Vote 2026: CT's 5th District race could be a bellwether for Congress
This year, four-term incumbent Jahana Hayes faces a challenge from former Navy SEAL Chris Shea. Both disagree on the war in Iran, foreign tariffs and immigration raids.
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Connecticut’s most competitive congressional seat features a match-up between a former National Teacher of the Year and a retired Navy SEAL.
It's a district that could be a bellwether for the midterm.
DIVERSE DISTRICT
From the urban sprawl of Waterbury to the rustic Litchfield Hills, Connecticut's 5th Congressional District is a study in contrasts.
Hayes has held this seat for eight years, despite some close races.
“The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” she said after her 2024 victory over Republican George Logan, a former state senator and utility executive.
Hayes’ seven-point win was the slimmest margin of victory in the state, although she outperformed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by five points. A Republican has not represented the 5th District since 2006, when now-Sen. Chris Murphy unseated longtime Rep. Nancy Johnson.
DIVIDE OVER IRAN, TARIFFS
This time, Hayes faces Shea, a firefighter and veteran who supports President Donald Trump’s war in Iran – despite high gas prices and no clear exit strategy.
“We cannot, and will not under my watch, allow a terrorist regime that chants, ‘Death to America,’ [and] has been at war with us for the larger part of 50 years, have a nuclear weapon,” Shea said during a recent debate.
Hayes pledged to end the conflict quickly if Democrats regain control of Congress.
“The cost of diesel has increased the cost of everything,” she said. “Many farmers couldn’t get fertilizer because the Strait of Hormuz is closed.”
Both candidates also clashed over Trump’s foreign tariffs. Shea said the long-term benefits are worth short-term price spikes.
“The investments are happening and pledged by companies like Apple and Google and these other chip manufacturers, bringing those things onshore,” he said. “We can’t keep sending these jobs overseas.”
Hayes said Congress needs to impose tariffs, not Trump.
“I don’t believe it’s the president's prerogative to just wield tariffs as he pleases," she said. "The president should not have the power to unilaterally impose tariffs on behalf of our nation.”
“IT’S ALL EXPENSIVE”
Rising prices are on voters’ minds.
“People are seeing it at the gas pump, the supermarket, prescriptions, everywhere,” said Christine DeCicco, of Woodbury.
Margaret Buck, of Southbury, added, “I use diesel, and I use fuel, and I take care of animals, so I use a lot of feed. It’s all expensive.”
Polls show that federal immigration raids are also a major issue for Connecticut voters. Shea said his work fighting international drug cartels showed the need for tougher border security.
“If you think that some really awful, nasty people aren't coming across that border when the door is wide open, you've got another thing coming,” Shea said.
But Hayes said Congress needs to rein in abusive tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“The rules have just changed,” she said. “People who are showing up, following the rules to court dates, to church, to school, to doctor’s appointments and being detained by ICE.”
EARLY VOTING
Nearly 350,000 Connecticut voters have already cast ballots, as of Wednesday night. Half of those voters are registered Democrats; 19% are Republicans; the rest are unaffiliated or third parties.
Early Voting runs through Sunday.
