Chris Shays
Created in Section 841 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, this eight-member commission is mandated by Congress to study federal agency contracting for the reconstruction, logistical support of coalition forces, and the performance of security functions in Iraq and Afghanistan.[7] Shays has always remained a Christian Scientist—a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible—throughout his life.[9] In 1987, Shays won a special election to fill the vacant seat of the late Congressman Stewart McKinney.[11] During his 21 years in Congress, Christopher served on the Government Reform, Financial Services, Budget and Homeland Security committees and was the first congressman to enter Iraq after the war.[10] In 2007, during an incident at the Capitol, a staff member under Shays' supervision attempted to bring a family through a restricted-access door.[19] He and Marty Meehan were the lead sponsors of the House version of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which President George W. Bush signed into law in 2002.[33][34] Shays has faced a continued political challenge to his views in a district where recent polls show a solid majority of voters disapprove of the 2003 US decision to invade Iraq."[38] On July 27, 2005, Shays said on a local radio program that he was optimistic about the future of Iraq, and that he opposed any timetable for troop withdrawal.[39] On June 11, 2006 Shays told the Hartford Courant that his position on the war was a matter of principle and he was not going to stop talking about it.[19] On October 11, 2006, at a debate Shays sparked outrage from critics with comments about the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal.Just a few months after starting his seventh term in the state house, Shays entered a special election for the 4th District after 16-year incumbent Stewart McKinney died of AIDS, and won with 57 percent of the vote.According to U.S. News & World Report, "With money pouring in from the district and from national groups (Farrell expects to raise close to $3 million, Shays a bit less) and unregulated political interest groups targeting Shays with automated calls and negative telemarketing designed as polls, this one already has the odor of ugly.Ultimately, Shays could not overcome a landslide loss in Bridgeport, the largest city in the district, where he won only 19% of the vote.[50] The Shays campaign asserted the former Congressman showed more electability than McMahon, due to her loss in an open Senate seat contest in 2010 by a large margin despite spending $50 million of her own money, also citing her high unfavorable numbers among state voters, and the weak fundraising numbers of the McMahon campaign.[51] Despite support among Independents and even some Democrats, Shays faced a significant obstacles in the primary trailing in both campaign funds and poll results.[53][54][55] She faced Democratic Representative Chris Murphy in the general election and lost, marking her second consecutive defeat in two years.[56] In 2013, Shays was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.After Donald Trump won the Republican primary, he announced in August 2016 that he would vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Christopher ShaleU.S. House of RepresentativesConnecticutStewart McKinneyJim HimesConnecticut House of RepresentativesChristopher BurnhamStamfordRepublicanPrincipia CollegeNew York University9/11 CommissionUnited States House of Representatives4th DistrictRepublican PartyNew England110th United States CongressDemocratic111th CongressJoe LiebermanLinda McMahonStamford, ConnecticutScotlandDarienDarien High SchoolMaster of Business AdministrationMaster of Public AdministrationBridgeport, ConnecticutMary Baker EddyPeace CorpsUnited States Capitol PoliceU.S. News & World ReportmoderateliberalsconservativesRepublican In Name OnlyMarty MeehanBipartisan Campaign Reform ActGeorge W. Bushpro-choiceabortionPartial-Birth Abortion Ban ActBrady Campaigngun controlDefense of Marriage ActFederal Marriage Amendmentsame-sex marriageConstitutionLeague of Conservation VotersBill ClintonTom DeLayRepublican Main Street PartnershipRepublican Majority for ChoiceRepublicans for Environmental ProtectionCongressional Wildlife Refuge CaucusWar in IraqConnecticut PostHartford CourantAbu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseBridgeportGeorge H. W. BushWestportFirst SelectwomanDiane FarrellFairfield UniversityNorwalkWestonNancy JohnsonRob SimmonsLibertarianBarack Obama2012 United States Senate election in Connecticutopen Senate seat contest in 2010millionChris MurphyHollingsworth v. PerryGovernor of ConnecticutJohn KasichDonald TrumpHillary Clintongeneral electionHarvard Institute of PoliticsJoe BidenPresident of the United States of America2020 United States electionsFactions in the Republican Party (United States)Roll CallWayback MachineThe Hartford CourantCongress.govThe Washington PostAssociated PressNBC NewsThe New York Timesarchive.todayBiographical Directory of the United States CongressFederal Election CommissionC-SPANYouTubeConnecticut's 4th congressional districtU.S. order of precedenceJack KingstonOrder of precedence of the United StatesDutch Ruppersberger