There’s a reason Nancy Pelosi repeatedly told her candidates to “just win baby.”

Dozens of candidates went before voters and promised not to vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House — when they likely intended to do just that.

“I would not vote for Nancy Pelosi,” former National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes told primary voters in August.

But now it’s come time to elect a Speaker and — surprise — Hayes is backing Pelosi.

When asked about that, she seemed to blame her new colleagues for no one else stepping forward.

Asked this morning if her “position changed,” Hayes responded, “Well, I came into Washington with an open mind. I said I want to hear all the information and I want to cast a vote that’s best for the people in my state.

“No one has asked me for a vote other than Nancy Pelosi,” Hayes continued. “Last week, we were here for orientation and we caucused and I was of the mind ‘put up or shut up.’ Nobody came to me and I think at this point, I think it’s unreasonable for anyone to expect a vote when they haven’t even asked.

“So I am prepared to support Nancy Pelosi in caucus tomorrow when votes are cast,” she said.

Last month, Pelosi admitted she told her candidates to say whatever was necessary to win.

“If the Democrats take the House,” Alex Wagner asked Pelosi, “are you going to be the person with the gavel in your hand, and are you going to be the person that calls up Donald Trump to try to work with him?”

Side-stepping the question about working with Trump — which would surely rile up her left-wing base, Pelosi said she would be Speaker again.

“Yes, I anticipate that I’ll be the person with the gavel in hand, but I haven’t asked anybody for a vote, in fact, I’ve told the candidates, ‘Do whatever you have to do, just win baby.’”