Jackson Franklin
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Jackson Franklin (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Indiana's 5th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026.
Franklin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jackson Franklin was born in Muncie, Indiana. Franklin's career experience includes working as a paramedic and policy advisor. He began serving in the U.S. Army National Guard in 2019.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026
Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Democratic primary)
Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Republican primary)
General election
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Endorsements
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jackson Franklin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Franklin's responses.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Hello everyone, I am Jackson Franklin. I am a Muncie resident and currently serving as a Staff Sergeant in the Indiana Army National Guard, along with my two triplet brothers. I’ve been serving as a combat medic since 2019 and deployed to Kosovo in 2023. I am grateful to the Army for sending me to paramedic school, where I became a nationally registered paramedic. I have worked on a congressional campaign for this district in 2022 as a policy advisor and volunteered in a handful of races in and around Muncie.
I have been greatly inspired by the likes of Bernie Sanders and others in the progressive movement to champion policies that prioritize fairness, equality, and opportunity for all. I believe in fighting for healthcare as a human right, investing in education, fighting against corruption, standing up for the working class, and ensuring that every voice is heard. That is why I have pledged never to take any corporate money and will fight the political establishment to end corruption in this country. This campaign is committed to real change that benefits all of us, not just the wealthy. That's why our campaign slogan is "People Over Profits!"
I am not running for Congress to climb some political ladder; I am running because working people in this district are getting left behind by a system and a representative that prioritizes the wants of the very wealthy over the needs of the rest of us. For too long, the working class has been ignored; this campaign will change that 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?
- This campaign is dedicated to standing up for the working class of this district and will bring the people's voice to Congress, not more corporate donors. Corporate lobbyists and other special interest groups have a stranglehold on our democracy, as they influence our politicians to serve their interests instead of the voters they swore to serve in the first place. This campaign is proud to say that we are a grassroots campaign, meaning we will never accept any corporate lobby money and will focus on what the working-class people of the 5th district want because that is what our republic is supposed to be about in the first place. We will fight to overturn Citizens United, ban corporate lobbying, and move to public funding of elections.
- Our healthcare system is fundamentally broken. More than 70,000 Americans die every year due to a lack of healthcare, more than 30 million Americans still don’t have health insurance, and even more are underinsured. That is why this campaign is calling for our country to catch up to the rest of the developed world and guarantee healthcare for all to everyone across the country, and is why we proudly advocates for Medicare for all. Even for those with insurance, costs are so high that medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. As a paramedic, I have witnessed many people turn away from life-saving care because they did not want to undergo the high cost of our healthcare system. This is unacceptable.
- Standing up for human rights and accountability.
Currently, we are witnessing an administration that is fighting to roll back many of the basic human and constitutional rights that people across this country have fought and died for. Once in Congress, I will continue to fight to uphold the Constitution and hold our leaders who have broken the law accountable, and fight to protect and expand women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and other human rights. We must fight to uphold the rule of law and hold those accountable who have broken it, no matter what their position is, especially the President of the United States. We need to unapologetically fight for education, housing, healthcare, living wages, and much more, all as the human rights they are.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
We are proud to have an extensive policy platform on our website. In the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world, this campaign is advocating for policies such as:
-Removing money from politics
-Medicare For All
-Living and dignified wages
-Protecting/Strengthening Unions, expanding democracy to the workplace
-Protecting Women's/LGBTQ+ Rights
-Universal Daycare, College/Trade school
-Paid family leave for all
-Ending the racist war on drugs / legalize cannabis
-Taxing the rich
-Progressive immigration reform
-A Green New Deal, saving the environment
-Stop funding the genocide ongoing in Palestine
-Helping Veterans by expanding the VA
And much more! Go to Jacksonfranklinforcongress.com to view our full policy platform!Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to many people, of course. I've had many great role models who have helped guide me to where I am today. One of those is my mother, who, as a mother of triplets as well as 2 older children, raised 5 children largely single-handedly and is the strongest woman I know. I know that whatever I endure during my time in politics and throughout the world for the military, I can always tell myself, "Hey, it could be worse. I could be trying to manage and raise 3 screaming babies and 2 other young children by myself." The amount of willpower and grit my mother has never ceases to amaze me. Along with the fact that she raised 5 children, who, in my perhaps biased view, "turned out alright," is something to be commended. We may have never had much; in fact, we had quite little compared to many others, seeing as we were triplets, but she always pointed us in the right moral direction and taught us to treat others the way we would like to be treated, with empathy, respect, and dignity. That example is the one I strive to live up to, both in public service and in my private life.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Books:
Bernie Sanders: "It is okay to be angry about capitalism", and "Our Revolution".
Howard Zinn: "A people's history of the United States".
Noam Chomsky: "Manufacturing Consent".
"The Radical King", by Cornel West
“Medicare For All” - by Abdul El-Sayed and Micah Johnson
To name only a few!
Singers who influenced me early on in my engagement with politics:
Pete Seeger
Woody Guthrie
Tom Paxton
Phil Ochs
Almanac Singers
Macklemore
Songs:
“Which Side Are You On” - Florence Reece
“A Change Gonna Come” - Sam Cooke
“Banks Of Marble” - The Weavers
“Reagan” - Killer Mike
And many others!
Primary/frequent progressive news sources:
Youtube:
- Secular Talk, "The Kyle Kulinski Show"
- Breaking Points / Krystal Ball & Ryan Grim
- Status Coup News
- Drop Site News
- Majority Report With Sam Seder
- The Young TurksWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Serving the popular will of the people, instead of the corporate elites who seek to turn our elections into auctions. Elected officials must represent and be accountable to their constituents, and not be corrupted by special interest groups seeking favors/votes. Honesty and open communication with their communities, especially those historically ignored, and fight to ensure everyone has a voice in the democratic process. They must be accountable for their decisions, honest about their motivations, and willing to explain their actions openly. Above all, an elected official should be guided by a clear moral compass to advance justice, protect democratic institutions, and improve people’s lives through principled, people-centered leadership, placing “People Over Profits!”.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I believe that I bring a dedication to service to a cause larger than myself, and servant leadership to the office that is often lacking. My background as a medic has taught me how to make decisions under pressure, listen carefully, and put people first in moments that matter. I am incredibly principled and predictable in policy; I wear it on my sleeve unapologetically. Once elected, there will be very little doubt on where I will stand on most votes, as this has and will continue to be a very policy-forward campaign fighting for the working-class. I will not be afraid to take on powerful interests when they get in the way of the people. I am not going to DC to make friends; I am going to be the people's voice, and that will always take top priority. I believe those qualities, combined with a willingness to listen and learn from the people I represent, are what make an effective and trustworthy representative.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
One of the core responsibilities for someone elected to Congress is to FIGHT unapologetically and relentlessly to deliver positive change for the working-class people of their district, not just corporations, lobbyists, and definitely not billionaire oligarchs, but for the 99% of the electorate that overwhelmingly voted to elect them in the first place. That means proposing and fighting for legislation that improves the lives of working people, protecting our democratic rights, and ensuring that our government works for ordinary families rather than just the wealthy few. It also means being accessible and accountable to your constituents, showing up in the communities in their district, listening to the people they represent, and refusing to disappear behind closed doors once elected. A congressperson must use their platform to challenge injustice, expose corruption, and push boldly for solutions that match the scale of the crises we face as a people.
What legacy would you like to leave?
The legacy I want to leave is a legacy consisting of integrity and accountability. I want to be known as a representative who did not compromise their values for power, who stood with and for working people, veterans, and marginalized communities, and used their position to challenge unjust power and elevate the voices of the underserved. I hope to restore faith that when enough people organize for justice, there is nothing that we can't do. I firmly believe in a quote by John Lewis that "The power of the people is greater than the people in power!" And I hope my legacy can give truth to that statement.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I was born in March of 2000, and the first very significant historical event that shaped the world that I actually remember was the Iraq War and the people's reaction to it around me. I was very young, but I had family friends who left to join the military and fought in it. I saw it on TV and heard the adults around me talk about it. Even as a child, it was clear that this was something enormous and consequential, and I grew up to learn that it was, of course, ordinary people who would be the ones bearing the cost.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
When I was 19, I joined the United States Army right out of high school to serve in the Indiana Army National Guard as a combat medic, where I still serve to this day. I served on Covid-19 orders after training, went overseas for a deployment to Kosovo (the Balkans), mobilized for Hurricane Milton, and was yet again mobilized for a severe winter storm to assist drivers stranded on the side of icy roads. Now I am part of an instructor team to teach combat medicine to soldiers from all different careers, as well as volunteer with the Honor Guard to render funeral services for our fallen comrades. As of writing this in early 2026, I have served for 7 years and intend to serve the full 20 for retirement.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Of all the questions, this is probably the hardest, genuinely. Too many great books out there, and it changes depending on what my current fixation is, I suppose. "The People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn opened my eyes very early on, and if you are looking for a populist history book to realize where this nation has come from, then I highly recommend it. I am a broken record on this, probably, but Bernie Sanders is a great role model of mine, and his books "It's Okay to Be Angry About Capitalism" and "Our Revolution" are great political insights from his 2 grassroots presidential runs in 2016 and 2020 that ignited the political revolution that this campaign carries. "Medicare For All" by Abdul El-Sayed will greatly open your eyes to the devastation of the current healthcare system and just how a Medicare for all system could greatly help millions of us.
Outside of politics or history, I am a not-so-hidden nerd for Sci-Fi, and I recommend the first "Dune" book, the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series, as well as Warhammer 40K and Halo Books.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
If I could be a fictional character, I would choose Superman. At his core, he uses his power to defend people who cannot defend themselves and to give hope to those who feel forgotten or hopeless. He stands for justice, compassion, and responsibility, not personal gain. And while flying into space and being nearly indestructible would certainly help, it’s the commitment to using power selflessly and standing up for the vulnerable that really matters. Plus, the recent 2025 Superman film is one of my favorites of the franchise, and he stops a genocide single-handedly in the first minute of the movie. Keep being woke, Superman.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
My political answer would be "Tear The Fascists Down" by Woody Guthrie, but my more accurate answer is "Fernando" by ABBA
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
As someone who’s had ADHD their entire life, I have developed an extra level of discipline, adaptability, and persistence. From education to healthcare to military work, too many institutions respond to difference by telling people to just “try harder” instead of providing the support and flexibility that allow everyone to succeed. Living with ADHD has meant constantly learning how to manage obstacles that others never had to think about, and doing so in silence with no accommodations.
This life experience has given me added empathy for people who are pushed to the margins or fall between the cracks by rigid systems and then blamed for struggling within them. I believe the government should be built around real human needs, not one-size-fits-all rules that punish people for being different. My experience has strengthened my commitment to building policies that are accessible, humane, and focused on lifting people up rather than telling them to overcome systemic barriers on their own.What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
The U.S House of Representatives is unique as it is supposed to be the federal chamber closest to the people, as elections are every two years and have smaller districts. It was intended to represent the working-class, but has become a vehicle for wealthy special interests to carry out their will through corrupted politicians instead of fighters standing unapologetically for the working-class.
The House holds the power of the purse/budget, so it has the unique ability to either reinforce equality and economic justice, or the opposite. When controlled by corporate lobby interests, this body can serve the wealthiest in the nation rather than the working people it was intended to serve. When controlled by the working-class, an uncorrupted Congress can lead a nation into the progress it was intended to and to let ring the people's voice to challenge established power. The House can expose corruption, defund injustice, and redirect public resources toward healthcare, housing, education, and human dignity. The power is not in its traditions, but in the capacity to be a democratic force that translates organized people-power into meaningful and popular change.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
Not necessarily, it depends on what and who they fight for. I will take a non-college-educated, working-class American who has a good heart, empathy for others, and a willingness to learn and listen any day of the week, as compared to a Harvard elite who has a long history of politics, but ultimately believes in nothing but money and power, and does whatever their lobbyist tells them. I will take the former every time.
By the end of the day, I rate politicians based on the vision/policies they advocate. If someone who has been in politics their whole lives does a disservice to the people they represent, then it is time to vote them out; if someone who has a popular vision for the future and the know-how and grit to make it happen, the ladder is undoubtedly a better representative.
What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
The greatest challenge for the United States over the next decade will be to fight the massive amount of wealth inequality across this nation, and to combat the entrenchment of corruption at the deepest levels of the US government. Our struggles of class divide are tied to nearly every issue:
- Whether we finally have a government that represents all Americans and not just the top one percent, or not.
- Push back against the large fossil fuel industry by moving to a renewable energy solution to prevent the further destruction of our environment, or not.
- Have a system where workers are not trapped in a broken economy where wages lag behind the cost of living, while billionaire oligarchs gain more power and influence in our politics and lay off countless workers amid record-breaking profits.
- If we, as a nation, can join every other developed nation in the world and guarantee healthcare to all as a human right and not just a privilege for the wealthiest in the nation to exploit and make unprecedented profits at our expense, or continue to have the most expensive healthcare system in the world at the cost of more than 120,000 lives every year as of 2026.
- Civil and human rights have been under attack, especially women's rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, and other marginalized communities. We must continue to fight for justice
- Democracy and the Constitution itself are constantly under threat as our president continually comments about invoking the "Insurrection Act," Martial Law, and "seizing the voting machines," in 2026. Keep in mind that this president organized a coup to overthrow the 2020 election, and according to their own emails, set up "fraudulent electors" to stay in power against the democratic will of the American people. This administration continually breaks Constitutional law to the point where most of us are unable to keep track of what is occurring, as "the pace of their oppression outpaces our ability to understand it."Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
Yes, I do. Though this is a quick turnaround, in theory, it keeps our congresspeople more accountable to us, but we need many more election policies for this to be more effective. The problem is not frequent elections; it is a system where big money dominates politics. I'd like to have term limits, end gerrymandering, and ban corporate lobbying / move to public funding of our elections for us to have more accountability over them, and for this system to be more as intended.
Ultimately, this also allows the people to continue or halt much of the president's agenda at the halfway point of their term.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
I am a strong advocate for term limits. I have taken the "US For Term Limits Pledge," calling for term limits for Congress: at least limit terms in the House of Representatives to 3 terms (total of 6 years) and in the US Senate to 2 terms (12 years). I am also in favor of having a limit of a single 10-year term for Supreme Court justices, as we have seen a rogue and extreme SCOTUS in our lifetimes that has continually fought to roll back civil rights, women's rights, and other rights and there must be a greater check on this power and I strongly believe that this should not be a lifetime sentence.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Senator Bernie Sanders is the greatest inspiration for me politically. However, there are others, such as representatives AOC, Ilham Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Ro Khanna, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who have all also done a great job. Amongst many others!
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 listened to thousands of people from all across the district, and most stories are similar: we have a government that serves the wealthiest people on the planet and not working-class people.
Listening to many veterans who have been denied healthcare, as I have seen it on the ambulance, where people who have served our communities are unable to afford expensive healthcare costs and go without the care they deserve. Then they eventually died because of that. We must fight to expand healthcare to all in the nation as a human right, we must have Medicare for all.
I have talked to many young people who wanted to go to college or trade schools to serve our communities, whether it is to get into education to be a teacher, or go into healthcare to become a nurse, but they were unable to because they feared the large amount of tuition debt that the American higher education system has. People are going into jobs they hate because they were simply too poor to start their education. Education is the building block of a healthy democracy, and we must move to expand public college access for all, as well as wipe out student debt in the country. I support proposals to pay for it by taxing Wall Street.
I've met with daycare workers who were underpaid due to a lack of funding for the program, and they told me that many parents were in an impossible situation of deciding between taking care of their young children but have no money for food, heating, and lights, or go to work, leaving their young children alone but perhaps able to scrape by to get enough food for their child to eat. This is a tragic and heart-wrenching truth that occurs all across this country. That is why I advocate for a universal daycare program for our kids to learn and parents to be able to work, as well as having universal school meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and having a summer program because no one deserves to go hungry, especially children.Tell us your favorite joke.
Currently, it is saying that "I have the RIGHT to remain silent, but not the ability to"
Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
It depends on the issue. We will not compromise on human rights, full stop. However, if it mutually helps both parties, I will work with anyone, but not at the expense of the working class.
I do not believe that just because a bill is "Bi-partisan" that it is good for the American people, or that we should have bi-partisanship just for the sake of it. For example, the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, expanding the military budget to nearly a trillion dollars a year, the deregulation and bailing out of Wall Street, and other "Too big to fail" corporations are great examples of both parties coming together to undermine the American people in favor of the rich oligarchs that fund their re-election campaigns.
Compromise should be judged by who it helps, not by how many politicians agree to it for their ads for re-election to be "bi-partisan." Compromise is not the first option of anyone with principled ideology, but by the end of the day, if compromises must be made to have the greatest good for the greatest number of people, then yes, compromise will be necessary. Especially since I don't expect that this coming election we will elect nothing but uncorrupted grassroots progressives (One can dream), we will have to battle for every single policy, even within our own party, as lobbied interests impact both major political parties. I promise to pressure every single politician and other factors using everything at my disposal to get them to side with the popular will of the American people. Compromise will be judged on a case-by-case basis.The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?
The House’s power to originate revenue is one of the few levers in our political system that can be used to directly confront inequality and corporate power. Once elected, I will treat that power as a responsibility to challenge an economic system that has been rigged in favor of the top 1 percent, while working people are asked to do more with less.
Revenue power should be used to redistribute wealth to benefit working people, as we are currently undergoing the worst wealth inequality in the history of the United States. The House should use this power to tax the extremely wealthy, and claw back the trillions of dollars that have been siphoned upward through tax cuts, subsidies, and loopholes. Congress can then use that money to benefit the nation’s people by having the popular policies I’ve laid out rather than funding endless military expansion and corporate welfare.
The ability to raise revenue is ultimately the ability to decide whose lives matter in our budget, and I believe the House should use that power unapologetically on behalf of the working class, not the billionaire class.How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?
The US House should fully exercise its power to investigate the criminal actions of all members of the government, especially the current administration, which has blatantly abused its power and broken the Constitution by going around Congress on several occasions. We must reassert that no one is above the law, not even the president. That said, oversight is not a partisan tool; it is a constitutional duty, especially when the executive branch abuses power, enriches insiders, or operates above the law. When corruption is suspected, the House has an obligation to the people it serves and the nation to investigate fully and publicly so the American people know the truth. No president, cabinet official, or corporate ally should be shielded from accountability. If laws have been broken, the House must refer findings for prosecution and use every constitutional mechanism available to defend democracy. The House must act as a watchdog for the people, not a rubber stamp for a lawless executive. Accountability is not optional in a democracy. If the executive branch believes it is untouchable, the House has failed its most basic responsibility.
What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?
Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption / "Track AIPAC"
Money Out Of Politics
Beyond The Ballot
Hoosier Progressive Academy
Central Indiana DSA
Citizens Impeachment
Student for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Muncie
People For Bernie Sanders
Rogue DNC
United Front MuncieWhat committees interest you?
I am especially interested in serving on the following committees, and as a freshman member of Congress, I will fight to earn seats where I can have the greatest impact for working-class people.
- Energy & Commerce Committee: To fight for universal healthcare, rein in pharmaceutical and insurance corporations, protect public health, and advance environmental policies that put people over profits.
- Oversight & Accountability Committee: To expose corruption, challenge dark money and corporate influence, and hold the executive branch and federal agencies accountable to the people.
- Foreign Affairs Committee: To center human rights and civil liberties in U.S. foreign policy and end American support for war crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. U.S. tax dollars must never be used to enable human suffering abroad.
- Veterans Affairs Committee: As a service member, I will fight for veterans’ healthcare, mental health services, housing stability, and accountability from the VA and defense contractors who profit while veterans are left behind.What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?
I believe that every dollar in the government should be visible to the public, as it is our money in the first place. The Pentagon for example has failed 8 audits in a row, that is unacceptable and the people deserve to know where their money is going. We should have mandatory public audits of our federal agencies, and make it to where if the agency does not pass an audit, then Congress is unable to expand the funding of that agency until completion within reason. That is how we tackle the real waste, fraud and abuse in the government. We should also look into ending secret government contracts, as well as expanding whistleblower protections that way government workers can blow the whistle on corruption and misuse without fear of retaliation.
We must also remove the influence of money in politics, overturning the disastrous Citizens United decision, period. Until then, the public should know where every cent of campaign funds comes from their politicians and not have dark money loopholes lobbying & influencing policymakers. We must move to public financing of our elections, and we must have a government and democracy that is not for sale! Currently we have "the best democracy that money can buy," and we must hold our leaders accountable.
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External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 21, 2026
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