Jim Himes

Jim Himes
Born	James Andrew Himes 5 7, 1966
Birthplace	Lima, Peru
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 4th congressional district; Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Education	Harvard University (BA) St Edmund Hall, Oxford (MPhil)
Children	2
Website	[[himes.house.gov himes.house.gov] Official site]

James Andrew Himes (born July 5, 1966) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut's 4th congressional district since 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Himes represents a district that encompasses much of the southwestern corner of Connecticut, largely coextensive with the Connecticut portion of the New York metropolitan area, including the cities of Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Fairfield, spanning parts of Fairfield County and New Haven County. Born in Lima, Peru, and educated at Harvard University and the University of Oxford, Himes built a career in finance and nonprofit housing before entering electoral politics. He first won his congressional seat in 2008 by defeating longtime Republican incumbent Chris Shays, and has been reelected in every subsequent cycle. Himes has established himself as a prominent figure in national security and financial policy, serving as the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since 2023 and as a member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Early Life

James Andrew Himes was born on July 5, 1966, in Lima, Peru. His birth in South America reflected his family's international background. Himes subsequently grew up in the United States and pursued his education through some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the English-speaking world. Details regarding his parents, siblings, and the specific circumstances of his childhood in Peru and later relocation to the United States are limited in publicly available sources, though his international upbringing would later inform his interest in foreign affairs and global policy matters during his congressional career.

Education

Himes attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently studied at St Edmund Hall, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, where he earned a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree. His education at both Harvard and Oxford provided him with a strong academic foundation that would underpin his later careers in finance, nonprofit management, and public service. The combination of an undergraduate degree from an elite American university and a graduate degree from one of the world's oldest universities distinguished Himes among his congressional peers and contributed to his expertise in the complex policy areas—particularly financial regulation and intelligence—that would become the focus of his legislative work.

Career

Pre-Congressional Career

Before entering politics, Himes pursued a career in the private sector and in nonprofit work. He worked in the financial industry, building experience that would later inform his committee assignments and legislative priorities in Congress, particularly on the House Financial Services Committee. Himes also became involved in affordable housing and community development efforts in Connecticut, working with nonprofit organizations focused on housing access. This combination of experience in finance and community development shaped his policy outlook and provided the professional background that he brought to his first congressional campaign.

2008 Congressional Election

In 2008, Himes ran for Congress in Connecticut's 4th congressional district, challenging the incumbent Republican Chris Shays. Shays had represented the district since 1987 and was, at the time, the last remaining Republican member of Congress from New England. Himes mounted a competitive campaign in a year that was broadly favorable to Democratic candidates nationally, owing in part to the financial crisis and the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. Himes defeated Shays in the November general election, flipping the seat to the Democratic column. His victory was part of a broader wave of Democratic gains in the 2008 House elections and marked the end of an era of Republican representation in New England's congressional delegation. Himes took office on January 3, 2009, succeeding Shays.

2010 Election and Subsequent Reelections

Himes successfully defended his seat in the 2010 midterm elections, a cycle that was otherwise challenging for many Democratic incumbents due to a strong Republican wave nationally. His ability to hold the district in an unfavorable political environment demonstrated both his personal political strength and the increasingly Democratic lean of Connecticut's 4th district. Himes has been reelected in every subsequent election cycle, establishing himself as a durable presence in the Connecticut congressional delegation.

Congressional Service

Since taking office in January 2009, Himes has served on several key committees and held a number of leadership positions within the Democratic caucus and in the House at large.

House Financial Services Committee

Himes has served as a member of the House Financial Services Committee throughout his time in Congress, drawing on his pre-congressional experience in the financial sector. His work on the committee has encompassed issues related to financial regulation, banking oversight, housing policy, and monetary policy. He chaired the National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, a role that bridged his interests in financial policy and national security. On the committee, Himes has engaged with legislation addressing the regulation of financial markets, consumer protection, and the intersection of economic and national security policy.

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Himes has been a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since 2013. The committee oversees the United States Intelligence Community, including agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In January 2023, Himes became the ranking member (the most senior Democrat) on the committee, succeeding Mike Turner as the top-ranking member from his party.

As ranking member, Himes has been an active voice on matters of intelligence oversight, national security threats, and the integrity of the intelligence community. In July 2025, he released a public statement responding to claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard regarding Russian election interference, asserting the importance of maintaining the intelligence community's independence from political pressure. That same month, he issued a statement addressing what he described as "baseless political attacks" by Director Gabbard.

In November 2025, Himes, along with Representative Joaquin Castro, wrote to the Director of National Intelligence seeking information about intelligence sharing partnerships, reflecting ongoing concerns about the management of international intelligence cooperation.

In January 2026, Himes was interviewed by NPR about the Trump administration's military operations in Venezuela, discussing the role of the intelligence committee in oversight of military and intelligence activities abroad. Himes noted that he had not heard from the administration about the Venezuela strike for several days, highlighting what he described as shifts in the executive branch's communication with Congress on national security matters.

In February 2026, Himes joined Representatives Gregory Meeks and Adam Smith in opposing the use of U.S. military force against Iran, urging continued diplomacy.

Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth

In June 2021, Himes was appointed chair of the newly established United States House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, a select committee created to examine economic inequality in the United States and to explore policy approaches to promote more broadly shared economic growth. He led the committee from its establishment on June 17, 2021, until the end of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2023, when the committee was abolished.

New Democrat Coalition

Himes served as chair of the New Democrat Coalition during the 115th Congress (2017–2019), succeeding Ron Kind and preceding Derek Kilmer in the role. The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus of centrist and pro-business Democrats in the House of Representatives, and Himes's leadership of the group reflected his position within the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. During his chairmanship, Himes worked to advance the coalition's agenda on issues including economic growth, innovation, and fiscal policy.

Policy Positions

Foreign Affairs and National Security

Himes has focused extensively on foreign affairs and defense policy throughout his congressional tenure. His work on the Intelligence Committee has placed him at the center of debates over intelligence oversight, surveillance policy, counterterrorism, and the management of relationships with allied intelligence services. In October 2025, Himes participated in a discussion hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations on threats to American national security and the role of the intelligence community in safeguarding U.S. interests.

Education

On education policy, Himes has expressed criticism of the No Child Left Behind Act, calling for reforms to the federal approach to education standards and accountability. He has advocated for increased investment in education and for policies that address educational inequality.

Energy and Environment

Himes has supported measures to address climate change and promote clean energy development. He has received favorable ratings from environmental organizations and has backed legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in renewable energy technologies.

Health Care

On health care, Himes has supported efforts to expand access to affordable health insurance and to protect coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. His positions on health care policy have been consistent with the mainstream of the Democratic Party.

Transportation

Himes has advocated for investment in transportation infrastructure, particularly in the context of his district's position within the New York metropolitan commuter corridor. He has supported funding for rail, highway, and bridge improvements in southwestern Connecticut.

Campaign Finance

Himes's campaigns have drawn financial support from a range of sources, including individual donors and political action committees. Data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics shows his fundraising and expenditure patterns over multiple election cycles.

Personal Life

Himes was born in Lima, Peru, and later settled in Connecticut, where he has resided throughout his political career. He and his wife have two children. Himes has lived in the communities he represents in southwestern Connecticut, maintaining ties to the district that includes Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Fairfield. Beyond these publicly documented facts, Himes has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his years in public office.

Recognition

Himes has received evaluations and ratings from a range of interest groups and organizations reflecting his voting record and policy positions across multiple issue areas. Vote Smart has compiled a comprehensive record of his ratings from organizations spanning the political spectrum, covering topics including the environment, labor, civil liberties, fiscal policy, and national security. His leadership roles—including the chairmanship of the New Democrat Coalition and the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, as well as his position as ranking member of the Intelligence Committee—have placed him among the more prominent Democratic members of the House.

His participation in events hosted by institutions such as the Council on Foreign Relations reflects his standing as a recognized voice on national security and intelligence matters within Congress.

Legacy

Jim Himes's tenure in Congress has been defined by his dual focus on financial policy and national security. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee for the entirety of his service, he has participated in the legislative response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis and in subsequent debates over financial regulation. His work on the Intelligence Committee, spanning more than a decade from 2013 through the present, has placed him at the center of many of the most consequential national security debates of the era, including issues related to Russian election interference, intelligence oversight, and the balance between security and civil liberties.

Himes's election in 2008, which ended Chris Shays's tenure as the last Republican member of Congress from New England, marked a significant political shift in the region. His subsequent ability to hold the seat through multiple election cycles, including the challenging 2010 midterm environment, underscored the durability of the Democratic realignment in southwestern Connecticut.

His chairmanship of the New Democrat Coalition during the 115th Congress positioned him as a leader of the centrist wing of the House Democratic caucus, and his subsequent chairmanship of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity reflected an effort to address issues of inequality within a framework that sought bipartisan engagement. As ranking member of the Intelligence Committee in the 118th and 119th Congresses, Himes has served as one of the Democratic Party's principal voices on intelligence and national security oversight during a period of significant political contention over the role of the intelligence community.