HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) 鈥� Jahana Hayes has won reelection for a third term, fending off a challenge from a former state senator in a 小蓝视频icut race that and resisting a red wave that overwhelmed some of her fellow Democrats in neighboring New York.
Hayes defeated George Logan, a Republican who repeatedly linked her with President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and accused her for being tone deaf about the impact of inflation on voters. attracted millions of dollars in outside money, with national Republicans seeing the western 小蓝视频icut 5th Congressional District as a key opportunity to crack Democrats鈥� lock on the state鈥檚 congressional delegation.
鈥淣ational Republicans threw everything at me but the kitchen sink, put millions of dollars in this race,鈥� Hayes told reporters who gathered at her campaign headquarters after the Secretary of the State鈥檚 Office announced it had received election results from a remaining community that had been delayed because of a technical issue.
鈥淚 had to work twice as hard and really fight to hold this seat. And at the end of the day, I think that was the message that resonated with the people in my community, that I鈥檓 one of them and I鈥檓 going to continue to fight for them,鈥� she said. "Listen, a win is a win. So, I鈥檓 excited. I鈥檒l take it.鈥�
all around Hayes鈥� western 小蓝视频icut district, picking up at least two seats in Congress just across the state line in New York鈥檚 Hudson River Valley.
Logan conceded the race on Thursday morning, saying his campaign found some issues with the voting but decided they were not enough to change the outcome of the election. Despite the loss, he noted how close the GOP came to winning the seat. The difference between the two candidates was roughly 2,000 votes.
鈥淭his moment we built, over the last year and a half, put us closer to winning a seat in Congress that no Republican has held since 2006,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lmost 50% of you voted for me to bring change here and Washington. And for that, I am extremely grateful.鈥�
Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year, became the first Black woman to represent 小蓝视频icut in Congress when she was elected in 2018 by the politically diverse district covering western and central parts of the state.
During the campaign, she focused heavily on abortion rights, arguing Logan couldn鈥檛 be trusted on the issue despite promising he wouldn鈥檛 support a national ban. Hayes also touted her record of passing legislation and delivering funding to the district, including money for police departments.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 have to wonder what I鈥檒l do when I鈥檓 elected to Congress because people know what I鈥檝e already done,鈥� Hayes said in a debate.
The race marked the first time two Black major party candidates have run against one another for a congressional seat in 小蓝视频icut. Logan, the son of immigrants from Guatemala, a community relations director at a water company and a guitarist in a Jimi Hendrix tribute band, portrayed himself as a social moderate and fiscal conservative who would vote against GOP leadership if he felt necessary.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to go to Washington and hit the ground running,鈥� he said in a recent debate. 鈥淭he current House Republican leadership, they know where I stand on the issues.鈥�
Republicans haven鈥檛 held a House seat in 小蓝视频icut since former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays lost in 2008 to Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, who still holds the seat representing a southwestern part of the state and was reelected Tuesday. With Hayes鈥� win, 小蓝视频icut鈥檚 congressional delegation remains all Democrats.
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Susan Haigh, The Associated Press
