sachs, working as a banker focused on Latin American markets and New York operations, ultimately attaining the position of vice president.

In 2002, he was named commissioner of the Greenwich Housing Authority, serving two years as its board chairman. His board memberships have included roles with Aspira of Connecticut, the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and Family Assets, LLP based in Bridgeport.

Additionally, Himes was elected to serve on the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation and held leadership as chairperson of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee.

Legislation

Himes has introduced a total of 75 bills.

On March 6, 2025, he was one of ten Democrats who sided with all Republicans in censuring Democratic Representative Al Green for disrupting President Donald Trump's 2025 State of the Union Address.

Committee assignments

During the 118th Congress, Himes serves on:

The Financial Services Committee
The Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, where he holds the position of Ranking Member

Caucus memberships

Co-chair of the Congressional UK Caucus
Member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption
Participant in the New Democrat Coalition
Member of the Rare Disease Caucus
Part of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans

Abortion

According to Planned Parenthood, Himes maintains a 100% pro-choice rating. He opposed the inclusion of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which sought to prohibit federal funding for abortion coverage within health plans.

Defense

Himes supports a swift reduction of American troops in Afghanistan, prioritizing counterterrorism efforts instead of nation-building initiatives. He advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons, favors imposing sanctions on Iran, and voted in favor of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. Additionally, he backs a two-state resolution to address the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Education

He regards early childhood education as a vital investment for the nation and voted to increase funding twofold for the Early Head Start Program. While acknowledging that No Child Left Behind had good intentions, he believes it requires reform. Furthermore, he co-sponsored an amendment to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act aimed at enhancing financial literacy among students.

Environment

Endorsed with a perfect score by Environment America, Himes promotes financial incentives and supports varied research and development efforts to fulfill energy needs while safeguarding environmental interests. He also cast his vote in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

Gun issues

Himes opposed H.R. 627, legislation that would permit carrying loaded firearms in national parks. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has awarded him a lifetime rating of 100% due to his advocacy for stronger gun control measures. He chooses not to participate in moments of silence following mass shootings, criticizing such acts as symbolic distractions from meaningful legislative action on gun violence.

Health care

As a supporter of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Himes advocates for maintaining both Medicare and Medicaid. He stresses the importance of implementing fair reforms to control escalating health care expenses and ensure these programs remain viable for future beneficiaries.

Fourth Amendment

Himes voted against H.R. 2397, which aimed to terminate funding for the NSA's domestic phone metadata collection program. He clarified that his dissent was based on concerns about the bill’s reactive approach and overly restrictive constraints on NSA authority rather than opposition to oversight itself.

Transportation

Himes played a key role in co-sponsoring H.R. 402, known as The National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011, which was designed to finance nationwide infrastructure initiatives by encouraging private sector investment and fostering public-private collaborations. He successfully obtained more than $70 million dedicated to improvements on the Merritt Parkway, $11 million allocated for infrastructure enhancements at Bridgeport's Steel Point project that created thousands of employment opportunities, and $30 million directed toward modernization efforts on Metro North's Danbury Branch line.

Animal rights and wildlife issues

Between 2009 and 2010, Himes achieved a perfect score from both the Society for Animal Protective Legislation and the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, reflecting his strong commitment to animal welfare and wildlife conservation efforts.

LGBT rights

During the 2009–2010 period, the Human Rights Campaign granted Himes a flawless rating in recognition of his active support for LGBT rights.

Immigration

Himes received a 100% approval rating from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2009–2010, highlighting his advocacy for the protection of undocumented immigrants' rights.

Electoral College and presidential selection

In 2016, Himes publicly encouraged members of the Electoral College to reject Donald Trump’s candidacy and instead cast their votes for Hillary Clinton, emphasizing concerns about Trump’s conduct—especially his criticism of the CIA and intelligence agencies. While acknowledging Trump’s legitimate electoral victory, Himes questioned his suitability to hold office and referenced the original intent behind the Electoral College as a safeguard against such circumstances.

Antitrust legislation

In 2022, Himes was among sixteen Democrats who opposed the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust measure aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices among corporations.

Unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) disclosure

During the House Intelligence Committee’s first hearing on UFOs in over five decades in 2022, Himes called on the Pentagon to release information to help dispel rumors and conspiracy theories. On June 29, 2023, in an Ask a Pol interview, he expressed doubt regarding whistleblower David Grusch’s assertions about a secret U.S. Government UAP special access program, stating he had been assured no such materials exist.

Reports emerged alleging that Himes covertly opposed the UAP Disclosure Act by working with Republican Mike Turner to eliminate provisions such as eminent domain authority and an independent review board, despite widespread bipartisan backing for the bill in the Senate.

2024 presidential nominee

On July 11, 2024, Himes publicly urged Joe Biden to exit the race for the 2024 United States presidential election.

2008

In the 2008 congressional race, Himes challenged Chris Shays, a Republican incumbent serving ten terms. The contest also included Libertarian candidate M.A. Carrano and Green Party nominee Richard Duffee. Himes prevailed with 51% of the vote compared to Shays’ 47%, achieving decisive wins in major cities within the district such as Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford; notably, he secured approximately 80% of votes in Bridgeport. His victory was aided by Barack Obama’s strong performance locally, where Obama garnered 60% support.

Assuming office with the commencement of the 111th Congress on January 6, 2009, Himes became the first Democrat to represent this district since 1969 and only its second Democratic representative since 1943. His election also resulted in New England’s House delegation being fully Democratic for the first time.

2010

In the 2010 election, Himes secured reelection by defeating Republican State Senator Dan Debicella. He broadened his voter base by capturing Redding, Weston, Westport, and narrowly winning Fairfield by a margin of nine votes.

The campaign generated $3.66 million in funds, utilizing nearly the entire amount. Contributions from small donors accounted for just 4%, while large individual donors provided 60%, and Political Action Committees contributed 34%. Himes did not contribute personal funds to his campaign. The majority of donations (74%) originated within the state, with 26% coming from outside Connecticut. He reported 97.9% of all received contributions.

2012

Himes was reelected with a decisive victory over Steve Obsitnik, securing 60% of the vote compared to Obsitnik’s 40%.

2014

In a rematch against Dan Debicella, Himes won with 53.8% of the vote, while Debicella received 46.2%.

2016

Himes defeated John Shaban, earning 59.9% of the vote to Shaban’s 40.1%.

2018

Himes prevailed against Republican candidate Harry Arora, capturing 61.2% of the vote versus Arora’s 38.8%.

2020

With a vote share of 61.2%, Himes defeated challengers Jonathan Riddle, Brian Merlen, and Yusheng Peng.

2022

Himes secured reelection by defeating Jayme Stevenson with 59.4% of the vote compared to Stevenson’s 40.6%.

Personal life

On October 15, 1994, Himes married Mary Lynley Scott, who works as a designer. The couple resides in the Cos Cob neighborhood of Greenwich, Connecticut, where they raise their two daughters.

External links

Congressman Jim Himes official U.S. House website
Jim Himes for Congress