The Waterbury Times|Congressional Watch|Published May 16, 2026
Waterbury-The race for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District is officially heading to a Republican primary after candidate Jonathan De Barros secured nearly 25% of delegate support — more than enough to qualify for an August primary showdown.
The result immediately positions De Barros as a serious contender in one of Connecticut’s most competitive congressional districts and signals growing support for his campaign among Republican delegates across the district.
Under Connecticut Republican Party rules, candidates who receive at least 15% of delegate support at convention qualify for the primary ballot. By reportedly approaching the 25% mark, De Barros significantly outperformed the minimum threshold and demonstrated unexpected momentum heading into the summer campaign season.
The Republican field became wide open after former GOP nominee George Logan declined to run again, creating an opportunity for several candidates to compete for the nomination in a district Republicans continue to target heavily.
De Barros has attempted to carve out a different lane in the race, focusing much of his message on urban outreach, working-class voters, and expanding Republican support in cities like Waterbury. He has publicly argued that Republicans cannot compete long-term in CT-05 without improving their performance in urban communities traditionally dominated by Democrats.
The primary now sets the stage for an intense battle over the future direction of the Republican Party in the district — including questions about messaging, voter outreach, fundraising, and electability against incumbent Democrat Jahana Hayes.
Political observers will now be watching closely to see whether De Barros can convert convention support into broader voter momentum across the district’s suburban, rural, and urban communities ahead of the August primary.
Regardless of the final outcome, forcing a primary with nearly a quarter of delegate support marks a significant early victory for the De Barros campaign and guarantees that the CT-05 race will remain one of the most closely watched political contests in Connecticut this election cycle.
More Congressional News
CT-05 Congressional Race Brewing: Jonathan De Barros Calls Out GOP Strategy Against Jahana Hayes
Leave a Reply