Stick with the incumbent or choose a new voice in Washington? That's the decision facing voters in Connecticut's 5th Congressional District on Nov. 3 as Democratic U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes seeks another term against Republican challenger Chris Shea.
The candidates have offered different approaches to issues including affordability, health care, immigration and federal spending as voters prepare to choose who will represent the district in Congress for the next two years.
The 5th Congressional District includes Danbury, New Britain, Meriden, Bethel, Brookfield, Newtown and Southbury, along with portions of Waterbury and Torrington and several other communities across western and central Connecticut.
Here's what voters should know about the candidates, their priorities and how to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 election:
Hayes is a Democrat from Waterbury and has represented Connecticut's 5th Congressional District since 2019. Formerly a public school teacher who was named the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, she is seeking another two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hayes serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, where she is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
She has emphasized her record on education, health care, food assistance and federal investments in the district, while criticizing Republican-backed changes to federal safety-net programs.
Hayes' campaign priorities include:
Hayes has highlighted her work on legislation addressing prescription drug costs, school funding and nutrition assistance. She has also supported measures to expand affordable housing and bring federal infrastructure investments to communities throughout the district.
During an Oct. 13 debate, Hayes criticized federal changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, arguing that reductions in assistance would hurt families. She also called for greater congressional oversight of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement and trade policies.
Shea is a Republican from Cheshire, a retired Navy SEAL, firefighter and former small business owner making his first run for Congress.
A Watertown native, Shea served more than three decades in the Navy before retiring in 2024. He is currently a lieutenant with the North Haven Fire Department and founded Hero to Hero, a nonprofit organization that helps military veterans transition into careers as first responders.
Shea has centered his campaign on affordability, public safety and government accountability, arguing that Washington needs to reduce spending, strengthen border security and better support working families.
Shea's campaign priorities include:
Shea has called for policies that encourage business growth, reduce regulatory costs and expand economic opportunities for Connecticut residents.
During the Oct. 13 debate, Shea defended tax relief provisions in federal Republican legislation and argued that tariffs can be useful in trade negotiations, while acknowledging their impact on consumer costs.
He also criticized Connecticut's approach to cooperation with federal immigration authorities and called for stronger enforcement of immigration laws.
Connecticut's general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who are in line when polls close at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to cast a ballot.
Polling locations vary by town and voting district.
Residents can check their voter registration status and find their assigned polling place using the Connecticut Secretary of the State's voter lookup tool.
Early voting for the November election runs from Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1.
Every Connecticut municipality has at least one designated early voting location. These locations may differ from voters' regular Election Day polling places.
Voters can find their town's early voting site through the Secretary of the State's early voting directory.
The regular voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Friday, Oct. 16.
Eligible residents can register online by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 16. Mail-in registration applications must be postmarked by that date.
Connecticut also allows eligible residents to register and vote on the same day during the early voting period and on Election Day.
Same-day registration is available at designated locations, which are not necessarily the same as regular Election Day polling places.
Residents should contact their town's registrar of voters for details about same-day registration locations and identification requirements.
Connecticut voters can now request absentee ballots without providing a specific reason or excuse.
The change follows legislation implementing the state's 2024 constitutional amendment expanding absentee voting access.
Eligible registered voters can request a ballot through the Connecticut Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, Nov. 2.
Completed absentee ballots must be received by the appropriate town clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted. A postmark by Election Day is not sufficient if the ballot arrives after the deadline.
Voters can return completed ballots according to state instructions, including by mail or through authorized ballot drop boxes.
Voters are encouraged to request and return absentee ballots as early as possible to ensure they arrive before the deadline.
For additional information, visit the Secretary of the State's absentee voting page.
Connecticut residents can use the following official resources to prepare for the Nov. 3 election:
More election information is available at MyVote.CT.gov.
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