STAMFORD – For the first time this election season, Democratic Congressman Jim Himes will face his two opponents, Republican Michael Goldstein and Independent Benjamin Wesley, at a debate on Tuesday hosted by CT Examiner.
The three candidates for the 4th Congressional District will take the stage at Stamford’s Ferguson Library at 7:30 p.m. to argue national issues like economics and immigration.
The event will be moderated by Gregory Stroud, editor of CT Examiner.
Himes has represented southwestern Connecticut in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2009. Naming jobs, education, energy, transportation and women’s issues as a few of his key platforms this year, Himes is vying for a ninth term in the federal seat.
Over the last decade, Himes has beaten Republican opponents like Jayme Stevenson in 2022, Jonathan Riddle in 2020 and Harry Arora in 2018 with more than 59% of the vote. But Goldstein, the latest GOP candidate, said it is time for Fairfield County and New Haven County residents to “fire” the 15-year incumbent this year.
In his campaign, Goldstein, a physician from Greenwich, has vowed to fight anti-semitism, protect parental rights, restore economic independence and reduce health care costs. And following the robbery and killing of a Stamford resident earlier this month, the Republican candidate has staunchly advocated for securing the border.
Goldstein pointed to the arrests of the Venezuelan couple arrested in relation to the murder as proof that Connecticut is not safe. In an Oct. 19 press release, the candidate took aim at Himes and said that, if elected, he would help to close the border, restore law and order and “deport illegals” who commit crimes.
For more than a year, Himes has served as ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which is charged with overseeing intelligence activities of bodies like the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of the Army and Department of Homeland Security. The incumbent said he has worked to find the right balance between protecting the country and respecting the privacy of American citizens on the committee.
Goldstein defeated party-backed candidate Bob MacGuffie with about 54% of the vote in the Republican primary this summer.
Wesley, a Norwalk resident and engineer endorsed by the Connecticut Independent Party, has named an immediate ceasefire in Gaza his top issue this election season.
Both Himes and Goldstein have supported Israel in the conflict, as the Democratic incumbent has called for the continued funding of Israel’s missile defense systems and the Republican challenger has demanded the return of Israeli hostages.
But Wesley has taken issue with the United States’ continued weapon shipments to Israel, which he said equates to one shipment every 16 hours.
By cutting the national defense budget, the Independent candidate has advocated for increased funding for school districts like Stamford, Norwalk in Bridgeport, which he said are struggling to retain staff and bring students above average reading and math proficiency levels.
In addition to their parties, Himes has been endorsed by groups like the National Education Association and the Connecticut branch of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Goldstein by the Connecticut Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Medical Society of the State of New York and Wesley by Justice for Palestine in Congress.
The debate is free to attend, but will also stream live on CT-N here, on Darien TV79 here and radio stations in the region.