Jahana Hayes
Democrat Representative of Connecticut's 5th district
Representative
Connecticut, district 5
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
Connecticut, district 5
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
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