Jahana Hayes

Democrat Representative of Connecticut's 5th district

  • Representative

    Connecticut, district 5

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

3

Congresses Served

3

House Terms

March 8, 1973 (51 years old)

Birthday

  • American educator and politician serving as a U.S. representative since 2019
  • First Black woman and Black Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress
  • Recognized as the National Teacher of the Year in 2016
  • Grew up in public housing projects in Waterbury, Connecticut
  • Earned degrees from Naugatuck Valley Community College, Southern Connecticut State University, University of Saint Joseph, and University of Bridgeport
  • Taught government and history at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury
  • Chaired the Kennedy SOAR Review Board and was a co-adviser of HOPE, a student-service club
  • Ran for Congress in 2018, focusing on her difficult upbringing and support for public education and teachers’ unions
  • Endorsed by the Connecticut Education Association and the Connecticut Working Families Party in 2018
  • Re-elected in 2020 and faced a competitive election in 2022
  • Committee assignments include the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Member of the Congressional Black Caucus and House Pro-Choice Caucus
  • Voted for both the first and second impeachment of Donald Trump
  • Opposed placing Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on the House Education Committee due to her claims about school shootings
  • Was on the shortlist for Secretary of Education in the Biden administration
  • Voted in line with President Joe Biden’s stated position 98.2% of the time as of June 2022
  • Voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and against removing U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days in 2023
  • Criticized a federal trans and intersex sports ban, highlighting the high rates of suicide consideration and attempts among trans youth
  • Lives in Wolcott, Connecticut, with her husband and four children