Joseph Palimeno

Joseph Palimeno (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Georgia's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.

Joseph Palimeno did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Joseph Palimeno did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Joey is a proud husband and a father of two amazing boys. He has first-hand experience with our country’s healthcare system after his son, Jaycen, 4, was born with Down Syndrome. Jaycen had open heart surgery as an infant and was later diagnosed with hypothyroidism and leukemia. He is also a father to 12-year old Justin and says his wife Joni is “an amazing mother and the most inspirational person I have ever met”. Joey is a member of the World Wildlife Fund, a Political Science Major at Southern New Hampshire University, an elected member of the local Democratic Party, and proud member of Fair Fight, the NAACP, and New Georgia Project.

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?

Healthcare and Affordable housing are human rights not a privilegeIt’s time to address the climate crisis after years of government inaction.We must limit the power of Congress by setting term limits and banning ex-members from lobbying.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

After years of dealing with our healthcare system due to my son’s cancer and other illnesses, healthcare reform has become very important to me. I believe healthcare is a human right and not just a privilege. We have allowed drug manufacturers to take advantage of hardworking Americans for to long. If elected this will be addressed ASAP. States have still refused to expand Medicaid due to political reasons. This is also a problem that has gone on for to long. Further inaction is no longer an option.

Climate change and jobs go together. We must invest more in renewable energy sources. This will create millions of jobs. Global warming and climate change have not been addressed appropriately or consistently enough. Our future depends on action. We also can’t leave behind fossil fuel workers, who have kept our country going for a long time. They play a big role in this battle and these blue collar workers must be supported.

I’m also passionate about protecting the right to vote for all. Our elections need to be more secure from foreign influences. Instead states are making it harder for Americans to vote. This is destroying our democracy and enables minority rule. I want stop all the partisan battles and put term limits on Congress/SCOTUS. Career politicians have used the people’s seat for personal and partisan gains long enough. America deserves a government free from corruption that works for all people not just the wealthy and corporate donors.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy that my family can be proud of. I want to show all of Americans that big money is not a requirement to serve in our government. Hopefully, I can inspire more people to run for office. The American people deserve a government that they can trust and works for them.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Watching my 4 year old son go through chemotherapy has been the hardest experience of my life. My two boys and my wife are everything to me. We have stood strong as a family through Jaycen’s health issues. He was born with Down Syndrome and 2 holes in his heart ❤️. We thought after open heart surgery as an infant he would be okay. However, a year later he got diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then with Leukemia in November of 2019. He is still undergoing chemotherapy any prayers are greatly appreciated. Since marijuana is not federally legal despite tons of positive research, he was prescribed opiates. Not only is he battling leukemia, but he was also forced into terrible withdrawal when his pain meds stopped. Thank you for your prayers.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, then it limits who can serve. We need more nurses, teachers, union workers, miners, small businesses owners, farmers etc. How can you fix a problem if you never even experienced it? How can someone who has had money all, or almost all their lives help us who live paycheck to paycheck? More everyday Americans should run for Congress because their life experiences can make a huge difference.