Early voting starts Monday for Connecticut’s Aug. 13th party primary.

In the 4th congressional district, which stretches along I-95 from Greenwich to Bridgeport, Republicans are picking a candidate to take on longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Himes – corporate insurance executive Bob MacGuffie and Dr. Michael Goldstein, an physician and attorney from Greenwich.

The Greenwich recycling center isn’t the first place you expect to see a politician campaigning, but that’s where we found Goldstein on a recent morning.

He said it’s fitting, given the dysfunction in Washington.

“I think the people that come to the dump are probably more self-reliant than the people in Washington,” he said.

But to challenge Himes, Goldstein will have to defeat the GOP’s endorsed candidate, former Tea Party member Bob MacGuffie.

“Mr. Himes has been in office for 16 years,” MacGuffie said. “This election should be a referendum.”

Goldstein lost a similar primary two years ago to Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, who Himes later defeated.

There’s little difference between the two candidates on major issues like the Mexican border, tax cuts, support for police and the war in Gaza (both unequivocally support Israel’s efforts, despite mounting Palestinian civilian casualties).

Instead, this is a race of style over substance. MacGuffie favors a more aggressive approach that gives voters a clear alternative to Democrats.

“We’ve done seven rounds against Mr. Himes so far,” he said. “The only reason I’m in this, is because the case has not been prosecuted effectively and aggressively.”

But Goldstein believes voters want a moderate. The 4th District hasn’t elected a Republican since Chris Shays in 2006.

“My opponent, Bob – his primary goal is to talk about how he criticizes Jim Himes,” said Goldstein. “But he’s not a solutions-based person.”

The winner will go on to face Himes in the November general election. Early Voting runs until Sunday, Aug. 11. Voters can also cast a ballot, including absentee ballots, on Primary Day, which is Tuesday, Aug. 13.