Amid traditionally excessive inflation and an enormous market sell-off, Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes (Conn.) has no regrets with how her celebration has ruled the final two years.
Hayes, who’s working in a hotly contested reelection race in opposition to Republican George Logan, boasted in regards to the success of the practically $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, which is broadly credited with fueling inflation. In a wide-ranging interview with Connecticut Public Radio on Tuesday, Hayes was pressed on whether or not the scale of the invoice—at practically $2 trillion—was too massive. Hayes responded with a query of her personal: “Who would you allow behind?”
The rescue plan, Hayes mentioned, “did stabilize the economic system.” The identical day Hayes made these feedback the S&P 500 hit a low for the 12 months and the Dow Jones Industrial Common entered bear market territory.
Hayes’s interview reveals the wrestle Democrats face when discussing the economic system, a problem rated as crucial by voters in myriad surveys. However Hayes has additionally taken a unique observe than another Democrats by refraining from attacking President Joe Biden or expressing second ideas on the knowledge of her celebration’s unprecedented spending spree. Some Democrats in tight races, equivalent to Cheri Beasley (D., N.C.) and Mandela Barnes (D., Wis.), have averted showing with Biden on the marketing campaign path. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D., N.H.) has mentioned that if she is reelected, she’s going to “proceed to face as much as the Biden administration.”
Later within the interview, Hayes disputed that the U.S. economic system is in recession, regardless of conventional indicators saying in any other case. As a substitute, Hayes mentioned, “in some areas [we] are again to pre-pandemic power.”
“In some areas there’s want for enchancment, however I believe we must always all be targeted on the answer,” Hayes mentioned within the interview earlier than disputing the concept Democratic Celebration COVID-19 insurance policies shut down the economic system. “Proper now I believe the steps which can be being taken are serving to us to the quickest restoration we’ve ever seen.”
Hayes has remained loyal to her fellow Democrats, regardless of working in a D+2 race that could be a main goal for Republicans. Throughout a gathering with lecturers’ union leaders in Could, Hayes mentioned she was “extremely blessed” and “extremely privileged” to serve underneath Speaker of the Home Nancy Pelosi.
These phrases have been a reversal from Hayes’s place in 2018, when she promised she would not again Pelosi’s newest bid for Home management. Hayes in the end mentioned a vote in opposition to Pelosi was “a vote for the Republicans.”
Hayes will face Logan in November. Outdoors Republican teams, such because the Congressional Management Fund, are spending closely on the race.
CLF launched two televised advertisements final month, with one highlighting Logan’s mother and father’ journey from Guatemala to america. The opposite contains a image of Hayes with Pelosi and Squad members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.). Hayes appeared on the quilt of Rolling Stone with Omar and Cortez in 2019.
