Bob MacGuffie, a Republican runnign for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District.
Bob MacGuffie / Contributed PhotoFAIRFIELD — A leader of Connecticut's Tea Party has announced his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, setting himself up as the first to challenge Democratic Congressman Jim Himes in 2024.
Bob MacGuffie, a Fairfield resident, said he is running for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District for the first time because he is diametrically opposed to every position Himes takes.
"I've been challenging this man in town halls since he first emerged on the scene in the spring of '09," he said. "Here we are 14 years later, and the man is a failure at representing us."
Himes’ office did not respond to request for comment regarding MacGuffie’s announcement or plans to announce his own 2024 campaign.
MacGuffie said he wanted to announce early because it is going to take a while to network, and he does not want to have to move at a frantic pace.
"He's an entrenched incumbent, so it's going to take a while to get the message around the district," he said. "That's what I'll be working on, certainly this year. I'll be talking to all the Republicans and people who are not happy with (Himes') rule."
A conservative activist and self-published author, MacGuffie said next year's election will be a referendum on Himes' 14 years in office. He said Himes has voted in favor of increasing the national debt consistently.
MacGuffie said Himes does not stand up for his constituents, adding that is currently evidenced by the increase in inflation and increased taxes. He also took issue with Himes' support of the Affordable Care Act, a health care reform law also known as Obamacare.
"Options have decreased and costs have spiraled upward, as we told him they would," he said.
Another major concern MacGuffie said he has with Himes is his support of more authority being centralized in the federal government. Issues ranging from border control and the climate to the push for electric vehicles and parental control over education curriculum, he said favors individual citizens' rights over government control.
"The Democrats agenda is shrinking American life," he said. "Somebody has to stand up for the several hundred thousand people in this district who do not agree with his agenda, and take it to him. I'm just a citizen standing up to do that."
More information about MacGuffie and his campaign can be found at https://www.bobmacforcongress.com/