The Waterbury Times|Congressional Watch|June 24, 2026

Hartford-

The campaign of Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District candidate Chris Shea has publicly stated that he has received an endorsement from State Senator Ryan Fazio, prompting The Waterbury Times to seek confirmation directly from Fazio’s office.

In a recent post on social media, Shea’s campaign wrote:

“Honored and humbled to have the endorsement of our CTGOP Gubernatorial nominee @ryanfazio! Senator Fazio has been a strong and consistent conservative fighter in the Senate and the leading voice for making CT more affordable.”

The statement appears to present Fazio as formally endorsing Shea’s congressional bid. However, questions have since emerged regarding whether the endorsement has been publicly issued, formally announced, or accurately characterized in campaign messaging.

The Waterbury Times contacted Senator Fazio’s office asking a direct clarification: whether he has issued a public endorsement of Shea’s candidacy for CT-05, or whether the campaign’s claim reflects a misinterpretation of support or private conversation.

As of publication, no confirmation or clarification has been provided.

The inquiry comes amid a competitive Republican primary environment in Connecticut’s 5th District, where messaging, endorsements, and perceived momentum can play a significant role in shaping voter perception.

Shea’s opponent, Jonathan DeBarros, has also been actively campaigning in the district, where candidate positioning and high-profile support are closely scrutinized by voters and party stakeholders alike.

Endorsements are typically a straightforward element of political campaigns, but disputes over their existence or framing can raise broader questions about transparency in campaign communications—particularly when such claims are used in public-facing materials without independent confirmation.

This remains a developing matter. The Waterbury Times will update this story if Senator Fazio or his office provides a response clarifying his position on the reported endorsement.

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