The district is currently represented by DemocratJahana Hayes. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+3, it is one of the least Democratic districts in Connecticut, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.[2]
Historically Republican, the 5th congressional district has been trending Democratic since 2004. John Kerry carried the district with 49.3% of the vote, a margin of 1,112 votes in the 2004 presidential election. Barack Obama carried the district in 2008 with 56.3% of the vote and in 2012 with 53.5% of the vote.
The current 5th congressional district was created in 2002 due to reapportionment following the 2000 U.S. census. Due to slow population growth, Connecticut lost a seat and the old Waterbury-based 5th district was merged with the New Britain-based 6th district. However, the merged district contained more of the old 6th's territory.
In the early 20th century the 5th congressional district included Waterbury, Litchfield County, and the Naugatuck Valley. It did not include any portion of Fairfield or Hartford counties and did not include the City of Meriden.