PERSON: Jahana Hayes

U.S. House of Representatives

Member of Congress

Jahana Hayes (born March 8, 1973) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district since 2019. The district, once represented by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, comprises much of the state’s northwestern portion, including New Britain, Danbury, and Waterbury. A member of the Democratic Party, Hayes is the first Black woman and Black Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress. She is also the first African American woman from a low income background to be elected to Congress. She was recognized as the National Teacher of the Year in 2016.

Hayes was born on March 8, 1973, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and grew up in public housing projects in that city. She earned an associate degree at Naugatuck Valley Community College and a bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State University. In 2012, Hayes earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Saint Joseph. In 2014, she earned her Sixth-Year Diploma from the University of Bridgeport School of Education.

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