Dems endorse Himes for reelection

NORWALK, Conn. – Jim Himes easily won the Democratic endorsement for reelection to Connecticut’s Fourth District seat in a convention held Monday in Norwalk, attended by about 150 people.

He will face Republican Jayme Stevenson in his drive for an eighth two-year term as United States Representative, according to a news release.

Video by Harold F. Cobin at end of story

Himes’ acceptance speech was peppered with references to Democratic achievements and Jan. 6, and barbed shots at Republicans.

He said:

“Don’t ever forget what we have accomplished together. A decade ago, we passed health care reform that prohibited insurance companies from turning away Americans because they had preexisting conditions.”

“A decade ago, we pulled the economy out of a ditch, and made rules to make sure that Wall Street would never again destroy the economy and throw millions of Americans out of their jobs. Needless to say, Republicans opposed us every step of the way.”

“After Donald Trump bungled the COVID response with ideas about drinking disinfectant and attacks on scientists and doctors, we got America vaccinated and on the road to recovery. But not before his incompetence and self-obsession, cost the lives of thousands of Americans who didn’t need to die.”

“During the Trump administration, infrastructure week became a running joke is this infrastructure week is next week infrastructure week. Of course, the answer always was no, it is not until President Biden and the Democrats passed the biggest investment this country has ever made in our bridges, our trains, our airports and broadband. And yes, in combating the threat of climate change.”

“We cut child poverty in half in communities like Bridgeport and Norwalk by expanding the child tax credit. We provided money so that our towns and our cities could pay the nurses, the teachers, the policemen, and the firefighters who risked their lives every single day for two years.”

“We restored our country’s reputation and greatness and respect abroad just in time to unite the West against Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and brutal attack on Ukraine.”

“What did Republicans do when Donald Trump was in the White House and they controlled the House in the Senate? They did two big things. They passed a tax bill that gave massive tax cuts to corporations and to the very richest Americans; 83% of the money in their tax cut went to the top 1% of people in this country, people who didn’t need that tax cut. And they raised taxes on the middle class and exploded the national debt.

“And as we all saw what happened last week, they put three justices on the Supreme Court, who are now about to take away a freedom that women have enjoyed for half a century, the freedom to control their own bodies…. Mitch McConnell is talking about a nationwide abortion ban.”

“Public housing developments (like Roodner Court are) full of families who want what every family wants for their children, a reasonable shot, a decent foundation in which to achieve the American dream… It’s our job to make sure that the children of Roodner Court … get the same access to education and support as any other child in America.”

“Young people know that we have not done enough to stop the climate change that will wreck their future. Young people know that ‘drill baby drill’ is not the answer.”

“To this day, a majority of Republicans believe that Donald Trump won the presidential election of 2020. When a formerly great political party gets into the business of denying reality, even when 60 courts and all the facts show you what that reality is, when they embrace conspiracy theories and attack the very legitimacy of our democratic system, our country is very much at risk. And Donald Trump, the ringleader of the whole dark authoritarian, Proud Boy, Q and non-January 6 circus, he’s coming back.”

Himes’ campaign website states:

“He currently serves as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he is Chairman of the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research (STAR) Subcommittee and a member of the House Financial Services where he serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy.

“Before his service in Congress, he worked for 12 years in business and five years in the non-profit affordable-housing world. He then decided to run for Congress because he did not want to keep America in an endless war and he wanted to help bring change to Washington with a commonsense, independent approach to ensure both sides of the aisle work together for the advancement of our country and our state.

“With a proud record of achievement in Congress, Jim looks forward to continuing the fight on behalf of all families throughout the 4th District, and working to help the economy grow, help our small businesses create jobs, help our local environment and protect our rights.”

The Fourth Congressional District is comprised of 17 towns: Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.