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He's a Democrat who rejects almost every one of President Donald Trump's policies and proposals. Yet Courtney also happens to represent a congressional district, the only one in the very blue Nutmeg State, that supported the Republican over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The district includes most of the eastern third of the state, including Norwich and New London.
Courtney, a 65-year-old lawyer and former state legislator has taken a different path -- where moderation, listening and an emphasis on local concerns are his priorities, according to this report in the Hartford Courant.
Courtney is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of 68 moderate U.S. House members who focus on trade, taxes and pro-growth policies -- not hot-button issues such as abolishing ICE.
The 2nd District includes struggling factory towns, the and the more liberal home to the University Connecticut in Storrs, but also is a bastion of supporters of gun rights and the U.S. military.
Courtney's opponent on Nov. 6 is Republican Dan Postemski, an Iraq War veteran from Hampton. But Postemski has little name recognition and even less campaign money while Courtney's political war chest is over $1 million.
Courtney first won the federal seat in 2006 by just 83 votes out of about 242,000 cast — in an election influenced by division over the Iraq War.
However, during his first term, Courtney was nicknamed “Two Sub Joe” when he called for two submarines to be built annually at Electric Boat -- one of the congressional district’s largest employers, according to the Courant.
Trump performed better in the 2nd District than elsewhere in Connecticut, yet a majority of its voters supported Barack Obama for president in 2008 and 2012.
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