 A disastrous year for Republicans nationwide, rather than any substantive dissatisfaction with Simmons, was the likely factor behind Courtney's victory.Simmons had defeated ten-term incumbent Sam Gejdenson in 2000, and had won reelection by eight-point margins in 2002 and 2004, the former against Courtney.The 3rd district envelops the greater part of New Haven County, surrounding the city of New Haven, the district's population center, regional hub of southern Connecticut, and home to Yale University.