In October of 2015, a court-sanctioned investigation found Hayden, and his wife Theresa received at least $3,486 in improper reimbursements from a now-defunct nonprofit organization, Community Action of Minneapolis.

On July 25, 2011, Hayden announced that he would run in the October 18, 2011, special election to fill the state senate seat that was vacated by Senator Linda Berglin, who resigned on August 15, 2011, to take a new job with Hennepin County as a health policy program manager. His candidacy was endorsed by the DFL Party on August 27, 2011. On October 18, 2011, he won the special election with 61 percent of the vote over Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem, Republican candidate Bruce Lundeen, and Independence Party candidate Matt Brillhart. He was re-elected in 2012.

Hayden was first elected in 2008, opting to run after incumbent Rep. Neva Walker decided not to seek re-election. He was re-elected in 2010.

Hayden was born in San Francisco. He worked as a staff aide to Minneapolis City Council member Gary Schiff from 2001-2002. He later attended Bethel University, obtaining a B.A. in communication studies.

Jeffrey D. “Jeff” Hayden (born September 24, 1966) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 62, which includes portions of south Minneapolis in Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.