While plenty of vulnerable Democratic incumbents stayed far away from last week's DNC, there were those who did show up. Such appearances certainly went noticed by Republicans, especially when it comes to Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut's 5th Congressional District.
Hayes left Connecticut on a Sunday and was all too happy to post about various parts of her arrival, including when she arrived at airport. That same day, however, the CT Emergency Management & Homeland Security X account warned of "Flash flood warnings." Hayes still posted approximately 20 minutes later how excited she was for the CT delegation to be "checking in" at the DNC.
Two women died as a result of the flash floods, with the police identifying the victims on Monday, who were both from Oxford, Connecticut.
Touch down in Chi Town!#DNC2024 pic.twitter.com/aLpG0z3r5V
— Jahana Hayes (@JahanaHayesCT) August 18, 2024
Flash flood warnings have been issued by NWS for parts of Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, and Hartford Counties and remain in effective until later tonight or until cancelled. Many towns have reported impacts & our Regional Offices are in close communication with their towns.
— CT Emergency Management & Homeland Security (@CTDEMHS) August 18, 2024
The CT delegation is checking in and everyone is pumped to nominate the top of our ticket!
— Jahana Hayes (@JahanaHayesCT) August 18, 2024
Ready to make history.#HarrisForPresident2024 pic.twitter.com/l1odCUI0PQ
Hayes also posted a video from her official account last Wednesday night speaking to how she had spoken with federal officials to get FEMA assistance for her district. She did so while still in Chicago for the DNC.
The congresswoman also claimed in such a video that she could not get a flight home. However, flightstats.com showed that there were several flights between Chicago O'Hare and Hartford on Monday, August 19th, on Tuesday, August 20th, and on Wednesday, August 21st.
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🚨Important Update: I have spent this week working with stakeholders & local leaders like Mayor Roberto Alves to bring FEMA assistance to the Fifth District. I have spoken with federal officials while in Chicago & am confident this impacted the quick approval, less than 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/a1A8WZMKc1
— Jahana Hayes (@RepJahanaHayes) August 21, 2024
Many users chimed in to give thanks to the congresswoman, but still others took issue with her remaining in Chicago.
No one believes that you tried to get back and couldn’t. This is a lie and cover up because you faced some criticism for partying up in Chicago while CT experienced extreme flooding.
— MrJ 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@MrJohnson860) August 22, 2024
Never let a disaster in your district get in the way of a party in Chicago right Congresswoman? Will you be showing up at your convenience for a photo shoot?
— Sen Eddie Miner Eagle (@Nunzio_Schwartz) August 22, 2024
You pos.
— Art Mocabee (@ArtMocabee) August 23, 2024
You proved to be nothing than an opportunist.
You ABANDINED your district in a time of great need.
YOU WERE NOT THERE.
You choose to spend your time elbowing with the squad. It's time to get rid of this fraud.
Why are you in Chicago and not Connecticut?
— Mia (@_scientistmom) August 22, 2024
And why won't you debate your opponent, George Logan?
Is it because you are afraid we will realize that he is moderate while you vote with the Squad 99% of the time?
You both spent it hobnobbing with the Democrat party elite in Chicago. Danbury, and the 5th congressional district, deserve representation willing to put boots on the ground. Not looking for FaceTime at a rigged nomination process among party elites. https://t.co/mReietyxQh
— Michael Grant (@MikeGrant262) August 22, 2024
On Thursday, Hayes once more posted about the floods, in what appeared to be some sort of self-congratulations from the congresswoman.
"Some love to play for the cameras, but real leaders support what’s necessary to make our communities more prepared and resilient in the face of unexpected events," Hayes wrote, despite how she remained in Chicago while her constituents faced natural disaster. "That means investing in preparedness, infrastructure, Nat’l Weather Services, climate resilience, first responders and securing federal funds for damage mitigation-exactly the kind of things that Republicans always oppose," she continued, making it a partisan issue.
"It’s easy to show up for a photo op, it’s a lot harder to do the work that will make our communities safe," Hayes even wrote to conclude her post.
Some love to play for the cameras, but real leaders support what’s necessary to make our communities more prepared and resilient in the face of unexpected events.
— Jahana Hayes (@JahanaHayesCT) August 22, 2024
That means investing in preparedness, infrastructure, Nat’l Weather Services, climate resilience, first responders…
That post also earned considerable outrage from users through numerous replies and quoted reposts who used her own words against the congresswoman.
Apparently playing for cameras in Chicago ✅
— CTIronman (@CTIronman) August 22, 2024
Actually doing constituent service in CT after a disaster ❌
Your call #CT05 https://t.co/CQwBNLQ4gY
You've been partying at the DNC Convention in Chicago while there was a once in 500 years flood in Connecticut.
— Kristi L. Talmadge (@KristiTalmadge) August 22, 2024
I'm not agreeing to any more bs "Climate Change" projects.
All I care about are clean water, clean soil and clean air.
We can't afford your 0 emissions pipe dreams.
Is it necessary to tell your constituents you couldn’t fly home when there were 7 flights/day from ORD✈️BDL? https://t.co/MlsuSG22bG
— Liz Kurantowicz (@mrskurantowicz) August 22, 2024
You were getting drunk with your DC crew while your district flooded. You couldn’t even be bothered to come home like any real leader would have.
— CT Liberty Junky (@ctlibertyjunky) August 22, 2024
Another Connecticut Democrat, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), also appeared at the DNC to give a speech about Vice President Kamala Harris' supposed strengths on immigration in what the Trump-Vance campaign referred to at the time as "the most absurd lie yet from the DNC stage."
In contrast, Hayes' Republican challenger, George Logan, was out in the community surveying the damage and speaking to residents who had been affected by the flooding while the congresswoman was at the DNC.
The disastrous damage in Southbury and surrounding communities is astounding.
— George Logan (@GSLoganCT) August 20, 2024
Thank you to all the first responders, road construction workers, and municipal leaders who are working tirelessly to help residents rebuild.
In these floods, families have lost their homes, their… pic.twitter.com/FBIslP4lPk
Logan also called out Hayes' shortcomings over his own X account, referring to them as "unfortunate." With original emphasis, he also noted that "her statement explaining her absence made several claims that are inconsistent with the facts," especially when it comes to the flights available.
He also criticized the congresswoman for misidentifying which parts of the district were affected. "If she were here to see the damage firsthand, perhaps she would know the affected area was Southwestern Connecticut," he noted about Hayes.
"The Congresswoman must be transparent and answer for her inconsistencies immediately. If you’re going to be out politicking with fellow partisans while your constituents endure a once in a lifetime natural disaster, you should at least be straight with them about it," Logan wrote to conclude his post.
It is unfortunate that the incumbent Congresswoman chose her party over the people of this district, but it is not surprising given her extremely partisan record.
— George Logan (@GSLoganCT) August 22, 2024
To make matters worse, her statement explaining her absence made several claims that are inconsistent with the…
Tellingly, a local outlet, the Republican American, did a poll recently asking residents if the congresswoman should "have returned from the DNC to respond to the floods in her district," with 67 percent saying "Yes, her presence was needed." Thirty-three percent answered "No, it would have been performative and CT's federal legislative delegation already secured emergency funds."
The National Republican Congressional Committee was all too happy to share the results over X earlier this week.
Connecticut's 5th Congressional District is one of the closely-watched House races this year with Hayes and Logan once more facing off. Hayes narrowly won in 2022 with 50.4 percent of the vote to Logan's 49.6 percent in what was mostly regarded as a "Toss-Up" race.
🚨🗣️67% of voters think it was wrong of @JahanaHayesCT to abandon #CT05 for the DNC during the devastating floods. pic.twitter.com/glppjuhyCY
— NRCC (@NRCC) August 27, 2024
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