(USNewsMag.com) – James Hayes launched a campaign April 19 challenging Rep. Summer Lee, who was elected in the November 2022 midterm election, for the seat representing the 12th Congressional District in Pennsylvania. The 12th Congressional District, one of the more progressive in the House, represents a large portion of Allegheny County and parts of Westmoreland County, as well as Pittsburgh.
In a video announcing he was running, he said that “We are falling apart,” referring to Pittsburgh and the lack of job growth combined with crime. He goes on to state in the video that with his background he knows how to rebuild the region. He also makes note in the video that he, as Black man, is a Republican.
In the video, Hayes also mentions how Lee joined the Squad once she was elected as well as backed socialist policies. Lee received the backing from Squad members New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Missouri Rep. Cori Bush. She was also endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey. In 2022, she beat Republican candidate Mike Doyle by more than 40,000 votes. Lee was first elected to the House representing the 34th Congressional District in Pennsylvania.
Hayes, the son of a steelworker, obtained degrees from Georgetown University and Princeton in economics. He earned a degree in finance from University of Chicago. He earned a doctorate degree in management from Case Western Reserve University.
He has worked for Fortune 500 companies in top positions. He also worked for 6 years at the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia. He and his wife, Brenda, have four children.
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