Sean Freeman

Sean Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois. Freeman's career experience includes working as an analyst. He earned a high school diploma from St. Ignatius College Preparatory School and a bachelor's degree from John Carroll University in 2019.[1][2]

Freeman has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

Newman Civic Fellows

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus

Clevelanders for Public Transit

Heights Tree People

Western Reserve Land Conservancy Tree Stewards

Loyola Club — Jesuit Friends and Alumni Network of Cleveland

Sean Freeman did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

blockquote{border-left:none !important;padding-left:2em;position:relative;color:#444;font-family:"Libre Franklin",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#202122;font-style:normal;}blockquote::before{content:open-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;left:-10px;top:40px;color:#ccc}blockquote::after{content:close-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;color:#ccc}

Campaign websiteFreeman's campaign website stated the following:Bring Back the Child Tax Credit & End Burke AirportBurke's space is so valuable to the public that it needs to be opened up for all to enjoy our home and lakefront.All the craziness of the administration cannot distract from the fact that families in this District and this nation need the Child Tax Credit back! Let's bring it back to the forefront!Defund ICEICE's top priorities should be preventing terrorism and combating transnational crime. Their current directives are not accomplishing these goals.Terrorism and crime harms our communities. People who are here for better lives & do well by their neighbors enrich and inspire Americans to be better.Protect Women & MothersDespite housing three of the largest, most impressive hospital systems in the nation, Cleveland is ranked one of the worst places for black women to live & has one of the highest mortality rates among expectant black mothers and their children. This cannot stand in a district where our majority is black women!Improve Local TransportAfter monthly payments, gas, parking, checkups and the occasional mishap, cars cost us on average $11,000 every year.With 2% of our County budget & 5% of Cleveland's budget, we can build and manage a modern rail & bus system that gets anyone, anywhere, in 20 minutes or less, saving you $10,000 every year. Let's build!Revolutionize EnergyCompany's like FirstEnergy -- who orchestrated one of the largest state corruption scandals in American history -- are now pitching us slower emergency response & more outages.Let's bury our power lines to protect our energy from weather, and build renewable energy on our greatest asset, Lake Erie!Consequence for Epstein AssociatesVictims must be protected, and all perpetrators, no matter who they are, must be brought into the light.If the judicial system cannot bring action, then it is on the legislative branch to ensure there are consequences for these heinous crimes.— Sean Freeman's campaign website (April 23, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m the oldest of four children from the western suburbs of Chicago, raised in a Jesuit Catholic household that focused on building Men & Woman for & with Others. In my service experiences, including advocating for farmworker’s rights, feeding the homeless, meeting immigrants in Central America & at the border, and playing basketball and writing poetry with juveniles in detention centers, I have met people who want the same things as anyone else: to be able to work hard to provide for themselves and their families. I’m running because I am tired of the people with answers being ignored by people with power. Partisan politics has stood in the way of our collective advancement. It is time for a voice – independent from the parties, independent from corporate PAC money, and united with their community – to represent not only this district, but the United States of America. After college, I lived at home to save up for a duplex. For a moment during the Covid pandemic, I was my family’s breadwinner. I may be young, but a pandemic, an economic crash in 2008 and the talk of another crisis looming is enough to age you quickly. I excel at finding patterns, and I will find the most efficient ways to solve the problems we face with as few tax dollars as possible. When we treat others how we expect to be treated, we create the society this American Dream was built upon. I’m looking forward to learning more about what you need, and in turn, earn your vote to represent you.

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?

I’m running as an independent to pull us back together while each party pushes us further apart. This campaign faces an uphill battle, but my responsibility is to meet the needs of everyday Americans, not the needs of the political establishment.In office, my goal is to make Election Day a Federal Holiday and institute opt-out voter registration to make it as easy as possible for citizens to exercise their right to vote. These policies should have been passed long ago. We’ll accomplish them now.Technology and the internet have transformed our world at a drastic pace. Mostly for the better, but also for the worst. A congress with the average representative being nearly 60 years old is not positioned to be as swift and effective as we need them to be. I am capable of addressing the roots of these emerging technologies. Technology requires decisive action for our collective advancement. It also enables transparency. I will do everything I can to make Congress as visible as possible so we can learn how deals are made before they reach the House floor. This is how we will find out who holds the office for the people and who is there for themselves.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

There are so many ways in which simple rule changes can improve the lives of Americans. Requiring companies to post the final price for their products rather than tacking on fees as you proceed through the checkout, requiring goods made by prison labor to be labeled so shoppers are aware, directing the FCC to ban robocalls, allowing us to opt out of having our data collected by social media, incentivizing businesses to send less paper mail to people’s homes, and outlawing pharmaceutical drug commercials are just a few.

Public policy that requires more time, but I am equally passionate about, are voting and election rights, improving healthcare and protecting our planet. I want to elaborate on more policy, but I am at my 'character limit.'

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

Mr. Rogers. He perfected the balance of educating and entertaining, not only on practical matters with facts, but on the art of living. He captured attention and used it to describe how best to act in some of life’s most difficult and confusing circumstances.

He moved mountains not with his fists and finances, but with his kindness & determination to create the best possible show for his listeners.

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

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

I should clarify that while I see this book as a mirror image of a world we see more and more of today, the characters have shifted roles: There are many James Taggart’s in politics, as well as many more in the business world. Both must be met with John Galts, Dagny Taggarts, and Hank Reardens.

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

Having a keen ear to constituents' needs, combined with the ability to create the most efficient, cost effective pathway to a broad solution. Through talking to over 6,000 citizens in District 11 last year alone, I witnessed people from all walks of life making the same, simple requests: we want safer communities, better schools, lower bills, and better transit options.

Each of these objectives boil down to more money in people’s pockets.

If you have a good paying job with upward mobility, why would you jeopardize it by committing crimes? Good paying jobs equates to safer communities. Safer, and now wealthier, communities lead to stronger property value. Stronger property values lead to larger property taxes, which are used to create better schools.

When people have someone willing to do what it takes to win for them in office, you don’t get leaders willing to sell out to companies like FirstEnergy, or ones who follow wherever the political winds are blowing. As someone who has never tolerated bullies, I won’t bend to those who offer me a sweet deal that sucker punches everyone else. I see working for the federal government as my way of standing up to the bullies who have seemingly taken over our country’s interests and priorities. I wish to reset our priority towards the people — the ones who select us to make the right call for us all.

I am prepared to let you inside Capitol Hill to show you how the sausage is made, and most importantly, show you who prevents or deters good ideas from working. There are so many bright and talented people in this country working to build a better tomorrow. If you allow me to do it, my job is to raise the voices and power of the builders, while wrangling in those who wish to harm our collective advancement for their own interests.

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

I do not enjoy the spotlight. As counterintuitive that may seem, it is true. Through how I was raised, the people I have met, from the experiences I have lived, I have learned from and appreciated humanity – from dining in nice restaurants with people I don’t like, to sharing a meal and heartfelt conversation with the homeless under an overpass – to traveling from a migrant town in Florida, to the U.S. border, to El Salvador. Now, I recognize what I am called for. I do not seek this position for the fame, but for the ability to positively affect this nation I owe my life to.

I recognize that I am striving for what others believe is impossible. However, my friends have noted in everything from ‘friendly competitions’ to tests of the mind, body and spirit, I possess an iron will. I fully intend to be the next OH-11 congressman.

We are at a critical juncture. In my personal experiences, when family, friends, and strangers are in need of something to hope for, I have provided. No matter where my journey leads, I live for a better way in a better world, where we all Live Free.

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

Get meaningful legislation passed that improves the lives of the most possible Americans, current and future.

And, in the meantime, raise the voices and resources of the many making life better for our communities every day.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I left our country better than I inherited it.

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

I was a Paperboy from 6th through 8th grade. That job is where I got my first paycheck… for $2.10.

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

Live Free – Mac Miller

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

Running for office as an Independent with a full time and a part time job.

My race, my sexuality, my creed and my birth in this great nation have given me a lot of advantages, purely by luck. This luck provides me the responsibility to offer people the same privileges I have enjoyed.

Nonetheless, luck can only go so far. What I lack in finances, I make up for in my desire and ability to learn from others and apply their findings for a better world for all. I know I am not the smartest person in this District, but I am the one willing to put my hat in the ring for the job that must be done.

More independents will need to be in office, but first, in order for others to run, they need to see someone do it to know it’s possible. I am the oldest in my family. I am used to giving things a try, especially when it needs to be done. This race is no different.

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

Good experience is the best experience. My time working with non-profits and banking institutions, being with children, juveniles, farmworkers, migrants, students, elders and the homeless, along with people in the corporate and music worlds and the local bars, provide me with the experience I need to create the best rules for all of us to prosper.

Most congressional representatives today spend their time fundraising, on the phone or at the hotel restaurant, on the jet or in the suite. I, out of necessity, spend my time at the house parties, the concerts, the markets, local restaurants and the sporting events with various groups and individuals in the community who can help me tackle a problem through their wisdom. Good ideas exist everywhere in everyone. When I am elected, I plan on dancing with the ones who brought me.

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

Climate change is why I am running for office. We have been running on borrowed time for the last century, playing with a very delicate ecosystem to our own collective disadvantage. This issue MUST be dealt with swiftly, or else we will experience a world unlike anything we have ever experienced.

Simultaneously, the rise of technologies, particularly AI, are beasts we have created. While they are very new phenomena, they have completely transformed our world, and continue to do so at a rapid pace.

In order to properly tackle both climate change and the meteoric rise in technology dependence, we must be communicative and collaborative to a point we have not yet reached as a human race. It will take our entire planet to stop global warming. Luckily enough, technology has given us the ability to communicate with the entire human race, at once. For the first time. Ever. AI might be the weapon we can utilize to correct our past climate mistakes and set us on a course to prosperity.

Strong leadership, alongside quick & adaptive policymaking, are essential for us to keep the scales of AI proliferation in our favor so that we can harness the technology, and not allow it to harness us.

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

Ohio’s 11th District's uniquely diverse community has an illustrious history of strong representation, from the pioneer Louis Stokes, to the trailblazing Stephanie Tubbs Jones, to the ironwoman Marcia Fudge. I look forward to following in their footsteps to deliver for the great people of this district.

Additionally, while not a US representative, former Cleveland mayor Mike Johnson is a newer role model of mine. Before he was even in the job, he worked out a deal with Cleveland’s streetcar services to keep the costs low for the consumers while keeping the streetcars running. He expertly fought for the people, while not isolating the streetcar operators. Instead, Johnson showed these wealthy businessmen the importance of their customers in the bigger picture of a city on the rise. Today, Mayor Johnson presides over our downtown, taking in all that is good and bad, and constantly reminding us a better, more equitable path is possible.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have heard many individual stories, but it is our collective stories that influence me the most: Cleveland is one of the poorest big cities in America with a 50% child poverty rate. Many residents, even adults, struggle with reading. We have 14,000 non-profits, and yet, face homelessness, food deserts and lasting affects of redlining.

Despite these challenges, we have strong people who maintain resilient communities with uncommonly strong bonds. These stretch across our district, providing a vibrant web of connections that make the greater Cleveland area an incredible place to live.

In many ways, Cleveland is the story of our nation: people working hard to supply for themselves, their families and communities – who have been sold bills of goods by ‘leaders’ who do not match the heart, soul and strength of the people they represent.

There are thousands of living examples of true leaders in this district. They get up everyday to fight for what they know is right, even without support they deserve. I aim to change that story – from working in spite of power, to unleashing power into the hearts and minds of the most dedicated civil servants. This will create the district we desire.

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

Abe Lincoln was willing to be around people he enjoyed the company of, but disagreed with. President Lincoln was willing to give in on smaller issues, but held fast on beliefs he felt in his core—ALL men and women are created equal through the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Spirited debate is necessary, with a basis in trust and humanity, for both parties to get closer to the truth.

If we have good policy available, like concrete actions for our immigration system or Transparency for our Corporations or Accountability for our Social Media – we must move forward. Both parties this last year derailed good policy for political leverage. It’s a disgrace to the position they are assigned.

Most legislation is passed through omnibus bills, or “everything everywhere all at once” bills. These bills make compromise the currency of the land, which is great for lobbyists and individual agendas, but bad for the growth of our nation’s success.

What committees interest you?

I do not believe I will have a choice in which committee I am assigned, given my party and it being my first term. I’m excited to impact whichever committee I’m assigned to.

If I had to choose, however:

Energy and Commerce

Education and Workforce

Homeland Security, and

Budget are at the top of my list.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

It is essential to understanding how we can reign in over-spending on issues, and cut away at our national debt.

One instance of the need for transparency, outside of our military spending, is California’s spending on homelessness. It has reached $24 Billion since around 2019, but apparently, the spending hasn’t been monitored. Homelessness is a crucial issue we must tackle, and California is a state willing to try policy that other states could then adopt. Now, however, no one knows what programs worked and which ones didn't because the funds were not tracked. Meanwhile, homelessness in California has increased.

Every American understands the importance of balancing their own budget. This essential skill is seemingly lost on our political leaders.

We have learned that giving the poor in our nation $3,000 - $3,600 can decrease our collective poverty by HALF in just two years. These are the types of solutions that should be celebrated and firmly instituted, because they do a massive amount of good for as little cost as possible!

Campaign website

Freeman’s campaign website stated the following:

Based on the 5,000+ conversations I had this past year, these policies are ones the majority of us can get behind; and what I will immediately fight for in Congress.

Automatic Voter Registration

The Playbook, outlined by the State of Oregon

As of 2022, around 62-66% of the population is registered to vote. Around 47% of people then turnout to vote in races.

​

This is abysmal. Our country was founded on the principal that all of us select who we want to lead, instead of leaving power in the hands of a few. It may feel like we don’t have a choice today, but we do. We just have to work harder to use our voice than in the past. Our leaders can, however, make it easier for voters to make their vote count.

That is what Oregon has done.

In 2015, the state passed automatic voter registration that went into effect in 2016. This automatically registered eligible citizens to vote and updated their registration addresses via DMV records. The DMV worked with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State office to send only people who had the proper documentation to vote from the DMV to the Secretary of State’s office. Applicants who provided other proofs of residence or those with protected records for safety risks (i.e. victims of domestic violence) were not sent to become automatically registered.

Whenever the DMV received an address update, they sent it to the Secretary of State, who verified the voter information and then automatically updated the voter’s new address in the registration system.

Newly registered and updated voters get a postcard saying:

​

1) they have been registered to vote through automatic voter registration,

2) they can opt-out by signing and mailing back the postcard, and

3) to vote in the state’s closed partisan primary, they need to register with a political party by returning the postcard.

​

New automatic registrants are allowed 21 days to return the postcard. Voters who do not return the card are added to the voter registration list as nonaffiliated voters.

This initiative increased voter registration the next year by 7%, an uncharacteristically effective increase, and resulted in Oregon becoming the second highest registered state in the country at 79% of eligible voters by 2017.

We can and should implement this process nationwide if our leaders truly care about allowing Americans to engage in the democratic process. Our government’s job is to make life easier, and this is a proven efficient and effective way to strengthen American’s access to freedom.

Source:

https://nextuporegon.org/automatic-voter-registration-transforms-youth-registration-and-turn-out-rates/

FAQ: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/motor-voter-faq.aspx

Make Jury Duty Worth Your Time

Be Paid to Fulfill Your American Duty, Not Dread It

In the 11th District of Ohio, jurors are given $27 per day of duty. Simultaneously, Ohio state law does not require employers to pay their employees who take on jury duty. Ohio is one of 15 states that say employers can not force employees to use a personal day in order to attend jury duty, but jurors still walk away with only $27 for a day’s work.

​

No wonder no one likes the idea of Jury Duty. This is supposed to be a process leading to civic participation in fair trails, but who would want to participate when you interrupt your daily work and potentially frustrate your employer to make just $27?

​

Across the nation, employees should be given their full wages without having to take personal days while on jury duty.

The best requirements, combining current state rules, are:

The employee must show their employer the court summons the workday after receiving the call to jury duty.

If a company has fewer than 10 employees, only one employee can be at jury duty at a time. If there is more than one employee called in, their jury duty can be postponed or rescheduled.

​

This creates an efficient jury duty system, where people do not fear a civic duty and taxpayers save on paying jurors $27 or more each day to attend jury duty.

​

Currently, only Alabama, Georgia and Nebraska offer full paid leave for the length of the trail. Let’s guarantee all Americans this right!

Plant More Trees

The name “Forest City” was given to Cleveland in the mid to late 1800’s. Our tree canopy, at its peak, could cover 82.4% of Cuyahoga County.

​

Currently, trees cover 37.6% of Cuyahoga County.

​

Trees have been proven to:

Improve air quality

Increase property values up to 30%

Reduce heating and cooling costs up to 12% annually

Change street temperature up to 7 degrees

Decrease stress and domestic violence

Reduce noise pollution

Improve water quality and soak up excess runoff during storms

​

Some of our biggest problems require the simplest solutions. Let’s hit 82.4% coverage in this district.

End the Death Penalty

Clean our Conscience and Our Pocketbooks

This is a charged issue that evokes strong emotions either for or against. I am against using our tax dollars to kill people.

Those who have committed heinous crimes should and need to be punished accordingly, but it is not a government’s job to act as executioner.

​

We are one of 24 states that still use the death penalty, and it costs us: spiritually AND economically.

​

In Ohio right now, there are 128 people on death row. That costs us $128-384 Million. What a gross waste.

They have already inflicted incredible harm on our society, why should we allow these people to hurt us in our pocketbooks, too?

​

We can save at least $30 million a year by simply imprisoning those on death row for life. The increased vigilance and security required for these inmates, the constant procedures, double checks and triple checks, the purchase and transport of the lethal injections and more, is what causes the death penalty to be so uneconomical.

​

Of the 56 people who have been killed in Ohio by the death penalty, 11 more were set to be killed, but then were found to be innocent.

Let’s clean our conscience and our pocketbooks.[3]

—Sean Freeman’s campaign website (2024)[4]