Connecticut voters will choose their party nominees on August 11. After reviewing the state’s contested races, CIVPAC has made two endorsements: Governor Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary for governor and Chris Shea in the Republican primary for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District.

The two endorsements arise from very different circumstances. Lamont is a center-left incumbent whose fiscal record makes him preferable to a progressive challenger. Shea is a conservative Republican whom we endorse as the clearly more qualified and responsible choice in his primary. We will evaluate our endorsements for the November general election after the primaries are over.

Ned Lamont for Governor

CIVPAC endorses Governor Ned Lamont over state Representative Josh Elliott in the Democratic primary.

Lamont has demonstrated that a center-left administration can pursue social goals without abandoning fiscal discipline. Connecticut has balanced its budgets, directed more than $11 billion in surpluses toward reducing pension debt, preserved middle-class tax reductions and continued funding paid family leave and early-childhood education.

We have reservations. State spending and public-employee compensation deserve continued scrutiny. Connecticut faces high housing, tax and electricity costs, and the deterioration of important practices within the Department of Children and Families raises legitimate questions about administrative accountability. Lamont also needs to do more to overcome local restrictions that prevent the construction of additional housing.

But Elliott offers a substantially more left-wing alternative. He favors higher taxes on wealthy residents, weaker fiscal guardrails, movement toward single-payer health coverage and a more expansive role for state government. Lamont’s approach is imperfect, but it is more fiscally realistic and sustainable.

Chris Shea in Connecticut’s 5th District

CIVPAC endorses Chris Shea in the Republican primary for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District.

Shea served for more than three decades in the Navy, including as a Navy SEAL and special-forces medic. He later returned to work as a firefighter and paramedic and founded a nonprofit helping veterans enter first-responder careers. His record demonstrates service, responsibility and experience with national-security institutions.

This is a highly qualified endorsement. Shea is a conservative Trump supporter, not a centrist. His platform lacks sufficient detail on Ukraine, NATO, deficits, entitlement programs, health care and abortion. His use of culture-war rhetoric also substitutes partisan signaling for serious policy discussion.

His opponent, Jonathan De Barros, is nevertheless unacceptable. Our objection is not that De Barros should be permanently excluded from public life because of an overturned murder conviction, a later manslaughter plea and a pardon. Redemption should be possible. Our objection concerns his current judgment, including inflammatory rhetoric, calls to arrest public officials for treason over immigration disputes and efforts to silence political critics through litigation.

Shea is plainly the more qualified and responsible Republican candidate.

This endorsement applies only to the Republican primary. Democratic Representative Jahana Hayes remains under review for a possible CIVPAC endorsement in the general election. We will evaluate the November contest after Republican voters select their nominee.

Readers can review these endorsements, along with CIVPAC’s other races and candidates, on our 2026 Candidate Endorsements page.