In 1987, Christopher Shays was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election held to fill the vacant seat of the late Stewart McKinney. Between 1988 and 2004, Shays easily won re-election each time by margins between 34,000 and 53,000 votes.
In 2004, however, Shays defeated Democratic opponent Diane Farrell, by a margin of 5 percentage points to win reelection. Shays' district, like the rest of the state, had swung heavily toward the Democrats in recent years; the Democratic candidate has carried the district in the last four presidential elections.
Shays is pro-choice on abortion and although he voted for the 2003 ban on partial birth-abortions, he had voted against the bill numerous times prior to that along with most other restrictions on the procedure. Shays was endorsed by the Brady Campaign for his support for gun control and was one of only six Republicans to vote against banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and distributors in 2005.
Shays is a member of or supported by the Republican Main Street Partnership, The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans for Environmental Protection and It's My Party Too.
In 2004, however, Shays defeated Democratic opponent Diane Farrell, by a margin of 5 percentage points to win reelection. Shays' district, like the rest of the state, had swung heavily toward the Democrats in recent years; the Democratic candidate has carried the district in the last four presidential elections.
Shays is pro-choice on abortion and although he voted for the 2003 ban on partial birth-abortions, he had voted against the bill numerous times prior to that along with most other restrictions on the procedure. Shays was endorsed by the Brady Campaign for his support for gun control and was one of only six Republicans to vote against banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and distributors in 2005.
Shays is a member of or supported by the Republican Main Street Partnership, The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans for Environmental Protection and It's My Party Too.
Offices held
Elections
Office
State
District
Date
U.S. House
2006
Shays, Christopher (Inc)Republican
106,510
Democrat
99,450
Libertarian
3,058
Green
1
U.S. House
2004
Shays, Christopher (Inc)Republican
152,493
Democrat
138,333
Other
4
U.S. House
2002
Shays, Christopher (Inc)Republican
113,197
Democrat
62,491
Other
7
U.S. House
2000
Shays, Christopher (Inc)Republican
119,155
Democrat
84,472
Libertarian
2,034
Other
1,097
U.S. House
1998
Shays, Christopher (Inc)Republican
94,767
Democrat
40,988
Libertarian
1,449
Interest Group Data
Interest Group
Year
Rating
Club For Growth
2007
6.00
Club For Growth
2006
31.00
National Right to Life Commitee
2007
14.00
National Right to Life Commitee
2006
0.00
National Right to Life Commitee
2004
27.00
National Right to Life Commitee
2002
6.00
National Right to Life Commitee
2000
5.00
National Right to Life Commitee
1998
20.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2006
94.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2005
73.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2004
46.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2003
81.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2002
73.00
Americans for Better Imigration
2001
73.00
Gun Owners of America
2008
0.00
Gun Owners of America
2006
50.00
Gun Owners of America
2005
0.00
Gun Owners of America
2004
0.00
Gun Owners of America
2003
0.00
Gun Owners of America
2002
0.00
Gun Owners of America
2000
0.00
National Rifle Association
2008
7.00
National Rifle Association
2006
7.00
National Rifle Association
2004
7.00
National Rifle Association
2002
7.00
National Rifle Association
2000
7.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2007
0.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2006
0.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2005
0.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2004
0.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2003
70.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2001
0.00
NARAL Inverse (100 minus rating)
2000
27.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2006
48.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2005
48.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2004
59.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2003
61.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2002
75.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2001
81.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
2000
83.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
1999
80.00
Citizens Against Government Waste
1998
64.00
Federation for American Immigration Reform
2005
86.00
Federation for American Immigration Reform
2004
64.00
Federation for American Immigration Reform
2003
100.00
Federation for American Immigration Reform
2002
20.00
Americans for Immigration Control
1997
33.00
Americans for Immigration Control
1996
100.00
U.S. Border Control
2006
92.00
U.S. Border Control
1998
71.00
US English
2007
71.00
English First
2007
100.00
Google News
Lawyer for disgraced Shays' aide wants mental health evaluation to factor in ... Stamford Advocate Michael Sohn, congressman Christopher Shays' former campaign manager, leaves federal court in Bridgeport in December 2009. Photo: File Photo / Greenwich ... |
Democrat Jim Himes Placed On CNN's Top 100 List of Most Vulnerable Seats ... Hartford Courant (blog) Christopher Shays as numerous Democrats came out in Bridgeport to vote for Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. Obama blew out Republican John McCain in ... |
Himes mum on upcoming Obama fundraising visit Ct Post But the freshman congressman, whose party is scuffling to hold onto control of the House in the mid-term elections, did not say whether he will be at ... |
Dan Debicella Wins 4th District GOP Nomination Patch If Debicella wins he will reclaim the seat formerly occupied by Republican Christopher Shays (a seat which Shays had been in since 1987). ... 'Confident' Debicella poised to claim victory over two opponents |
Last modified by Updates on Tue, March 25 2008