Shea beats De Barros as GOP’s pick to face Hayes in 5th Congressional District, AP projects
Former Navy SEAL Chris Shea defeated challenger Jonathan De Barros in the Republican primary on Tuesday for Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District, according to the Associated Press, setting up a battle in November against four-term Democratic incumbent Jahana Hayes.
“I’m relieved this chapter is closed. There is a job to be done here,” said Shea, a political newcomer, celebrating with supporters at the East Street Eatery in Wolcott. “We have to get to the business of defeating Jahana Hayes in the fall. It is not an easy task but it is doable.”
The Associated Press declared Shea the primary winner at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday with 25% of the district’s precincts reporting.
Shea, a North Haven firefighter who called himself the only “America First conservative” who could defeat Hayes. The 5th District has been Connecticut’s most competitive congressional district in recent election cycles.
But Shea has an uphill battle to win a district in western and northern Connecticut that stretches fro…