The Winner
If you live in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) will represent you for a fifth term. Hayes beat Republican Chris Shea, who called her on election night to concede, Connecticut Public reported.
The Associated Press projected Hayes the winner, and with about 99% of the vote counted she had 57.9% to Shea’s 42.1%, according to FOX61’s results. That’s a lead of about 16 points, and it keeps the seat in Democratic hands.
The Race
Shea, a firefighter, retired Navy SEAL and first-time candidate from Cheshire, won the Aug. 11 Republican primary with 81% of the vote over Jonathan De Barros, Patch reported. Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the race Solid Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Likely Democratic.
Hayes’ lead is wider than in 2024, when NBC News’ results showed her beating Republican George Logan 53.4% to 46.6%. The district covers 41 towns in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven and Hartford counties, including Danbury, Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden and Torrington, according to Hayes’ House office. About 728,000 people live there, and the typical household earns about $91,000 a year.
About 39% of adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree. About 65% of residents are white, about 21% are Hispanic, about 9% are Black and about 4% are Asian. The unemployment rate is about 6%, and about 11% of residents live below the poverty line.
What’s Next
Hayes’ fifth term begins Jan. 3, 2027, and the results stay unofficial until Connecticut certifies them. She said she would prioritize trying to undo the cuts to Medicaid and federal food assistance in H.R. 1, the tax and spending law Republicans passed last year, the Connecticut Mirror reported.
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