Himes defeats Conn. Rep. Shays

HARTFORD, Conn. Shays, who is the last New England Republican in the House of Representatives, lost to former Greenwich businessman Jim Himes.

With 40 percent of votes counted, Himes won 60 percent to 39 percent.

Himes is a former Goldman Sachs vice president who now runs Northeast operations at Enterprise Community Partners, an affordable housing operation.

Shays survived close elections in 2004 and 2006.

Shays has long been popular in his district in southwestern Connecticut, but recent campaigns have been close as Republicans fell from power in Congress and Shays' support for the Iraq war put him at odds with many Connecticut voters.