Jahana Hayes

Jahana Hayes

Jahana Hayes is a Waterbury Connecticut activist.

JStreet PAC endorsement

In 2024 JStreet PAC endorsed Jahana Hayes.

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Jahana Hayes voted "Nay".

Progressive Turnout Project

In 2022 Jahana Hayes was supported by Progressive Turnout Project.

Support from Onward Together

Onward Together supported Jahana Hayes as a candidate for the 2018 midterm elections.

Labor Caucus

The Labor Caucus is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021 members included Jahana Hayes .

Cuba delegation

Beginning November 19, 2022, to November 23, Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) is leading a bipartisan House Agriculture Committee delegation of Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) to Cuba.

“As members of the House Agriculture Committee, we work every week in Washington to track the impact that U.S. agriculture and agricultural trade is having in nations around the globe. And as the United States is one of Cuba’s largest suppliers of agricultural imports, we look forward to seeing the impact of U.S. products and the opportunity to survey local agricultural practices,”said the delegation. “We will be meeting with farmers and agricultural experts to help us understand the current state of agriculture and food supply in Cuba, as well as discuss where opportunities for mutual economic benefit may exist for American businesses and the Cuban people. We are eager to report our findings back to our colleagues and our committee upon our return.”

The bipartisan delegation is expected to meet with Cuban farmers, agricultural business operators, and local officials to discuss the current state of agriculture in Cuba, the impact that U.S. commodities are having in Cuban markets and households, and related issues.

The House Agriculture Committee members also met with the Vice President of Cuba Salvador Valdes Mesa, officials from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Representatives of the National Assembly.

According to the press release, in addition to agriculture, the US delegation was deep interested in many other issues including “human rights, migration and consular issues”.

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Greg Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Jahana Hayes.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

Shortly after the 2018 election Jahana Hayes joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Education

• Studied at University of Bridgeport
• Studied Curriculum & Instruction at University of Saint Joseph
• Studied Secondary Education/History at Southern Connecticut State University
• Studied Liberal-arts at Naugatuck Valley Community College

Career

• Talent & Professional Development Supervisor at Waterbury Public Schools
• Former Teacher at Kennedy High School

Wins Democratic nomination

Jahana Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year, won the Democratic nomination on August 2018 to replace retiring Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), defeating a party-backed candidate.

The Associated Press called the race with 44 percent of precincts in Connecticut's 5th District reporting. At the time Hayes was declared the winner, she had 59 percent of the vote compared to opponent Mary Glassman, who had been endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Party.

Hayes, a first-time candidate and former high school social studies teacher, was honored in 2016 by former President Obama at the White House, where she received the National Teacher of the Year Award.

Her retirement cleared the way for a Democratic primary in Esty’s district. Glassman, who has worked in various roles at the state government level, immediately jumped into the race.

Meanwhile, Hayes — encouraged to run by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) — entered the contest in May.

Hayes missed out on the state party’s endorsement at its May 14 convention. But she picked up the backing of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a Democratic heavyweight and rumored 2020 presidential contender, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Union supporter

Jahana Hayes, who won two enthusiastic standing ovations at the state AFL-CIO convention, is an 11-year NEA member after first, as an African-American single mother, gaining a job at the Southbury Training School and joining SEIU Hospital and Health Care Workers 1199. She says her union jobs lifted her out of poverty.

Before winning the training school job, Hayes told the delegates that her boss at a non-union shop forced her to constantly work double shifts, even though she was a young single mother. Her boss said if she didn’t like it she could leave. “Instead, I found my union sisters and brothers,” in 1199 at Southbury Training School, she said. Their fight won compensatory pay for mandatory overtime.

“I will never forget what unions have done for me. I know why we have a 40-hour work week, minimum wages, safety protections. Together we raised our voices.”

“We can’t let up, we can’t let go, we can’t stop fighting,” she said. “Hold leaders accountable every time they take our power away. The most important power is the power of the ballot.”

The state fed convention adopted an “Invest in Workers Agenda to Combat Income Inequality Within the First 100 Days of the 2019 Session,” including paid family and medical leave – a longtime cause of veteran U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from New Haven — and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

As might be expected, Hayes puts improving education at the top of her priorities and her website. She declared her teachers inspired her to escape childhood poverty – and so she inspires her students to go out and serve the community. Those efforts helped garner her the Teacher of the Year Award from the National Council of State School Officers, with Obama giving it.

The satisfaction that comes from watching “students take ownership of their community is unmatched,” said Hayes on her website.

“Teachers exposed me to a different world by letting me borrow books to read at home and sharing stories about their college experiences,” she added. “So many things that [teachers do] fall outside of traditional teaching responsibilities. It is those times when I am transformed into an advisor, counselor, confidant and protector.”

But she also campaigns for other progressive causes, including the Fight for 15 and Medicare for All. Her opponent in the primary, Mary Glassman, endorses strengthening the Affordable Care Act.

As a result, Hayes has an enormous list of unions and progressive organizations in her corner. They include the NEA, its Connecticut affiliate, the Teachers (AFT), AFSCME Council 4, Auto Workers District 9A, Teamsters Local 67, the Service Employees, and the Working Families Party. Glassman had Our Revolution and, narrowly, the state Democratic Party. She beat Hayes on the second ballot at the state convention.

Single-payer

Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., a first-year lawmaker, union member and former National Teacher of the Year made single-payer a key campaign plank in her win in the Danbury-Waterbury 5th District in 2018.

Communist Party connections

"Eradicate Anti-Muslim Content On Your Platform"

December 15, 2020;

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today urged immediate action from Facebook to eradicate anti-Muslim bigotry from the platform and demanded Mark Zuckerberg implement six measures to combat bigoted content. In a letter signed by 29 colleagues, Dingell cited instances of anti-Muslim content on Facebook and recent reports showing the role of the platform in inciting violence against the Muslim community.

“Facebook cannot celebrate the success of its platform, while ignoring its role in elevating the dangerous, deadly content targeting Muslim people,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “In Christchurch, New Zealand, a terrorist attack that stole the lives of fifty-one Muslims worshipping in their mosque was streamed live on Facebook around the world. But in the ensuing weeks and months, Facebook failed to offer a single policy intentionally designed to eradicate hateful, anti-Muslim content. Nearly two years later, it’s time for Facebook to demonstrate that this company recognizes the life and death consequences of their lack of action.”

Dingell’s letter was signed by Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, André Carson, Carolyn Maloney, Ilhan Omar, Jahana Hayes, Max Rose, Barbara Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Bobby Rush, Dan Kildee, Jared Huffman, Kathy Castor, Gwen Moore, Lauren Underwood, Jan Schakowsky, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan, Grace Meng, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Darren Soto, Don Beyer, Jim McGovern, Peter Welch, Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, Yvette Clarke, Raul Grijalva, Earl Blumenauer, and Nydia Velazquez. Additionally, her letter has received the support of the following organizations: CODEPINK, Common Defense, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Islamic Networks Group, Jetpac, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Justice for Muslims Collective, MomsRising, National Iranian American Council, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, Project South, ReThinking Foreign Policy, and National Network for Arab American Communities.

Common Defense endorsement

Common Defense endorsed Jahana Hayes in 2018.

Thanks for running

‎Leonard C. Yannielli‎ to Jahana Hayes August 10, 2018 ·

The election of Jahana Hayes would be yet another step in the direction of fairness and justice in our area. I was born and raised in the north end of Waterbury. From the Waterbury People United Against Racism (1970s) to the Waterbury Committee on South Africa, to the Obama campaign, there has been this long struggle for peace, social justice, and the environment. Her commitment to medicare for all and single payer would be a giant step for our people in the greater Waterbury area. The fact that Jahana is an educator is an added plus for our area that needs a strong educational component to ready our young people for green jobs and a sustainable future. Thank you for running for Congress.

Communist supporter

Leonard C. Yannielli November 1 2018:

Dear MoveOn, Last week MoveOn members made a qualitative difference in the Waterbury office of Jahana Hayes for Congress. Now comes the real test. Tuesday, November 6th, is Election Day!, We need an All-Out Call/Text to all members in Connecticut. I was born and raised in Waterbury. I well know the difficultes running for elected office in the Naugatuck Valley. The large shops and many unions are gone. People are trying to piece their lives together by working in the service industries and can’t well support a family that way. With desperation also comes confusion. They have been preyed on by corrupt politicians who convince them to vote against their interests.

Jahana Hayes is a breath of fresh air. The opposite of the millionaire clubs in Congress, she is a working teacher. In fact she is working while running for Congress! She has a chance to be the first African American woman to go to Congress from Ct. She is fighting for green jobs, extending medicare to all and for real gun control. It will only happen if we, MoveOn, get behind this campaign in a big way. This work involves phone calling from the office. We will be identifying people who need a ride to the polls. We have plenty of drivers already so this work is simply calling from the office to ID who needs a ride Go to the Jahana Hayes Office, 11 AM, Tuesday , Nov. 6th at 142 Bank Street, Waterbury, Ct. Let’s keep Ct blue and be apart of this historic victory!!!

Letter: Hayes supports passive recreation

Leonard C. Yannielli had a letter published in The register/Citizen Wednesday, October 3, 2018:

One doesn’t often meet a candidate for Congress whose platform states support for passive recreation. Yet Jahana Hayes is that kind of candidate. As a mom and a public school teacher, she knows the grassroots needs of communities.

While supportive of active reaction as well, she knows there are the majorities of young people who need the alternatives that passive recreation affords e.g. nature walks, writing, poetry, wildlife photography, bird watching, outdoor theater, plein air painting and conservation activities.

Please support Democrat Jahana Hayes for Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Fishman on Hayes

Joelle Fishman Peoples World October 26, 2018:

National attention has also been focused on Jahana Hayes, union teacher and candidate for an open seat in the 5th District who, if elected, will be the first African American woman to go to Congress from this state.

At a breakfast attended by construction trades, health care, and teacher union members prior to door knocking in Danbury, National Education Association vice president Becky Pringle roused the crowd with a quote from W.E.B. DuBois: “The freedom to learn—has been bought by bitter sacrifice….we should fight to the last ditch to keep open the right to learn.”

Hayes credited Pringle with giving her the encouragement she needed to make the run for Congress by saying, “Don’t change any part of who you are. Walk in your truth.”

Speaking as a history teacher who was national teacher of the year, Hayes said, “Everything is at stake. I know how we got the 40 hour work week and paid time off and the right to organize. We used our collective voices. We used the power of the vote. Now we have to do that one more time.”

Speaking later with the People’s World, Hayes said she is ready to hold her own in Washington and that as a teacher “I know the art of collaboration.” She greeted other first time candidates for Congress in the country who, like herself, won hard-fought primaries and will “give voice to those who have not been heard.”

“People too will have to stay active and engaged and make sure not go dormant and silent after the election, so we can have your back at the state and local level,” she added.

Planned Parenthood protest

Gary Winfield July 10 2018.

With Alicia Hernandez Strong, Maria Horn, Dita Bhargava and Jahana Hayes.

WFP rally

Gary Winfield August 11 2018·

Attending Working FP Rally for Jahana Hayes! with Lindsay Farrell, Lori Pelletier and Eva Bermudez Zimmerman.

CARA 2024 endorsement

Rep. Jahana Hayes (CD-5) had to wipe away her tears at the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans convention, after accepting the Charlene Block award and receiving the national and state organization's endorsement for her 100 percent voting record. The tears came, she explained, because everything she does is to make her grandmother proud.

Hayes won the hearts of the union retirees in the packed room at AFSCME Council 4 in New Britain when she told her story of being raised with her brother by her grandmother in Waterbury. She remembered the anxiety on the third of each month looking for the Social Security check in the mail in order to pay the bills.

“I know what it means to worry about how to cover the rent or mortgage and put food on the table. I understand how policy affects people,” she said warning, “All the Republican proposals cut Social Security and Medicare.”

“We're not asking for anything we didn't earn,” said Hayes to applause, “these are not entitlements.”

CARA 2022 endorsement

Leading up to Labor Day in 2022, the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) gathered to endorse worker rights champion Rep. Jahana Hayes for re-election in the 5th Congressional District, a battleground targeted by the national Republican Party and corporate funding sources re-take control of the House of Representatives.

Representing more than 59,000 members from many unions, the CT ARA also endorsed US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. John B. Larson and Rep. Joe Courtney for their 100% voting records on senior issues and commitment to oppose privatization of Social Security at the top of the Republican agenda.

“Rep. Hayes has earned a perfect lifetime score of 100% in the Alliance’s annual Congressional Voting Record,” said ARA president Bette Marafino. “She knows that thousands of seniors in her district rely on the Social Security and Medicare benefits they have earned, and she's working to protect all of our retirement security.”

Rep. Hayes, a former teacher and state worker expressed appreciation saying, "Our seniors have done the hard work of helping to build this country, that’s why I will work just as hard to protect and expand Social Security, fight for affordable healthcare and make sure our retirees are never left behind.”.

Hayes has been a leader in the fight to protect earned pension benefits and lower drug prices. She voted to require Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year and cap insulin co-pays at $35 a month. She also voted to provide hearing benefits under Medicare and $150 billion for Medicaid home care services.

Partnering with CARA

Rep Jahana Hayes March 28 2019:

Thank you to Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans, Citizens Coalition for Equal Access and CT Against Aging for visiting my team to share your work educating and mobilizing retirees. I am happy to partner with you to protect benefits like Social Security and Medicare.

CARA endorsement

In August 2022 CARA endorsed Jahana Hayes for re-election.

“I am so grateful for the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans,” said Representative Hayes. “Our seniors have done the hard work of helping to build this country, that’s why I will work just as hard to protect Social Security, fight for affordable healthcare and make sure our retirees are never left behind.”

Social Security 2100

Social Security 2100, a plan reintroduced by Congressman John B. Larson and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, would finally do away with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)—penalties that unfairly reduce or erase the retirement benefits that teachers and other public servants deserve.

Speaking at the Farmington Senior Center June 2023, Larson—a longtime advocate for Social Security reform—and Hayes—Connecticut and National Teacher of the Year—were joined by CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans President Bette Marafino, Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne, CSEA SEIU Local 2001 President Travis Woodward, AFGE Local 1164 Area 1 Vice President Sherry Jackson, AFSCME Council 4 President Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, and Paralyzed Veterans of America New England Region President Brad Carlson.

“It’s time for us to bring Social Security into this century,” said Larson, noting that he looks forward to working with CEA and other organizations to make that happen. “We’re out to not only preserve and protect Social Security but expand it, and there’s no better person we could have fighting for that here in Connecticut or anywhere in the country than Jahana Hayes. It takes someone with an understanding of how Social Security impacts her fellow teachers and others who have been unfairly penalized by WEP and GPO. It’s important to have a leader in Congress who understands all of this.”

“I can tell you that while we are having this conversation at a senior center, my goal is to expand this conversation,” said Hayes, “because young people need to know how critical Social Security is and why we need to shore up and invest in the largest retirement insurance program and anti-poverty program we have.”

Socialist connections

Campbell connection

Zack Campbell August 11, 2018 ·

I'm so excited to have Jahana Hayes and Eva Bermudez Zimmerman running in the same year!

1. VoteWFP — with Jahana Hayes and Eva Bermudez Zimmerman.

Bortolleto connection

Jahana Hayes February 1 2019.

Jahana Hayes with Camila Bortolleto and Carolina Bortolleto.

Socialist volunteers

Gina Atanasoff ‎Danbury Area Team Jahana November 4, 2018 ·

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Our favorite warrior activists knocked on 230 doors this weekend and still made the time to come in and phone bank! Thanks for all you do! Camila Bortolleto Carolina Bortolleto (also special thanks to Kate Conetta for making calls and treating for dinner!

Danbury Area Team Jahana

Western Connecticut Democratic Socialists members Will Love, Chris Ludwig, Camila Bortolleto, Carolina Bortolleto and James Naddeo were members of the Danbury Area Team Jahana public FB group.

NARAL Pro-Choice Brunch

State Senator Julie Kushner May 5 2019·

The NARAL Pro-Choice Brunch was fantastic! Polly Moran and Sarah Croucher pulled it all together Karen and Tom’s beautiful home lent itself to an amazing table of culinary delights prepared by Party Chair, Nancy Wyman, Congressmember Jahana Hayes and me and my Legislative colleagues. Thank you to Kate Johnson and Camila and Carolina Bortolleto for making the trip. This is the year we will make things happen! We will never go back!

Medicare for All Act

In February 2019 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. By May 29 she had 110 co-sponsors including Rep. Jahana Hayes.

The Collective PAC

The Collective PAC endorsed Jahana Hayes's 2024 Congressional campaign.

Collective PAC backed Jahana Hayes in 2022.

Launched in August of 2016, the Collective PAC is backing several candidates in 2018, including Jahana Hayes CT (5)

CAIR connection

Rep Jahana Hayes April 1 2019.

Thank you CAIR - Connecticut for your advocacy to ensure equality and raise awareness of legislation that will positively impact Muslim communities at home and abroad

CAIR greeting

WFP endorsements, 2018

After operating mostly on the fringes of left-leaning politics, the Working Families Party saw nearly two-thirds of its 1,036 endorsed candidates win state and local offices in 2017. Buoyed by a renewed interest in alternative candidates, as evidenced in the success of Bernie Sanders on the left and Donald Trump on the right, Mitchell led a midterm cycle with some notable wins — defeating conservative Democratic incumbents in New Mexico, Rhode Island and Maryland and contributing to candidates who ended Republican control of the Colorado Senate. Under his leadership, the WFP joined other progressive groups in helping flip the U.S. House of Representatives while supporting insurgent Democrats such as Antonio Delgado in New York and Jahana Hayes in Connecticut.

CT Working Families August 13 2018:

Have you made your plan to vote in the CT Democratic primary? Find your polling place here: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

And remember to vote for our CTWFP endorsed candidates!

U.S. Congress:

• CD 5 - Jahana Hayes

Statewide:

• Governor - Ned Lamont
• Lieutenant Governor - Eva Bermudez Zimmerman for Connecticut
• Treasurer - Shawn Wooden
• Attorney General - William Tong

State Senate:

• SD 9 - Matt Lesser for State Senate
• SD 13 - Mary Abrams for State Senate
• SD 23 - Aaron Turner for Senate

State House:

• HD 3 - Gannon Long for State Rep.
• HD 5 - Brandon L. McGee, J.r
• HD 18 - Andy Fleischmann
• HD 140 - Colin Hosten 2018

WFP support

CT Working Families September 24 2018:

We're proud to continue supporting Jahana Hayes in her inspiring race for Congress in the 5th Congressional District. Jahana is helping move Connecticut and the nation forward by championing big, smart ideas like #Medicare4All.

Folks can vote for Jahana on #RowC on November 6th, alongside 106 other great WFP candidates across the state. Find them all here: http://workingfamilies.org/ct-working-families-party-2018-endorsed-candidates/

Van Jones show

Rep Jahana Hayes March 9 2019:

Tune into The Van Jones Show on @cnn at 7:00PM. — with Rep. Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Van Jones, Rep. Lucy McBath and Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.

Hires

U.S. Rep.-elect Jahana Hayes, hired a former Chris Murphy aide as her chief of staff.

Joe Dunn, a graduate of George Washington University, began working for then-Rep. Murphy in 2010 as his legislative director. Hayes also hired two other key staffers—Veronica DeLandro as district director and Jason Newton as communications director.