Jonathan De Barros is a community leader, youth mentor, and lifelong Connecticut resident running to represent the people of the 5th United States Congressional District, a region spanning northwestern and central Connecticut, including Danbury, Meriden, the Farmington and Naugatuck Valleys, Litchfield County, and his hometown of Waterbury.

As founder of the Phoenix Youth Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2018, Jonathan has worked tirelessly to mentor at-risk youth, promote vocational training, and teach conflict resolution. His passion for helping others is rooted in his own life experience and a deep commitment to ensuring that young people have the opportunities and support he needed as a teen.

Growing up in Waterbury during the height of the crack epidemic and gang violence, Jonathan faced a life-altering tragedy. As a teenager, he was attacked by multiple gang members, one armed with a loaded firearm. Forced to act in self-defense, Jonathan was wrongfully charged after a Democrat-appointed prosecutor withheld crucial evidence proving the assailant’s gun was in police custody. After 19 years of wrongful incarceration, his conviction was unanimously overturned by the Connecticut Court of Appeals, and he was later granted a full, complete, unconditional and absolute pardon by Democratic Governor Ned Lamont.

While incarcerated, Jonathan immersed himself in study, reading history, philosophy, religion, and political thought, including works by Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Booker T. Washington, and Thomas Sowell. Upon his release, he earned his Electrical Technician certification from IMTI in Waterbury and went on to serve the State and local municipalities maintaining highway lighting and traffic systems.

Jonathan now lives in Plymouth, Connecticut, with his wife Alyssa, a registered nurse with a master’s degree. Together, they are active in their local Republican Town Committee and are proud homeowners. In 2016, they suffered the heartbreaking loss of their unborn son, an event that deepened their Christian faith and commitment to pro-life advocacy. They are active members of Calvary Life Church in Cheshire and hold deep respect for law enforcement and the U.S. Military, with several family members having served or currently serving.

Jonathan is passionate about restoring the Republican values championed by Frederick Douglass, including faith, family, personal responsibility, and economic empowerment, to Black and Latino communities. He is committed to the principles of Abraham Lincoln and to working with fellow Connecticut Republicans to defend the constitutional foundations of the American Republic and return the Constitution State to its founding values.