Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes, who is challenging Rep. Christopher Shays (R), officially earned the support of his predecessor. Diane Farrell, the 2004 and 2006 nominee who narrowly lost both of her bids against Shays, endorsed Himes on Sunday.

“Jim has a perspective that is extremely important,” Farrell said in a statement. “I think the story of this campaign is Jim’s qualifications and the closeness of the last two races indicate that voters have looked closely at Shays’ record.”

Shays is the last Republican House Member in New England after the 2006 Democratic wave knocked off all of his remaining colleagues in the region. Democrats have tried repeatedly to defeat Shays in the district that Democratic presidential candidates carried both in 2000 and 2004, but to no avail.

A spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Julie Shutley, said she expects Shays to continue the pattern of fending off tough Democratic challengers.

“Jim Himes will soon be following in Diane Farrell’s footsteps by losing a campaign to Chris Shays — a Representative who has a personal and established relationship with the people of Connecticut’s 4th district,” Shutley said.

— Shira Toeplitz