John Paul Torres

John Paul Torres earned a high school diploma from Rochester High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Oakland University, a graduate degree from the University of Michigan, and a graduate degree from Michigan State University. His career experience includes working as a public administration.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a 25 year public servant, in both elected office and as a Public Administrator, I am disheartened at what I see coming from the Trump administration. We are seeing fundamental programs and institutions being dismantled, defunded and divided among the American people. We need strong courageous leaders that understand the struggles of working people and are not part of the political establishment. I’m a father, a husband and a proven leader that will represent the 11th congressional district with distinction in Washington. I have had a career in administration within the criminal justice system, helped lead juvenile justice reform in Michigan as a Court Administrator, and as an elected School Board Member, and I have pushed for increased funding for public education for over a decade. My time in public service over the years has made me a strong, experienced leader with the courage to represent the people. I have raised my family within the district for nearly 30 years. My wife Anna and I are high school sweethearts and have two daughters. Our oldest is a practicing civil attorney and our youngest is in middle school.

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?

Affordability Crisis: To tackle deep inequality and the affordability crisis, we must fight corporate greed by ensuring corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. As a lifelong administrator and elected leader I say show me your budget, and I’ll show you your priorities. We need to direct our priorities to fund universal healthcare, tuition-free college, vocational training, union jobs, environmental protections and universal quality child care.Education: Investing in our children means taking a "whole child" educational approach. We must address staffing shortages and rising costs through robust federal funding; including increasing IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) and restoring public school investments, while securing universal freeImmigration: We must face the issue head on by creating a compassionate, legal pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, including DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients. I previously worked on the DREAM Act as a Congressional Fellow, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for the DACA kids. When I get to Congress I want to see it through.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a member of the U.S. Congress I would support the Green New Deal. Alternate sources of energy: wind, hydro and solar equating to zero gas emissions in ten years. In addition it allocates support for environmental justice and infrastructure, this would help assure that situations like the Flint water crisis would never happen again in America. Green new jobs are also part of the deal, good paying union jobs will help the middle class and strengthen our workforce while protecting our environment.

Campaign websiteTorres' campaign website stated the following:Womens IssuesDefending Women's Rights and Economic EqualityFor too long, women's healthcare, bodily autonomy, and economic equality have been treated as political bargaining chips. John Paul's agenda means fiercely defending women's rights as both human rights and essential economic rights for the working class.Reproductive Freedom is Non-Negotiable. The government has no right to dictate a woman's personal medical decisions. We must unequivocally codify reproductive freedom into federal law, fiercely protect access to contraception and IVF, and ensure that abortion care is safe, legal, and accessible for everyone.Equal Pay for Equal Work: It is unacceptable that women (especially women of color) continue to make a fraction of what men make for the exact same work. When women are shortchanged, entire families and communities suffer. We need to work aggressively to close the wage gap, and raise the federal minimum wage, which disproportionately impacts working-class women.Universal Childcare and Paid Family Leave: No mother (parent) should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn or a sick family member. The lack of paid leave and affordable childcare is quietly pushing millions of women out of the workforce. We must establish comprehensive, federally guaranteed paid family and medical leave, and invest heavily in universal childcare so working families can actually get ahead.Tackling the Maternal Mortality Crisis: The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation in the world, with women of color facing terrifyingly disproportionate risks. This is a national disgrace. We must mandate maternal health coverage expansions, hold medical systems accountable, and properly fund community-based care and midwifery to ensure every mother has a safe pregnancy and delivery.Combating Gender-Based Violence: Everyone deserves to be safe in their homes, in their workplaces, and on the streets. We must continuously strengthen and fully fund the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), close loopholes that allow domestic abusers to access firearms, and provide robust, federally funded support systems and housing protections for survivors of domestic violence and assault.You cannot claim to fight for the working class without fighting for the women who hold up the American economy. We must push back against the relentless attacks on women's autonomy and build a system that guarantees true equality, safety, and opportunity for all.Dignified Retirement For Every SeniorHonoring Our Promise to America's SeniorsHonoring Our Promise: A Dignified Retirement for Every Senior. Our seniors spent their lives working hard, paying taxes, raising families, and building the communities we call home. A secure and dignified retirement isn't a luxury, and it certainly isn't a handout, it is a fundamental promise we made to the working class.But right now, rising costs and out-of-touch politicians are threatening the security our seniors have earned. John Paul is ready to go to Washington to fiercely protect the programs our seniors rely on and ensure that no one has to choose between buying groceries and filling their life-saving prescriptions.Here is where John Paul stands on the issues that matter most to seniors:Protecting and Expanding Social Security: Social Security is a lifeline, not a piggy bank for Wall Street. John Paul will fight against any attempts to cut benefits, privatize the system, or raise the retirement age. He supports strengthening the program by making sure the ultra-wealthy finally pay their fair share into the system, ensuring Social Security is fully funded for generations to come.Strengthening Medicare & Lowering Drug Prices: Healthcare is a human right, especially as we age. John Paul supports expanding Medicare to finally include comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing coverage. He will also stand up to Big Pharma to aggressively expand Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices and cap out-of-pocket costs so seniors aren't price-gouged on the medicine they need to survive.Supporting Aging in Place & Caregivers: Every senior deserves the right to age with dignity in their own home. John Paul will advocate for expanded funding for home and community-based care services, making it easier for seniors to stay in their neighborhoods. He will also fight for policies that provide financial relief and support for the family members who act as full-time caregivers.Protecting Pensions: A promise made must be a promise kept. John Paul will stand strong with labor and retirees to fiercely protect multi-employer pensions from corporate bankruptcy loopholes and cuts.You worked hard your entire life to build this country. John Paul is ready to fight in Congress to make sure this country works for you in your retirement.Big Tech And AI Data CentersHolding Big Tech and AI Data Centers AccountableWe must approach with specific rules of engagement. No data center should go into a community that doesn't want it there. They must not drain, nor drive up the cost of electricity in the community, must secure cooling systems for computers that do not drain the resources of our fresh water, and centers should be built by union employees. I would also advocate that data centers be union shops, and pledge to not use AI to replace any union jobs.A Bright Future For The Next GenerationRestoring the American Dream for the Next GenerationYoung Americans today are working harder than ever, yet the basic milestones of the American Dream — owning a home, living debt-free, and starting a family — feel like they've been locked behind a paywall. This isn't an accident; it's the result of a system rigged to favor corporate monopolies over people. John Paul is ready to go to Washington to unrig that system and ensure the next generation has the freedom and stability to thrive.Tackling the Housing Crisis & Corporate Landlords: You shouldn't have to outbid a Wall Street hedge fund to rent an apartment or buy your first home. Private equity firms are buying up entire neighborhoods, driving up costs, and pricing a whole generation out of the market. We must ban corporate conglomerates from hoarding single-family homes and implement robust federal tenant protections so your paycheck doesn't just go straight into a billionaire's pocket.Ending the Student Debt Trap: Education should be a ladder to the middle class, not a lifelong financial sentence. We must cancel predatory student loan debt and move toward making public colleges and trade schools tuition-free. No one should be penalized for wanting to learn and contribute to our economy.Young people today are facing a world with fewer rights than their parents had. This is unacceptable. We must codify reproductive rights into federal law and safeguard gender-affirming care. Healthcare decisions belong to patients and doctors, not extremist politicians or partisan judges.A Living Wage & Digital Rights: The “gig economy” shouldn't be a loophole for corporations to exploit young workers. We need a federal living wage and legislation that allows all workers to unionize. Additionally, we must rein in Big Tech monopolies that harvest our data for profit, implementing strict federal privacy laws that give you control (not corporations) over your digital life.I have signed the One Fair Wage pledge, and I will support the Living Wage for All Act, which sets a federal minimum wage at $25 an hour.Climate Action & Environmental Justice: Young people will inherit the consequences of decades of corporate greed. We must treat the climate crisis like the emergency it is by transitioning to 100% clean energy and creating millions of green union jobs. We will not allow fossil fuel lobbyists to trade your future for their short-term profits.Freedom from Gun Violence: This is the “active shooter drill” generation. It is time to stand up to the gun lobby and enact universal background checks, red flag laws, and a ban on weapons of war. Every young person deserves to feel safe in their classroom, their grocery store, and their community. As a member of the Waterford School Board, John Paul is passionate about student and child safety from guns. He strongly supports Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.Defending the Right to Vote: John Paul will fight against the proposed SAVE Act, which would put strict barriers to voting in place against people of color and lower socio-economic groups. He is also against the recent Supreme Court ruling to allow majority-minority districts to be diluted. John Paul will stand strong against these injustices and use his position to take legislative action, ensuring a true balance of powers.Abolish Tax Cuts For The WealthyEnding Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and Building a Fair EconomyCreate a stronger economy: Our current system benefits the top 1%, fueled by trillion-dollar tax cuts that leave working families behind. I am fighting to reverse the Trump-era tax breaks for billionaires, corporations, and the top 1%. We could use those tax cuts to invest in our communities, children, infrastructure, and the middle class. Our country best thrives when we put money in the hands of workers who will spend it in our communities.A strong economy also means standing unapologetically with labor unions and ensuring that emerging industries, like AI, are regulated to create good-paying, secure jobs. Every worker deserves the right to organize, fair wages, and a safe workplace, and I will be the fighter in Washington who ensures corporations are held accountable.End The War In Iran And The Genocide In GazaEnding Endless Wars and Pursuing a Just Foreign PolicyThe U.S. government is pursuing foreign policy that prioritizes business interests over human rights and democratic movements. I firmly stand against the war in Iran, and the genocide against the Palestinian people.I believe we must move away from a legacy of interventionism and foreign wars that drain our resources and protect business interests abroad. We should stay away from bombing innocent people and instead focus on being a partner for global stability through beneficial, fair trade.Preserving Our EnvironmentProtecting Our Environment and Leading on ClimateChampioning the Green New Deal: The climate crisis is the greatest existential threat of our time, but it is also our greatest economic opportunity. We must aggressively back the Green New Deal to transition our country to 100% clean, renewable energy. This isn't just a climate plan; it's a massive infrastructure and jobs initiative. By investing in green technology, we can create millions of high-paying, union jobs right here at home and rebuild our middle class while saving our environment.Restoring America's Global Climate Leadership: We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand while the rest of the world moves forward. We must aggressively recommit to our international climate agreements and lead the global coalition to lower carbon emissions. Retreating from the world stage endangers our national security and our economy. America must be the leader in the global green energy transition, not a bystander. We need to pass a Green New Deal — it will provide good jobs, infrastructure, and environmental justice.Eradicating PFAS and Corporate Pollutants: No parent should have to worry that the water coming out of their kitchen sink is going to poison their child. Corporate polluters have been recklessly dumping PFAS forever chemicals into our waterways for decades. We must enact zero-tolerance, federal bans on these toxic chemicals, force the corporations responsible to pay for the massive cleanup, and upgrade our public water infrastructure so every community has access to safe, clean drinking water.Abolishing ICE and Immigration ReformAbolishing ICE and Delivering Real Immigration ReformThe unconstitutional manner in which they operate, their lack of basic training and care for the human beings in their custody, and the deep way they have violated our country's trust make the organization fundamentally broken and impossible to rebuild.Immigration Reform: We need comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship for millions of hardworking undocumented immigrants who are the embodiment of the American Dream. John Paul would support the DREAM Act, which he worked on as a congressional fellow many years ago. It would provide a pathway for the DACA kids, then he would push for citizenship for their parents.Speaking Truth To PowerSpeaking Truth to Power and Protecting Our DemocracySpeaking truth to power means being a leader who puts the people before everything. In a political system that often feels like it's a choice between two rigid machines, protecting our democracy requires the courage to call out corruption, inefficiency, and complicity wherever they exist — even within our own ranks.A true representative is a servant of the people, not a rubber stamp for a party leader. To protect democracy, we must ensure that no official is above the law or beyond questioning.Unrigging the System: Getting Money Out of Politics. Democracy is threatened when the loudest voices are the ones with the largest checks. To speak truth to power, we have to weaken the power of the pocketbook. Overturning Citizens United: Push for a constitutional amendment to end the era of “dark money.” Our democracy should be a competition of ideas, not a competition of bank accounts. Banning Corporate PACs: Support candidates who refuse to take money from corporate PACs and wealthy donors. When a representative is funded by the people, they are accountable only to the people.Ending the Revolving Door: Implement a lifetime ban on members of Congress becoming lobbyists. Public service should be about the public good, not a stepping stone to a multi-million-dollar corporate consulting gig.Redistricting Commissions: End partisan gerrymandering by taking the power to draw district lines away from politicians and giving it to independent, non-partisan commissions. Voters should choose their politicians; politicians should not choose their voters. We have successfully implemented this in Michigan.Supporting a Free and Independent Press: Protect the “watchdogs” of democracy. This includes supporting local journalism and defending journalists from retaliatory investigations or harassment by the government.Reclaiming the Power of the Purse: Congress must reassert its constitutional authority over federal spending and war powers. We cannot allow any President, regardless of party, to bypass the people's representatives to fund pet projects or enter conflicts without a vote. Trump's War in Iran is Illegal.Fighting For EducationInvesting in Every Student and the Whole ChildI've spent the last decade on the Waterford School Board fighting to ensure every child has what they need to succeed, and that starts with treating the “whole child.” It's not enough to just fund math and science; we must invest in programs like free breakfast and lunch, expanded affordable childcare, and mental health support that uplifts entire communities. As a former college educator, I also know that education is the great equalizer, which is why I'll fight to protect and expand low-interest student loans and debt forgiveness programs while ensuring we invest equally in both skilled trades and college pathways.Medicare For AllMedicare for All: Healthcare as a Human RightI believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. Everyday Americans are being crushed by rising medical premiums and corporate price gouging. I am committed to achieving Medicare for All. I will fight to expand the Affordable Care Act immediately to lower costs today, while building the long-term path toward Medicare for All.Our healthcare system must prioritize patient safety over administrative profit. I will co-sponsor federal legislation to mandate safe nurse-to-patient ratios and protect our public care systems, including the VA, Medicaid, and Social Security, from any attempts at privatization. We need a representative who sees healthcare as one of the most urgent issues facing our families, who is willing to take on the pharmaceutical and insurance lobbies.Equality Is A Fundamental Right, Not A Political Debate LGBTQ+ Equality Is a Fundamental RightEvery American deserves the freedom to be who they are and love who they love without fear of discrimination, violence, or government interference. LGBTQ+ rights are fundamental human rights, and they are non-negotiable. Now more than ever we are seeing attacks by the Supreme Court on fundamental rights. I'll speak out against any overturning of same-sex marriage and I'll ensure that the Respect for Marriage Act (so that all same-sex marriage is recognized in every state) is respected and recognized.Supporting VeteransStanding Up for Those Who ServedJohn Paul is the son of a U.S. Army Veteran and has three nieces and nephews who have proudly served in the U.S. Navy, Army, and Marines. During his time as a Probation Officer with one of the largest drug treatment courts in the state of Michigan, John Paul worked with returning Iraq War veterans and helped them get back on a path to sobriety after falling prey to addiction, due to self-medicating from PTSD. John Paul went on to serve as Court Administrator and oversee multiple other court programs, and has overseen one of the largest Veterans Court, Drug Court, and Mental Health Courts in the state of Michigan.John Paul believes in our veterans, and will ensure they are provided their rights and dignity upon return, regardless of their circumstances. John Paul will fight to appropriate proper funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and secure monies for reentry programs for returning soldiers and proper grant funding for Veterans Court programs.Who is funding John Paul's Campaign?A Grassroots Campaign Funded by the PeopleJohn Paul is running a grassroots campaign founded on rejecting corporate PAC money, AIPAC money, and wealthy networks. He is telling the voters of the 11th District that your vote can't be bought. He has consistently obtained more individual contributions than any other candidate in the race, at smaller dollar amount averages. John Paul is fueled by the people, for the people.John Paul's experience in government administration combined with grassroots funding means he can actually get things done. Because he is 100% grassroots-funded, he will use his 25 years of government experience to write laws that actually work. He isn't in Congress to protect corporate tax loopholes; he is here to protect the working class.— John Paul Torres' campaign website (July 28, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.