EDlection2018: 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes Elected to U.S. Congress in CT, Promising to Back Teachers and Increase School Funding
EDlection2018: This is just one of the many races we have examined for the 2018 midterm elections that could potentially have an impact on education policies at both the state and federal levels. Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to Newsletter.
On Tuesday night, Democrat Jahana Hayes, who was also recognized as the National Teacher of the Year in 2016, made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress in Connecticut.
According to projections from The New York Times, Hayes secured a 56-44 victory over her Republican rival Manny Santos, with 81 percent of the precincts reporting. She will now represent the 5th Congressional District, which is predominantly Democratic and consists mostly of white constituents. These results align with the polls that had previously indicated Hayes’ significant advantage.
Addressing her supporters, Hayes, 45, stated, "We were waiting for all the numbers to come in upstairs. However, there is no possible path to victory, so I am officially declaring it right here and right now."
Watch Jahana Hayes declare victory in the 5th district Congressional race: [insert video link]
Despite Hayes’ announcement, Santos did not concede by midnight and referred to her declaration of victory as "premature." Santos himself is a military veteran, an immigrant, and the former mayor of Meriden, Connecticut.
Hayes, who taught in the Waterbury Public Schools for 15 years, emerged as a prominent newcomer in the political arena during an election cycle marked by widespread teacher strikes and activism within the education community. She has been a strong advocate for increasing education funding, implementing sensible gun control measures, improving support for teachers, and making college more affordable.
Additionally, Hayes has shown her support for the rights of transgender students and has spoken out against the idea of arming teachers.
Read more: A comprehensive overview of the 2018 EDlection, featuring 70 candidates, races, and winners that have significant implications for education policies in the United States.
Hayes, a mother of four, has consistently attracted media attention for her remarkable personal journey and her impact on the campaign trail. Coming from a disadvantaged background in Waterbury’s housing projects, she experienced homelessness and became a mother at the age of 17. However, through hard work and determination, she earned three college degrees and went on to become a high school history teacher. Her accomplishments led to her being awarded the National Teacher of the Year by President Barack Obama in 2016.
Obama, during a White House ceremony in May 2016, acknowledged Hayes’ ability to connect with her students by saying, "She is able to relate to her students because she remembers what it was like to be one of them."
While running her campaign this year, Hayes continued to work in the central office of the school district, where she mentored new teachers.
Despite not receiving the endorsement of the Connecticut Democratic Party, Hayes achieved an unexpectedly large victory in the primary elections by earning 62 percent of the vote. This victory came against a seasoned opponent, Mary Glassman, who held a prominent position in the local city government.
EDlection2018: This is just one of the many races we have examined for the 2018 midterm elections that could potentially have an impact on education policies at both the state and federal levels. Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to Newsletter.
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