 The district has a long history of moderate and independent Congressmen, with Shays succeeding Representatives such as Stewart McKinney (who had died from AIDS, in 1987) and Lowell P. Weicker (who became estranged from the Republican Party following his service on the Senate Watergate Committee).Shays, widely regarded as a social moderate, fended off strong challenges from Westport Selectman Diane Farrell in 2004 and 2006, before local demographic shifts and a national mood favoring Democratic candidates resulted in his narrow defeat.Potential Republican candidates include Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele from Stamford, State Senator (and son of the former Congressman) John P. McKinney of Southport, and state House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero of Norwalk.