U.S. Congress 4th District

Name: Jim Himes Party: Democrat Race: U.S. House 4th District

Greenwich residents have known Jim Himes for years first as a resident and neighbor and now as a congressman. In his hometown of Greenwich Himes served as a chair of the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners, as a member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation and as chair of the Democratic Town Committee in Greenwich.

He was elected to the House in 2008, defeating longtime Republican incumbent Christopher Shays.

Himes is a father of two girls, speaks fluent Spanish and had a career in investment banking.

A six-term incumbent, Himes serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the ranking member of the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee.

Name: Jonathan Riddle Party: Republican Race: U.S. House 4th District

The Republican challenger, Jonathan Riddle is looking to make a big splash and pull off an upset against a well-established Democrat, six-term incumbent Jim Himes.

A Norwalk resident, Riddle has never held office.

Riddle calls for improving the transportation infrastructure in Connecticut, reducing taxes and taking more action to end the opioid crisis. He has called for a temporary halt on immigrant work visas “until every American who lost their job (due to the coronavirus) is back at their professional or finds work elsewhere.”

Riddle has called for term limits of eight years in the House.

He has worked in Greenwich in the financial services industry. Riddle began his career with BNY Mellon, working with high-income families. He has experience in banking and wealth management and currently is a director for Altium in Purchase, N.Y.

Name: Brian Merlen Party: Independent Race: U.S. House 4th District

Brian Merlen is facing long odds in his run for Congress as an independent, but his campaign is focused more on putting the spotlight on the issues that he is passionate about.

A Stamford resident, Merlen is looking to draw attention to the role Stamford-based Purdue Pharma has played in creating the opioid crisis.

A video producer and activist, Merlen was among the group that placed a large spoon to symbolize heroin and drug abuse outside Purdue’s Stamford headquarters in protest.

He has been a member of the Green Party but is running as an independent.

Merlen initially sought to challenge Himes in a Democratic primary. Merlen withdrew his candidacy in the primary.

Merlen said he grew up in Stamford with disabled parents, and survived a bout with testicular cancer after graduating from Southern Connecticut State University. Working as a freelancer, he’s seen his jobs slashed by coronavirus and is devoting time to local volunteering.