Washington – U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes began her congressional career Thursday kissing babies, casting votes to reopen the partially shuttered federal government, and keeping watch for news about a daughter who was due — at any minute — to give birth.
“This is a big day for me in many ways,” Hayes said.
A Democrat representing the 5th Congressional District, Hayes replaces retired Rep. Elizabeth Esty and was propelled to office by enthusiastic supporters seeking change and enamored by the energetic, optimistic can-do-ism exuded by the former national Teacher of the Year.
A political neophyte, Hayes repeatedly described her first day in Congress as “surreal.”
“Can you believe we’re here?” she asked the throng of supporters jammed into her congressional office.
That office is in the Longworth House Office Building, a nice suite of rooms with a panoramic view of Washington D.C. that she snared by getting a low number –12—in the pool that distributes available office space to new members.
“This is okay, right?” she asked those attending her office reception, waving her arms around the room.
Po Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance, a gun-control group, was among the crowd of several dozen people attending Hayes’ reception.
“I’m really excited to work with her to make Connecticut and America safe” Murray said.
Hayes has been lucky in many ways. Her hardscrabble life story, which includes growing up in public housing and becoming a teen mom, drew national attention – and lots of campaign cash – allowing her to defeat the Democratic party-endorsed candidate in a primary and Republican Manny Santos in November’s general election, without having ever held political office before.
A bus filled with 75 supporters came to Washington Thursday to witness the swearing in of the first black congresswoman to represent Connecticut.
“I only had two tickets to the swearing in, but they said they were coming anyway,” Hayes said.
Her first day in Congress did offer some challenges, however. Hayes could barely speak, laryngitis that she said…
