Jeff Hayden was elected as State Senator to Senate District 61 in an October 2011 special election. He serves on three committees: Health and Human Services; State Government Innovation and Veterans; and Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications. Prior to his election to the State Senate, Senator Hayden had served as State Representative to House District 61B since 2008. During his time in the House, he was elected by the DFL Caucus as an Assistant Minority Leader. Senator Hayden served on several committees in the Minnesota House of Representatives, including Health Care and Human Services Finance, State Government Finance and Government Operations and Elections. In the Legislature, Senator Hayden has advocated for the progressive political change that he has fought for in his community for decades, including issues on economic justice, and enacting a single payer health care system to cover every Minnesotan with quality affordable health care.

Before his election to the Legislature, Senator Hayden managed Hearth Connection, a non-profit organization in Minneapolis. He attended both Metro State University as well as Bethel University, and his past professional experience includes serving as the manager for the Housing Choice Voucher program of mental health resources, housing coordinator of the Minnesota Supportive Housing Consortium, aide to Minneapolis City Councilmember Gary Schiff, and Community Outreach Coordinator with Hennepin County Powderhorn Partners.

Senator Hayden has been active in his community, serving as Coordinator of the 38^th Street Business Association and as a Board Member of the Community Action Agency. He has also served as Board Chair of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and Board Member of the Bryant Neighborhood Association.  Additionally, Senator Hayden is on the Board of the Amateur Sports Commission, the Council on Black Minnesotans and the Midwestern Legislative Conference Innovations Selections Committee.

He resides in the Bryant neighborhood with his wife Terri and their two children: Tomas and Sophia.