Representative Elizabeth H. Esty

Elizabeth H. Esty served as a Representative from Connecticut in the United States Congress from 2013 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Elizabeth H. Esty contributed to the legislative process during 3 terms in office.

Elizabeth H. Esty’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Elizabeth H. Esty participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Elizabeth Esty (née Henderson; born August 25, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut’s 5th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. A Democrat, she previously was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 103rd Assembly District, which consisted of Cheshire and parts of Hamden and Wallingford. She also served two terms on the Cheshire Town Council. The 5th congressional district spans central and northwest Connecticut, including Waterbury, Danbury, New Britain, Meriden, Torrington, Litchfield County, the Farmington Valley, Newtown, and Esty’s hometown of Cheshire. Esty defeated two challengers in the August 14, 2012, Democratic primary to become the Democratic nominee in Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, and on November 6, 2012, she defeated challenger Andrew Roraback, succeeding Chris Murphy, who was elected in the 2012 Senate Election. Esty defeated Mark Greenberg on November 4, 2014, in the state’s most competitive district to win her first re-election. On November 8, 2016, Esty defeated Sherman First Selectman Clay Cope by a margin of 58%–42% to win re-election a second time. In early 2018, Esty faced public criticism after news reports revealed that her former chief of staff had been accused of sexual harassment and threats of violence against staff but that she kept him on the payroll for another three months and wrote him a positive letter of reference. After initially insisting she would continue to serve, Esty announced that she would not seek reelection. She cited her failure to protect women on her staff from sexual harassment and threats of violence from her former chief of staff. Jahana Hayes succeeded Esty in Congress.