Meet Jim Himes

Since his election to Congress in 2008, Jim Himes has served as a thoughtful, independent leader with a strong record of accomplishments for working families while standing up for our values. 

 Born in Peru to American parents, Jim spent his childhood in Peru and Colombia, where his father worked for the Ford Foundation. At the age of 10, Jim and his two sisters moved to New Jersey with their mother, Judy, who was the director of board activities for the New Jersey Board of Higher Education.

A lifetime of experience has taught Jim how to deliver results for hard working Connecticut families – growing our economy and creating jobs while addressing disparity in our communities, improving and repairing our infrastructure, investing in new technologies, protecting our environment, improving our schools, and standing up to protect our democracy.

A product of New Jersey public schools, Jim later attended Harvard University where he was the captain of the lightweight crew team, and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a master’s degree in Latin American studies. 

Jim’s professional career began at Goldman Sachs & Co, where he worked extensively in Latin America. Eventually, he became a Vice President and after 12 years in the private sector, Jim went on to run the New York City branch of the Enterprise Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the challenges of urban poverty and financing the construction of thousands of affordable housing units in the greater New York metropolitan area. 

 Jim has a long record of service to his community as a commissioner and board chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority, an elected member of the Greenwich Board of Finance, and board member both past and present of the Bridgeport-based Aspira of Connecticut which promotes educational achievement for Latino youth, the Children’s Learning Center of Fairfield County, the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and Family Assets, Inc.

 In Congress, Jim works hard every day to find bipartisan solutions and deliver for Connecticut residents. He is the Chairman of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and a member of the House Committee on Financial Services where he serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy.

Jim and his wife Mary raised their two children Emma and Linley, in Cos Cob where they have lived for nearly 30 years. 

An Appreciation
for Quality Education

Jim was born in Peru in 1966 to American parents. At the age of 10, Jim and his two sisters moved to New Jersey, with their mother.

A product of New Jersey schools, Jim later attended Harvard University, and after completing his undergraduate studies, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a Masters degree In Latin American Studies.

Jim and his wife Mary raised their two children, Emma and Linley, in Cos Cob where they have lived for nearly 30 years.

A tradition of service

Wanting to put his knowledge to work helping local communities create jobs and overcome difficult economic challenges, Jim left a career in business to lead the non-profit Enterprise Community Partners in the Northeast. There he arranged financing for the construction of thousands of affordable housing units, creating jobs and high-quality affordable housing in the greater New York metropolitan region. Jim’s work also helped foster the adoption of new green techniques to spur energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.

Jim has long served as an active community leader. He was a Commissioner and then board chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority, and then a member of the town’s Board of Finance. Jim has served as former chairman on the board of Bridgeport-based Aspira of Connecticut, which promotes educational achievement for Latino youth. He has served on the advisory board of Family Assets, Inc., and as a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

Jim Himes, currently serving his sixth term in Congress, has been a consistent leader working with both sides of the aisle to bring a commonsense approach to solve the problems Americans and Connecticut residents face every day. In Congress, Jim has worked to keep our country safe, encourage economic growth, secure jobs for the middle class, protect the civil rights of all Americans, look to the future while supporting education, technological growth and science and create opportunities for Connecticut.

Jim represents Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, part of Shelton, Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton.

He currently serves as a member of the House Financial Services Committee and of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he is Ranking Member of the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee.

Before his service in Congress, he worked for 12 years in business and five years in the non-profit affordable-housing world. He then decided to run for Congress because he did not want to keep America in an endless war and he wanted to help bring change to Washington with a commonsense, independent approach to ensure both sides of the aisle work together for the advancement of our country and our state.

With a proud record of achievement in Congress, Jim looks forward to continuing the fight on behalf of all families throughout the 4th District, and working to help the economy grow, help our small businesses create jobs, help our local environment and protect our rights.

An Appreciation
for Quality Education

Jim was born in Peru in 1966 to American parents. He later returned to the United States with his mother and sisters and attended public schools.

Jim was accepted to Harvard University, and after completing his undergraduate studies, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a Masters degree In Latin American Studies.

Jim and his wife Mary started their family in Cos Cob, where their two daughters, Emma and Linley have attended school.

A tradition of service

Wanting to put his knowledge to work helping local communities create jobs and overcome difficult economic challenges, Jim left a career in business to lead the non-profit Enterprise Community Partners in the Northeast. There he arranged financing for the construction of thousands of affordable housing units, creating jobs and high-quality affordable housing in the greater New York metropolitan region. Jim’s work also helped foster the adoption of new green techniques to spur energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.

Jim has long served as an active community leader. He was a Commissioner and then board chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority, and then a member of the town’s Board of Finance. Jim has served as former chairman on the board of Bridgeport-based Aspira of Connecticut, which promotes educational achievement for Latino youth. He has served on the advisory board of Family Assets, Inc., and as a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

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