Candidate Name
Jim Himes
Campaign Website
himesforcongress.com
Campaign Email
info@himesforcongress.com
Facebook
Facebook.com/himesforcongress
Twitter
Twitter.com/jahimes
I've had the honor of serving Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District since 2009, and my background is in both public service and the private sector. In Congress, I’ve focused on economic growth, national security, and expanding opportunities for all residents of Connecticut. I’ve served on the House Intelligence Committee and the Financial Services Committee, bringing expertise in national security and economic policy. I am the best candidate because I have a proven track record of delivering results, from securing federal funding for infrastructure projects to advocating for policies that strengthen our economy and support my constituents. My experience and dedication to the district mean that I can continue to be an effective voice for our community in Washington.
Data centers are increasingly important to our economy, but their enormous energy demands and impact on surrounding communities cannot be ignored. Families are already struggling with high electricity costs, and we cannot allow new development to drive those costs even higher or place additional strain on our energy grid. Communities also have legitimate concerns about property values, land use, and quality of life. I support stronger oversight and responsible planning that accounts for these impacts, protects ratepayers, and gives local communities a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them. We need to balance technological progress with our energy needs and the interests of the communities where these facilities are proposed.
We need an immigration system that enforces our laws while respecting human dignity and constitutional rights. Undocumented people who commit crimes should be deported. Millions of undocumented immigrants are working, raising families, and contributing to our economy. If you're not a criminal you should have a reasonable pathway to legal status, not live in fear of being forcibly separated from their children and communities. I support having a secure border, lawful, targeted immigration enforcement, meaningful oversight of ICE, and comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes both our security needs and our values.
Too many Connecticut families are struggling with the rising costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and everyday necessities. The war in Iran is a huge driver of rising costs, particularly fuel and transportation costs, and we must bring it to an end. I've supported expanding the Child Tax Credit, investing in affordable childcare and early education, and increasing the supply of housing. I'll continue fighting to bring federal resources home for our schools, infrastructure, and communities while supporting policies that create good jobs and strengthen our economy. We also need to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, making smart investments while addressing our long-term fiscal challenges.
The science is clear: if we don’t take action, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and shifts in agricultural productivity will worsen, impacting communities here in Connecticut and across the country. Coastal areas like ours are particularly vulnerable, with increased flooding and storm surges putting homes, businesses, and infrastructure at risk.
Mitigating climate change is also an opportunity to build a more sustainable and resilient economy. By investing in renewable energy, like wind and solar, we can create good-paying jobs, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and position the U.S. as a leader in the global clean energy market. I fought successfully to get CT’s 700 megawatt wind project — Revolution Wind — back on track after Trump tried twice to stop it, and will keep working to protect our environment for future generations while fostering economic growth today. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to ensure they inherit a planet that is healthy and livable.
Candidate Name
Michael Goldstein
Campaign Website
www.goldsteinforcongress.com
Campaign Email
michaelgoldstein4ct@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
914-589-8443
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/drmichaelgoldstein/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/goldsteinforcongress/
Twitter
https://x.com/DrMGoldstein
Unlike a career politician, as a physician, I treat and understand, people who represent all the demographics of the Congressional District. My specialty is Ophthalmology and I am an attorney. These combined skill sets make me ideally suited to navigate the legislative process and advocate for an affordable healthcare system. As a former, President and Chairman of Board of Directors, the NY County Medical Society I have experience in healthcare advocacy, lobbying. As past President and Chairman of the Board of the Alumni Fund of the SUNY Downstate School of Medicine Alumni Assn. I learned to balance granting scholarships with preserving the financial solvency of our endowment fund. I am serving my second term on the Greenwich RTM as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee.
Data centers present with the following problems huge electric consumption, huge water consumption, noise and downstream atmospheric heat generation. They are not ideally suited for residential neighborhoods. Their massive amounts of electricity consumption strains local grids and leads to significantly higher electricity costs. Backup generators are polluters. Data Centers should be electricity self-sufficient using small modular nuclear generators. Cooling the data center by pumping water from a body of water through the data center or through a heat exchanger as a coolant and then returned back to its original source minimizes water consumption. Noise pollution requires that they not be located near residential areas and built to be as sound proof as possible. With regard to the heat that is generated, they must not be in close proximity to residential neighborhoods. Using the wasted heat Data Centers generate for residential heating would benefit the community.
ICE should focus on the apprehension and deportation of the following categories of illegal aliens: gang members, criminals, child traffickers, sex traffickers, drug traffickers and terrorists. This is best accomplished by collaboration between ICE and local and state governments. Sanctuary cities and non-cooperation with ICE frustrates ICE’s ability to remove them. People should not be here illegally, where they are subject to fear, and exploitation, but we need to know who is in our country. Illegals who drain our economic resources, and do not contribute in a positive way to our society should subject to deportation. Illegals who have been here for at least seven years, who are not criminals, have not been dependent on our government for support, and are employed, should be allowed to participate in a work visa program. Our economy does rely on illegals. A humane visa program that benefits our society and the illegals, and enables ICE to do their job is the best option.
The economic issue is affordability. It is an income dependent issue. Although many people in the 4th Congressional District are affluent and do not need any form of government assistance there are still significant numbers that do. Short term income tax relief would enable those most vulnerable to take home more of their salary and ease the economic burden. Temporary reductions in gasoline and diesel taxes until fuel prices fall would increase affordability. These are actions that can be taken immediately. States must also reduce their energy taxes. Using means testing there can be temporary reductions and even temporary suspensions of student loan repayments. Heat subsidies to keep people warm this winter can be temporarily granted subject to means testing. Government financial assistance programs should focus on U.S. citizens and not be drained subsidizing those who are here illegally.
The recent elimination of Federal Regulations regarding carbon capture changes the game regarding the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity. We are heavily dependent on fossil fuels to generate our electricity and heat our homes. The cleanest of all fossil fuels is natural gas. It is substantially cleaner than coal and diesel. Connecticut has a shortage in natural gas due to the Governor of New York’s, power to block the Constitution pipeline from bringing more affordable natural gas, from Pennsylvania, to Connecticut and New England. That veto power must be eliminated through Congressional action. The net result of eliminating the veto power is, that more, cleaner natural gas would be generating electricity at lower prices. This would make Connecticut electricity more affordable. Nuclear power production also needs to be expanded in Connecticut. Nuclear energy is green energy.
Candidate Name
Benjamin Wesley
Campaign Website
https://benwesleyforcongress.com/
Campaign Email
Benjamin@benwesleyforcongress
Instagram
Benwesleyforcongress
I’m a Senior Support Engineer at a manufacturing facility in Stratford, CT, where I work in a union shop. This has made me keenly aware of the importance of a strong industrial base and of educated, collaborative, and well-paid workers, as represented by Connecticut’s labor unions. Outside work, I’m a member of the Bridgeport NAACP and have collaborated with them on voter registration, mutual aid, and food pantry initiatives. I’ve seen firsthand how much need exists in our communities. I’ve also worked with SNUI (Stamford Norwalk United for Immigration) and my church’s immigrant support group to help protect and feed our neighbors. I’ve joined with DSA and support their efforts to end American wars abroad, and to make government provide basic needs such as jobs, housing and healthcare.
Data center facilities can place enormous demands on local water and electrical resources while creating relatively few permanent jobs.
1) No local handouts. Data centers should not receive state or municipal tax subsidies. Investors like Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank, have acknowledged that companies pit governments against each other for incentives. Connecticut should not participate in that race to the bottom, especially when residents may ultimately pay higher electric rates. Governor Lamont’s $17 million incentive was excessive, particularly given claims that the Windsor/Cigna deal created only five jobs. 2) Federal coordination. If AI and data centers are critical to our future, the federal government should coordinate policy, establish standards, and regulate their impacts. 3) Federal loans for dual-use infrastructure. Let’s offer low-interest federal loans for water treatment, and power generation—especially infrastructure that can also benefit surrounding communities.
I’m advocating for either a complete overhaul or abolition of ICE because of serious concerns about its practices and accountability:
• Warrants: ICE has used administrative warrants rather than seeking judicial warrants to enter homes and businesses, raising concerns about executive overreach.
• Excessive force: Numerous reports and videos raise concerns about excessive force and inadequate training.
• Detention of citizens: ProPublica has documented hundreds of cases of U.S. citizens being detained.
• Lack of transparency: Masked officers and inadequate identification make accountability impossible. The lack of transparency surrounding the Minnesota shooting involving Alex Pretti further illustrates these concerns.
• Protest and dissent: ICE has faced allegations of violating the rights of lawful protesters, including at Delaney Hall and in Minnesota.
• Accountability: Reported violations of state laws such as Trust Acts require greater oversight and outrage.
Enough is Enough!
"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death" MLK Jr, 1967. The US spent 8 trillion on the war on terror which indebted the nation, restricted our civil rights(PATRIOT Act), and killed millions abroad in the Middle East. I believe a policy of peace and diplomacy would make us prosperous. Three tangible proposals, I'd make are the following: 1) I'd introduce legislation to slash military spending next year. I'd make it contingent on a majority vote by military personnel. If they agree, I'd send a $500 back to every citizen and $1500 back to every serviceman. 2) I'd introduce legislation to close dozens of America's 800 overseas bases and return the savings back to the American people. 3) I'd introduce legislation that requires percentage increases in military spending be accompanied by commensurate increases in the minimum wage, healthcare, housing and infrastructure spending.
Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was a wake-up call that New England storms can and will wreak havoc on the shoreline and our Congressional district generally. I was personally living in South Norwalk, with 18 inches of water in my basement & a newborn
But we haven’t been making the necessary strides. The September storm that hit the shoreline this year overwhelmed municipalities from Stamford to Bridgeport and left cars and homes damaged and some people homeless. I think we need to get more resilient! We know that replacing our older canals, sea gates, sewer systems, and seawalls would mitigate some of the damage from these. All of this costs millions and even billions of dollars. That’s why I support the introduction of an infrastructure bank at the federal level that would provide low-interest loans to states and municipalities for projects. Such a bank could also provide loans for expansion of the Waterford nuclear plant (carbon-free) and to bring power cables underground. What a jobs boon!
