Hayes, Jahana, 1973-

Jahana Flemming Hayes (born March 8, 1973) is an American educator and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 5th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Hayes is the first African-American woman and African-American Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Hayes grew up in public housing projects there. She earned an associate degree at Naugatuck Valley Community College in 2002, a bachelor's degree at Southern Connecticut State University in 2005, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Saint Joseph in 2012 and a Sixth-Year Certificate from the University of Bridgeport School of Education in 2014. Her first teaching position was at the Southbury Training School in Southbury, Connecticut; she would go on to teach government and history at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury. In 2015, she was John F. Kennedy Teacher of the Year and then the Waterbury School District Educator of the Year. In 2016, she was named Connecticut's Teacher of the Year and was recognized as National Teacher of the Year.

In 2018, Hayes ran for the Democratic nomination for Connecticut's 5th congressional district. Her difficult upbringing was a cornerstone of her campaign. Victorious in the primary and general election, Hayes became one of the first two women of color elected to Congress from New England alongside Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Hayes was re-elected in 2020 to a second term.