Jim Torino

Jim Torino earned a high school diploma from Uniondale High School, a bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1987, a graduate degree from the Keller Graduate School of Management in 2015, and a Ph.D. from Walden University in 2022.

His career experience includes working as a healthcare executive.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Jim Torino, a healthcare professional, nonprofit founder, husband, father, and first-time candidate for Congress. My family came to America in search of a better life, and like many families, found ourselves in service to our country and our communities.

My great-grandfather helped build the Brooklyn Bridge, my grandfather served in World War II, my father proudly in the Navy, and my mother was a nurse who spent her life caring for others. That legacy of "service to others" shaped me.

I’ve spent my career working with families who are struggling, navigating healthcare and other economic pressures, and systems that too often don’t work for them. I founded a nonprofit to meet people where they are and help restore dignity and stability in their lives.

I’m running for Congress because I believe we’ve lost sight of who government is supposed to serve. I’m not a career politician, I’m someone who has spent a lifetime in service, and I’m ready to bring that same commitment to the people’s house.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Making life affordable again - Families shouldn’t have to choose between groceries and medicine. I’ll work to lower overall healthcare costs and make prescription drugs more affordable. We must also tackle the broader cost of living i.e., housing, childcare, and everyday essentials by focusing on practical solutions that actually put money back in people’s pockets. That includes introducing legislation to provide universal childcare for kids 5 years old and under and standing up to corporate investors who are buying up homes, squeezing renters, and pricing families out of their own communities. Housing should be for people, not just profits.Standing up for workers and rebuilding the middle class - The people who power our economy deserve fair wages, safe workplaces, and a real path to stability. I’ll fight to strengthen workers’ rights, raise the minimum wage to a living wage, expand apprenticeships, and invest in job training that leads to good-paying careers. No one working full-time should be struggling to afford the basics. We should reward work and rebuild a middle class where families have the chance not just to get by, but to get ahead.Bringing accountability back to government - Washington is meant to serve the people and move us toward a more perfect union, not cater to special interests. I’ll fight for greater transparency, real campaign finance reform, responsible spending, and an end to the dysfunction that blocks meaningful progress. That means being open and honest with voters, focusing on results over rhetoric, and being willing to work across differences when it delivers for the people we serve. It’s time to restore trust by making government work for the people again.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m deeply passionate about making healthcare affordable and accessible for every family. No one should have to delay care, skip prescriptions, or risk financial ruin because they got sick. I’ve seen firsthand how rising premiums, high deductibles, and unpredictable billing push people to the brink, even when they have insurance. We need to lower costs across the system: increase price transparency, take on pharmaceutical price gouging, and hold insurers and providers accountable. Preventive care and early treatment should be prioritized, not priced out of reach. I also believe in strengthening the healthcare workforce and investing in community-based care so people can get help before conditions become crises.