18 women candidates to watch for the 2018 midterms

3. Jahana Hayes (D)

State: Connecticut
Race: 5th District
Platform highlights: While many other candidates are already political figures, business owners, or (in the case of two candidates listed here) former members of the military, Jahana Hayes is one of the very few teachers running for office. She was also the 2016 National Teacher of the Year. Her win is a significant victory for the growing teachers’ movement, a nationwide push for better teacher pay and labor rights that was marked by teacher strikes earlier this year.

Naturally, then, Hayes’ platform includes plenty of stances on the educational system. These include stronger investments in public education, not to mention better training, support, and general investment in resources for teachers across the country.

Hayes also writes that she is in favor of resolving equity gaps, protecting the environment (and also openly acknowledging climate change), stronger gun control laws, and a single-payer healthcare system. She also states that she strongly believes in equal pay for women and men, explicitly stating the need to address that gap when it comes to black and Latina women.

Why you should watch out for her: If elected, Hayes will become Connecticut’s first black Democratic representative, not to mention one of the first African Americans to represent any New England state.

Her rise is especially interesting, given the fact that her campaign launched a mere 102 days before she gained victory in her district’s Democratic primaries. She defeated Mary Glassman, an established politician, and will now face Republican Manny Santos in November.

Campaign website: www.jahanahayes.com