Experience gives Himes edge in 4th District

Christopher Shays served in Congress for so long — 21 years — that it’s easy to overlook his successor in the Fourth District, Jim Himes, is already well into his second decade. Shays succeeded fellow Republican Stewart McKinney, who held the seat from 1971 until his death in 1987. In that context, Himes may still seem like something of an upstart with a mere dozen years on his resume. But he has developed a panoramic view of his district, and its place in the nation. Himes will face a true newcomer on the Nov. 3 ballot, South Norwalk resident Jonathan Riddle, a Republican seeking political office for the first time. They will be joined by Independent candidate Brian Merlen, whose primary focus is the opioid crisis. The district covers most of Fairfield County and a sliver of New Haven County. Given that Connecticut’s delegation has been a deep hue of blue in recent years, we have advocated for prominent Republicans to raise their hands. A breadth of opinions is vital to democracy. So we applaud Riddle, who works in wealth management, for challenging the popular incumbent in the absence of better-known members of the GOP. Having played Division I football for Iona College, he says he just didn’t “have the stomach to sit on the sidelines.” Like any athlete seeking to improve, he isn’t flinching from taking on a more experienced opponent. Himes faced a similar rival two years ago when he was challenged by Harry Arora. Arora was an example of someone leveraging the experience to secure a seat on the Connecticut House of Representatives earlier this year. Riddle could follow a similar path. He loses points, though, for championing a cavalier approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, reasoning that “with freedom comes risks.” He wants Connecticut to reopen without restrictions. That is reason enough to favor Himes. Their platforms are so distinct that they could be actors filling in for Donald Trump and Joe Biden in a presidential mock debate. Riddle brands Himes as tracing the steps of the “growing pervasive Leftist/Marxist ideology of (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi.” Yet one of the qualities we’ve admired about Himes is his acknowledgment of the hubris of his own Democratic Party, which turned a blind eye to many of the Americans who elected Donald Trump as president. While Himes says Trump inspired him to be more self-reflective, he also admits his own moderate sensibilities eroded while serving a president without a filter. Himes, who serves on the Intelligence and Financial Services committees, prioritizes rebuilding America’s stature abroad, and “establishing more predictable relationships with our antagonists.” He also urges a more nuanced immigration policy to “normalize the status of the Dreamers,” and improvements to the Affordable Care Act to ensure it lives up to its name. Jim Himes has served as a steady bridge from the recession of 2009 through to the pandemic. He is yards ahead of Riddle on several issues, winning our endorsement.

Their platforms are so distinct that they could be actors filling in for Donald Trump and Joe Biden in a presidential mock debate.