Black Church PAC endorses Hayes
A political action committee made up of historically black Christian church denominations has backed progressive Democrat Jahana Hayes for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District.
The Black Church PAC endorsed Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, and 14 other candidates across the country for federal, state and local offices.
“For over 300 years, black religious institutions and churches have been a moral force in our communities by promoting justice and freedom,” said the Rev. Michael McBride, chairman of Black Church PAC, in a prepared statement. “These candidates we are endorsing best represent our values and are aligned with our righteous platform to reduce gun violence, end mass criminalization, and protect our rights to vote.
Hayes, the Waterbury school district’s talent and professional development supervisor, is making her first run for office against Manny Santos, a former mayor of Meriden who is running as a Trump Republican.
Hayes has gotten national attention for her story of growing up poor in a Waterbury project, and dropping out of high school at 17 to give birth to a daughter.
Hayes is part of a national wave of minority candidates — particularly women — who are running in the midterm elections to change the direction of the Democratic Party.