Candidate · November 3, 2026
Chris Shea
On the ballot for U.S. House · Connecticut's 5th District
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $466K
- cash on hand
- $54K
- issues with public statements
- 5
- outside spending for or against
- $250K
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. House · Connecticut's 5th District1, |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican Party1, |
| Status | Challenger |
| Also on the ballot |
|
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Chris Shea, a Watertown native, served in the U.S. Navy from 1991 until he retired in January 2024, starting as a hospital corpsman and serving as a Navy SEAL with units including SEAL Team 8 and SEAL Team 18, as well as at the Pentagon.4 He deployed to Afghanistan, and from 2014 to 2016 he served in Mexico, including at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, training Mexican special operations forces.4 He earned a bachelor of science degree from Charter Oak State College and was commissioned as a Navy warrant officer in 2012.4 He has been a firefighter since 2009 and is a lieutenant with the North Haven Fire Department, and he founded Hero to Hero, Inc., a nonprofit that helps veterans move into careers as first responders.4 He also owned and operated a handyman business that employed six people.4
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running to protect American families, cut wasteful spending in Washington, lower the cost of living, reduce red tape, support law enforcement and advance pro-worker, pro-business policies that put Connecticut citizens first.5
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitechrissheaforcongress.com4,
6 - Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=615868111240474
- X (Twitter)x.com/sheaforcongress4
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says he would cut wasteful spending in Washington.5
His campaign website says he would fight for policies that reduce the tax burden.5
Housing
His campaign website says he would promote practical housing solutions that help more people afford to live and work in Connecticut.5
Crime, Policing and Prisons
His campaign website says he would support law enforcement.5
Foreign Policy and Defense
His campaign website says the United States should stand with Israel and support its right to self-defense.5
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.7
| Raised | $465,963 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $412,195 |
| Cash on hand | $53,768 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $0 supporting and $250,000 opposing Chris Shea this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 21, 2026.8
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-Choice Majority Action | — | $250,000 |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§5Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
- Candidate financial disclosure report9filed Jul 16, 2026