Between a Democratic Socialist and a Blame-Trump Incumbent: Greenwich's Michael Goldstein Shines
You can see and hear it for yourself in the replay of the October 19 debate between Independent candidate Ben Wesley, Republican Michael Goldstein, and 18-year incumbent Congressman Jim Himes (D):
Free-Free-Free
To no one's surprise, Ben Wesley (I)—an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)—focused his platform on wide-ranging government programs, calling for Medicare for All, free childcare, paid family leave, and universal job guarantees.
Trump-Trump-Trump
Incumbent Congressman Jim Himes (D) leaned heavily into anti-Trump talking points rather than centering his 18-year record. Himes pointed to Donald Trump as the primary root of current issues—citing foreign policy in Iran, arguing tariffs are driving up energy costs, and pointing to climate change as our primary crisis. When challenged on the far-left wing of his party, Himes dismissed Democratic Socialists like Rep. Ilhan Omar and other progressive members as just a small handful of members who don't control party policy, arguing instead that the priority must be defeating Trump to "rebuild our institutions."
Common Sense
Between those two extremes, Greenwich's Dr. Michael Goldstein (R) offered practical, grounded solutions. His deep focus on fixing our expensive healthcare delivery system—through community-based purchasing power, market competition, and preventive care—stood out in sharp contrast to Himes’ reliance on top-down government price controls.
Between the Lines: Voters in Greenwich and across Connecticut's 4th District face a clear choice this November: endless government promises, anti-Trump rhetoric, or common-sense leadership.