Justin Schoville

Justin Schoville was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned a bachelor's degree from The George Washington University in 2011 and a graduate degree from The George Washington University in 2013. He earned a law degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2022. His career experience includes working as an attorney and small business owner. He has been affiliated with Young Ecosocialists.[1]

Justin Schoville has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

If you are Justin Schoville, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 33,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve [the profile publisher] - send us candidate contact info.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an attorney. I graduated Vermont Law School, and now I run my own law firm using principles from worker cooperatives.

I am also the current state chair of the Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party.

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?

All Vermonters should have their basic needs met. We should provide all our citizens free healthcare, housing, education, childcare, internet, and eldercare.The poor and working class need a political party of their own to fight for their interests. The Democrats and Republicans are incapable of this because they are bought and paid or by millionaires and billionaires and will always represent the interests of their donors.I would use my position as a third-party Senator to work with both Democrats and Republicans. My main goal would be to steer as much federal tax dollars to our state as possible. We need federal support to provide everyone in our state basic services as human rights.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about democracy in the workplace. Currently, workers work for tyrannical bosses who hide what employees make and prevent input of how their workplaces are run. All workplaces should be directly run and managed by workers, with open books to prevent unfair hiring and firing practices.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents, Bernie Sanders (oddly enough), Kshama Sawant, Ralph Nader, Jill Stein, Cornel West.

I would probably follow in the footsteps of Kshama Sawant. She used her position in Seattle City Council to build her political party, effectively defend her position from corporate attacks, and mobilize people for goals larger than themselves. She used her office not for personal gain, but to further her movement. This is what I would also attempt to do.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the crisis of the earth system" by Ian Angus.

We must understand the world system we live in if we want to fight for justice. Currently, we live in a world governed by carbon fueled capitalism. The ecosystem is rapidly changing. Our mission is to change this world system. Our end goal should be eco-socialism and anti-imperialism. If we fail, eco-fascism and barbarism will be compelled on the world population.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To be open-minded to accepting new information and incorporating it into their worldview. New developments and new information should always adjust your way of thinking and how you approach policies.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am an attorney, which means I have to frequently represent people and interests that are not my own. However, I also view myself as a problem-solver, because sometimes coming to a negotiated settlement is better than dragging a conflict out, and clients need to know that. I also have to learn new information all the time and incorporate it into my analysis.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility is to represent the interests of your state. For me, this means I would represent the interests of the people of this state, not the business interests, not the wealthy few. I would represent the vast majority of the poor and working class people who are struggling to get by, and who have little to no representation in policy outcomes.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would want to be known as someone that fought against concentrated wealth and power, no matter what, and as a result inspired regular people to stand up for their interests. I would want people to look

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

September 11. I was 12.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked to lift and move furniture at my high school. I had the job for probably a month or so as they prepared for summer school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved the tension whenever the Count put someone in a trap of their own making.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Big Boss, from Metal Gear Solid.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

International Love by Pitbull.

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

Perfectionism and Anxiety.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I see two main challenges. The first is adapting to climate change- both to reduce carbon emissions globally and respond to climate disasters as they occur.

Second, is mitigating conflict abroad, with an eye to prevent nuclear catastrophe. Currently, the US is attempting to prepare for a 2 front war with Russia and China. I would reverse this trajectory, and push the US to work with Russia and China to manage their regions in the interest of maintaining global security. I would also rejoin Cold-War era nuclear arms control agreements that lapsed, and make new agreements to limit the use of smaller, more mobile, nuclear weapons. We must make it harder to use nukes, and reduce tensions abroad.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I would support term limits.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The Senate gives outsized influence to small states, and effectively blocks the interests of larger population states. This means that small states like ours can get outsized federal support for legislation that needs to be passed. I would use that advantage to help the people of Vermont as best I can.

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

Not necessarily. Democracy means having a diversity of experiences and backgrounds. Having previous experience in government or politics might help you in one respect, but you may also be blind to other experiences that would be obvious to people with other backgrounds.

What do you think of the filibuster?

The filibuster is a rule set by Senate rules. It is an arbitrary rule that can be changed by majority vote of the Senate. I would support eliminating the filibuster for all legislation and appointments.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Joe Manchin and Mitch McConnell. Though I disagree with almost all their positions, I think they have been very effective Senators. They used the institution of the Senate to pass policies that represented their states and caucus. They made legislation and appointments hinge on their demands. In short, they understand how to use their power as Senators for leverage. I would emulate those tactics- not for personal gain, but to support my state and to support the policies I care about.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Basically any Simpsons lawyer jokes. I like the one with Lionel Hutz when he says: If there's one thing America Needs is more lawyers. Could you imagine a world without Lawyers? [Hutz imagines world peace and everyone dancing] [Hutz cringes]

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

I would evaluate Supreme Court nominees differently from other nominees. I believe Trump's appointments got on the Supreme Court by misleading the Senate about their respect for precedent, including Roe v. Wade. Therefore, I would want to know Supreme Court nominees views about judicial precedents and if they were "wrong when initially decided" as Trumps nominees said about Roe v. Wade.

I respect conservative judicial philosophy and textualism, however, I tend to agree with jurists like Kagan and Sotomayor, who carefully weigh the facts underlying the legal battles in court cases and how they apply to the law. Therefore, I would probably tend to support so-called "liberal" justices.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

My goal would be to constantly use my position as an independent and third party senator to advance Vermont's interests and the interests of the poor and working class.

I would try to have a personally cordial but professionally antagonistic relationship with other senators. It's important for other senators to never assume I am on their side. Therefore, they will always reach out and request my views and opinions on policy and legislation, and keep me at the top of their mind if they want something passed. This way, I can maximize my leverage as senator for the causes and policies I care about.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is necessary in all policymaking. The question is who you compromise with and how. I would promote compromise with both the Democratic and Republican caucuses to maximize my goals for the people of Vermont. I would not strictly caucus with one party or the other.

How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?

The US Senate should use its investigative powers to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies. It should also investigate wrongdoing by appointments that may justify impeachment and removal. Finally, the Senate should use their powers to investigate big picture policy changes.

I think they currently use investigations as largely political theatre. This should not be the goal of congressional investigations.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?

I would take a holistic approach to the appointment. I would see how much they would rely on career officials in the department, but also ask how they would with the President and Vice President to manage the department and effectively communicate the goals of the Executive down to the agency.

What committees interest you?

Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, and Judiciary.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in increasing the size of the government. Therefore, we need as much government transparency as possible to reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse. If there are so-called inefficiencies in government spending, they should be to promote policy goals, (like eliminating poverty and homelessness) and not to line the pockets of bureaucrats.

Campaign website

Schoville's campaign website stated the following:

Justin is running for Senate so working class and poor Vermonters can vote their values. The poor need the resources and time to fully engage in civic life, both on Election Day and in the workplace.

Our Federal government should provide this!

Giving Vermonters the Resources to Engage in Civic Life

A Living Wage for All: The government should provide a Living Wage for all workers- not a minimum wage. Pass a Living Wage for all workers!

A Universal Basic Income for All: The government should provide a monthly check to all citizens as an allowance to engage in our democracy – Pass a Universal Basic Income for all!

A Medicare-for-All System: The government should take healthcare out of the hands of private insurers, and those dependent on workplace health plans. Pass a Medicare-for-All healthcare system!

Decrease Working Hours: The government should lower the hours worked as part of the “work week”- we cannot be an informed citizenry if our bosses demand all our time!

Support Children and Families: We must support families and children. Expand the child tax credit, provide free, government sponsored childcare services, and provide federal support to our teachers.

Make Election Days Federal Holidays: The government should encourage democratic participation by making all election days federal holidays.

Take from those with Resources to Provide for our Poorest

Take Hoarded Wealth from the Rich: We must pay for these programs through aggressive taxation both on income and on consolidated wealth. The federal government must use their resources to find and appropriately tax the hoarded wealth of the millionaires and billionaires.

Cut bloated Military Spending: Over half of the federal budget goes to national security. It must be cut drastically so we can spend it on social programs.

Democracy in both our Political and Economic Lives

Workplace Democracy: The government must demand that all businesses adopt Workplace Democracy- workplaces run by and for the workers. Workers should have democratic meetings- paid for by the bosses – to discuss workplace practices, worker and management pay, compensation, benefits. Layoffs are to be decided democratically, not at the whims of tyrannical bosses. And all accounting – including pay – must be transparent to everyone in the workplace.

Worker’s Right of First Refusal: Before selling or dissolving a business the workers should get the option to buy all workplaces and run them themselves.

End Big Money in Politics: The federal government must pass a constitutional amendment overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited big money in politics. It must ban private money influencing elections, and instead replace it with a limited pool of public money for all candidates.[2]

—Justin Schoville’s campaign website (2024)[3]