RELEASE: Giffords Endorses Jahana Hayes for Congress in Connecticut

Washington, DC — Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of  Jahana Hayes in Connecticut’s fifth congressional district. 

Jahana Hayes has been taking on tough challenges for her entire life. Growing up in a housing project in Waterbury, Connecticut, Jahana was confronted by poverty and gun violence at a young age. After becoming pregnant at 17, she went on to earn two advanced degrees and become an educator. In 2016, Jahana was awarded the National Teacher of the Year award by President Obama. Now, Jahana is running for Congress so that the children in her district can have a better, safer future. That’s why she supports expanding background checks to cover all firearm sales and restarting federal research into the causes of gun violence.

“This year, voters are demanding leaders who offer more than thoughts and prayers when it comes to gun violence. They’re no longer willing to accept politicians who can’t imagine a world where schools, workplaces, churches, and communities are safe places, where our children don’t have to live in fear. The level of gun violence we experience in our country is not normal and thankfully, we finally have leaders running for office who have the courage to fight to finally address it,” said Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “Voters are ready to elect Jahana Hayes because she will always put protecting their communities over helping the gun lobby make a profit. Giffords is proud to endorse her for Congress because she will never stop fighting for what’s right.”

Giffords’  #VoteCourage campaign  aims to elect gun safety advocates to Congress and defeat politicians who have historically worked against gun reform, or done nothing at all to prevent gun violence. The political program targets incumbents in mostly suburban districts and uses a mixture of TV and digital advertising, on-the-ground organizing, and a voter registration push to create momentum for meaningful progress on gun safety. Learn More about the Giffords 2018 political program here.