Biographical Information
COUNTY
Allegheny
OCCUPATION
Chief Financial Officer
EDUCATION
B.S.F.S., Georgetown University; M.P.A., Princeton University; M.B.A., University of Chicago; D.B.A., Case Western Reserve University
QUALIFICATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (inactive); 30 years experience in industry and finance, including six years with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Voter Guide — Pennsylvania US Representative District 12

He is married to Brenda Diaz, whom he met while working in Mexico in the early 90s. “I told her she was export quality,” he jokes. Brenda currently is employed as a teacher at the Community Day School in Squirrel Hill.

About

When Hayes arrived in Pittsburgh, he and his family moved into the house once owned by Pitt football coaching legend Johnny Majors. After his service with The Fed in Richmond, he returned to the city, settling in Shadyside.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a practicing Roman Catholic and support the teachings of the Church in my private life. I understand that in a democracy we need to win the "hearts and minds" of the electorate to build the type of society that we would like to see flourish.

iVoterGuide Candidate Profile — James Hayes

James Hayes earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a Master of Public Administration from Princeton University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University. He is married to Brenda Diaz and returned to Pittsburgh, settling in Shadyside. He is a practicing Roman Catholic.

Pennsylvania US Representative District 12 - VOTE411.org

Voter Guide Profile for PA U.S. Rep., Dist. 12 candidate - James Hayes

James currently works as a chief financial officer. He previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and is an inactive certified public accountant.

James Hayes (Pennsylvania) - Ballotpedia

James lost the 2024 election for the U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Expanding Education Options

Every child deserves a great education—regardless of their zip code. I support expanding school choice so families can find the best fit for their children. Let’s give teachers the tools they need and empower parents to be true partners in education.

POLICY VISION

Supports school choice, including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling.

Education

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

It’s time to rein in wasteful government spending. I’ll fight for transparency, balance the books, and work across the aisle to bring accountability and civility back to Congress. We owe it to our kids and grandkids to get this right.

Reviving Our Economy

I’ve seen how overregulation has crushed local businesses and sent jobs elsewhere. I’m committed to policies that support working families, bring back good-paying union jobs, and protect small business owners. It’s time to rebuild our economy—with Western Pennsylvania workers at the center of it.

What are the most pressing issues facing your district and our country, and how would you address them?
Western Pennsylvania needs an economy that rewards work, safe communities, affordable energy and a government focused on results. I would work to lower taxes and unnecessary regulatory burdens, expand American energy production, strengthen manufacturing and supply chains, secure the border, and support law enforcement. We must also improve educational opportunities and make healthcare more affordable.

ECONOMY
What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?
We should lower taxes and reassess our tax structure from the view that it is the earner's money and we need to prioritize the needs of the public to decide what each person's contribution should be. Current law assumes it's the Government money.

Paid leave is a good example of a policy that can sound simple in theory but impose difficult tradeoffs in practice. Supporters argue that paid-leave programs can benefit workers, families, employers, and the broader economy. But mandatory programs also raise legitimate questions about cost, staffing, cash flow, and administrative burden — especially for smaller employers with thinner margins and fewer workers to cover absences.

Why the 18 Week Paid Leave Mandate is a Bad Idea

Calls for reducing government spending, increasing transparency, and maintaining balanced federal finances.

Calls for reducing government spending, and increasing transparency.

Supports policies for working families, union jobs, and small-business owners.

Plans to lower taxes and unnecessary regulatory burdens while strengthening manufacturing and supply chains.

Said mandatory paid-leave programs raise cost, staffing, cash-flow, and administrative concerns for smaller employers.

- Calls for reducing government spending, and increasing transparency.
- Supports policies for working families, union jobs, and small-business owners.
- Plans to lower taxes and unnecessary regulatory burdens while strengthening manufacturing and supply chains.
- Said mandatory paid-leave programs raise cost, staffing, cash-flow, and administrative concerns for smaller employers.

Economy

What legislative changes, if any, are needed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable?
Healthcare reform should focus on lowering costs and expanding choices without putting Washington between patients and their doctors. Congress should promote competition and price transparency, expand access to health savings accounts and affordable coverage options, address prescription drug costs, strengthen rural and community healthcare, and remove barriers to telehealth and innovative care. We should protect people with preexisting conditions and strengthen Medicare for seniors.

What legislative changes, if any, are needed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable?
Healthcare reform should focus on lowering costs and expanding choices without putting Washington between patients and their doctors. Congress should promote competition and price transparency, expand access to health savings accounts and affordable coverage options, address prescription drug costs, strengthen rural and community healthcare, and remove barriers to telehealth and innovative care. We should protect people with preexisting conditions and strengthen Medicare for seniors. I oppose replacing the current system with a government-run single-payer system.

Proposes competition, price transparency, health savings accounts, affordable coverage options, and expanded telehealth to reduce healthcare costs.

Supports protections for people with preexisting conditions and Medicare for seniors, while opposing a government-run single-payer system.

- Proposes competition, price transparency, health savings accounts, affordable coverage options, and expanded telehealth to reduce healthcare costs.
- Supports protections for people with preexisting conditions and Medicare for seniors, while opposing a government-run single-payer system.

Healthcare

What do you see as the role of Congress in oversight of the executive branch?
Congress has both the constitutional authority and responsibility to conduct vigorous oversight of the executive branch, regardless of which party controls the White House. Members should ensure that laws are faithfully executed, taxpayer dollars are properly spent, agencies operate within the authority Congress has granted them, and misconduct is investigated. Oversight should be fact-based rather than used simply for partisan theater.

Said Congress should conduct fact-based oversight of the executive branch regardless of which party controls the White House.

- Said Congress should conduct fact-based oversight of the executive branch regardless of which party controls the White House.

Voting & Elections

What role should Congress play regarding foreign policy and international relations?
Congress has a central constitutional role in foreign policy, including decisions involving war, spending, trade and international agreements. America should pursue peace through strength -- maintaining a capable military, supporting allies, protecting American workers and supply chains, and confronting threats from hostile governments and terrorist organizations. I strongly support Israel's right to exist and defend itself and believe the United States should strengthen relationships with democratic allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

What role should Congress play regarding foreign policy and international relations?
Congress has a central constitutional role in foreign policy, including decisions involving war, spending, trade and international agreements. America should pursue peace through strength -- maintaining a capable military, supporting allies, protecting American workers and supply chains, and confronting threats from hostile governments and terrorist organizations. I strongly support Israel's right to exist and defend itself and believe the United States should strengthen relationships with democratic allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Diplomacy should always be pursued where it can advance American interests, but our commitments must be credible and our policies must put America's security first.

Advocates for maintaining a capable military, supporting allies, and confronting hostile governments and terrorist organizations.

Supports Israel's right to defend itself and stronger U.S. relationships with democratic allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

- Advocates for maintaining a capable military, supporting allies, and confronting hostile governments and terrorist organizations.
- Supports Israel's right to defend itself and stronger U.S. relationships with democratic allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Securing Energy Independence

Western Pennsylvania has a proud legacy in energy. I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps our lights on, creates local jobs, and breaks our dependence on foreign powers. We can lead the future—right here at home.

Supports an energy strategy that uses all available sources to expand domestic energy production and reduce reliance on foreign powers.

- Supports an energy strategy that uses all available sources to expand domestic energy production and reduce reliance on foreign powers.

Energy & the Environment

Protecting Public Safety

Public safety isn’t political—it’s personal. After losing my son to violent crime, I’ve made it my mission to ensure our communities are safe. That means supporting law enforcement, investing in crime prevention, and making sure repeat violent offenders are held accountable.

Supports law enforcement, crime-prevention investment, and accountability for repeat violent offenders.

- Supports law enforcement, crime-prevention investment, and accountability for repeat violent offenders.

Public Safety

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James Hayes

Supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning control to states and communities.

Said elective abortion should be allowed in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the pregnant person's life.

Opposes federal action to limit abortion, saying the issue belongs at the state level.

Opposes public funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood and Title X grants.

Opposes vaccination requirements by governments, schools, or employers.

Supports requiring abortion drugs to be administered under a physician's care.

Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

Opposes abolishing the Electoral College.

Supports additional physical security at the southern border.

Wants immigration limited to people who seek to contribute skills, education, or experience to the country.

Advocates for fully developing western Pennsylvania's natural-gas potential.

Opposes redirecting police-department funding to community programs.

Opposes restrictions on gun ownership and calls for severe penalties for crimes committed with guns.

EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree

- Supports school choice, including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling.

- Supports policies for working families, union jobs, and small-business owners.
- Plans to lower taxes and unnecessary regulatory burdens while strengthening manufacturing and supply chains.
- Said mandatory paid-leave programs raise cost, staffing, cash-flow, and administrative concerns for smaller employers.

LinkedIn

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree

RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Rape, incest or if the life of the mother is at risk.

RIGHT TO LIFE
Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?
No. I believe that the Supreme Court properly determined that this issue, since it is not addressed directly in the Constitution, belongs at the state level.

RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree

HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None.

RIGHT TO LIFE
These drugs require a physician's care to be safe as there can be severe adverse outcomes if they are not administered properly. If we truly care about women's health we should require the administering of these drugs under a physician's care.

ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree

ELECTIONS AND VOTING
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree

IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree

IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
U.S. citizenship for those born outside of the country is a privilege, not a right. Immigration should be limited to those that want to come because they believe they have a skill, education or experience that will help our country become better. In the words of Kennedy, they should ask what they can do for our country, not what our country can do for them.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Coming from western Pennsylvania, I believe that natural gas has the capability to be the most secure, reliable and affordable source of energy in the U.S. and that we should fully develop the potential of this region.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree

2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. However, crimes that are committed using a gun should be dealt with on the most severe terms possible.

Summer Lee

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Pennsylvania currently has 19 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Pennsylvania for at least seven years before their election. 
- US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives