 Farrell's campaign website says she was elected to office on both occasions with the support not only of her fellow Democrats, but also a significant group of independents and Republicans.Farrell had previously run for Connecticut 4th's Congressional District Election in 2004 against Shays.She began her campaign in the spring of that year, raising over US$1.9 million, and spending US$517,789 to Shays' US$879,885.