 She declined to run for a 4th term in 2018 due to scandal in which she was accused of failing to protect her female staff members from her former chief-of-staff, who was alleged to have physically assaulted and harassed another staff member.Before that, it was held by current senator Christopher S. Murphy, a former state Senator and representative originally from Southington.Prior to the 2006 election, Murphy moved across the border to the 5th district town of Cheshire, and scored a 56–44% upset victory against 24-year Republican incumbent Nancy L. Johnson of New Britain.