Justin Paglino

Justin Paglino

Green Party

Green Party Co-Chair

Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Appointed

2025

Education

Bachelor's

Brown University, 1995

M.D.

Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2001

Ph.D

Yale University, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

Bridgeport, CT

Religion

None

Profession

Political organizer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Justin Paglino (Green Party) is a member of the Green Party Co-Chair. He assumed office on August 17, 2024. His current term ends in 2027.

Paglino (Green Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Connecticut. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Justin Paglino was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1995, an M.D. from Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in 2001, and a Ph.D. from Yale University in 2008. His career experience includes working as a political organizer.

Paglino has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• Green Party of Connecticut
• Physicians for a National Health Program
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Guilford Peace Alliance
• New Haven Climate Movement

Elections

2024

See also: United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Connecticut

Incumbent Christopher S. Murphy defeated Matthew Corey, Robert Hyde, and Justin Paglino in the general election for U.S. Senate Connecticut on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher S. Murphy (D / Working Families Party)	58.6	1,000,695
		Matthew Corey (R)	39.7	678,256
		Robert Hyde (Cheaper Gas Groceries Party)	0.9	14,879
		Justin Paglino (G)	0.8	14,422
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	7

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,708,259
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Christopher S. Murphy advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Connecticut.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Connecticut

Matthew Corey defeated Gerry Smith in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Connecticut on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Corey	54.7	19,228
		Gerry Smith	45.3	15,900

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,128
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Flynn (R)

Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Paglino in this election.

2022

See also: Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Connecticut District 3

Incumbent Rosa L. DeLauro defeated Lesley DeNardis, Amy Chai, and Justin Paglino in the general election for U.S. House Connecticut District 3 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rosa L. DeLauro (D)	56.8	137,924
		Lesley DeNardis (R)	40.7	98,704
		Amy Chai (Independent Party of Connecticut)	1.7	4,056
		Justin Paglino (G)	0.8	1,967

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 242,651
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Rosa L. DeLauro advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Connecticut District 3.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Lesley DeNardis advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Connecticut District 3.

2020

See also: Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020

Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Connecticut District 3

Incumbent Rosa L. DeLauro defeated Margaret Streicker and Justin Paglino in the general election for U.S. House Connecticut District 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rosa L. DeLauro (D / Working Families Party)	58.7	203,265
		Margaret Streicker (R / Independent Party of Connecticut)	39.8	137,596
		Justin Paglino (G)	1.5	5,240

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 346,101
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Rosa L. DeLauro advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Connecticut District 3.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Margaret Streicker advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Connecticut District 3.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Justin Paglino did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Paglino’s campaign website stated the following:

“	clean energy 4 all We all deserve clean air and water. Clean Energy sources, including wind and solar power, could be built up to satisfy the entire world’s energy supply , avoiding the many negative consequences of fossil fuels. Although the discovery of fossil fuels has given humanity the energy to make great advances, there are two very significant problems with it today: Firstly, fossil fuels are a finite resource. Conventional Crude oil extraction worldwide (crude oil from the ground) peaked in 2006, now 14 years ago. This is why today, to obtain enough fossil fuel, we have had to turn to more costly and polluting methods of extraction including deep sea drilling, tar sands extraction, and hydraulic fracturing AKA “fracking,” which involves pumping known carcinogens into the ground. The finite nature of fossil fuels creates another global problem: competition among the world’s powers for access. It’s no coincidence that so many of America’s economic “interests” and consequent military conflicts over the past 50 years have been in the region of the world richest in petroleum reserves: The Middle East. The other problem with fossil fuels of course is the pollution that they produce. Pollutants released into the air by the combustion of fossil fuels include mercury that ends up in the food supply (in fish) and Nitrogen Oxide which exacerbates lung disease when inhaled. Fossil fuel combustion is re-releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere that was captured by photosynthesis over millions of years. This means we are altering the earth’s atmosphere to increase it’s heat-trapping / greenhouse effect. We are returning our atmosphere to the way it was in a time where dinosaurs roamed the south pole. To say that this will create a challenge for humans to adapt to is a grave understatement. medicare 4 all We all deserve healthcare. For too many people, the costs of needed healthcare in our current system are unaffordable. Comprehensive health insurance ought to be a right ensured by government to all. Medicare for All (M4A) legislation would ensure that all Americans have their healthcare costs covered, free at the point of service. No premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles. Patients can choose their doctors and hospitals, which remain private. If elected, I would immediately cosponsor the “Medicare Act of 2019” (HR1384). Over ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN members of the US House of Representatives have cosponsored this M4A bill, currently including just one of Connecticuts five representatives: Jahana Hayes. FOURTEEN members of the US Senate have cosponsored Medicare for All legislation (S1129), including just one of Connecticut’s two Senators: Richard Blumenthal. Any health insurance system in which people rely on private insurance for their needed medical care will always be inadequate, because it will NEVER ensure affordability for all. The first responsibility of a private insurance company is to its share holders. The first responsibility of public health insurance is to meet the needs of the public, and it can be held accountable by the public if it is not succeeding. Medicare 4 All will be LESS EXPENSIVE than our current system according to at least TWENTY TWO different analyses. Instead of paying premiums and copays and deductibles, the lower total cost can be covered by progressive taxation, to ensure the cost is distributed fairly. https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/484301-22-studies-agree-medicare-for-all-saves-money M4A legislation as written would pay for hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription drugs, medical devices, biological products, mental health and substance abuse treatment, laboratory and diagnostic services, reproductive maternity and newborn care, pediatric care, oral health, audiology, vision services, short-term rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, emergency services and transportation, necessary transportation to receive health care services for individuals with disabilities and low-income individuals, and home-based and community-based long-term services. We ALL deserve the dignity of having these vitally needed services guaranteed to us. quality education & guidance 4 all We all deserve an equal start in life. We all deserve quality education and guidance, and we all deserve it equally. This is the land of equal opportunity, correct? Unfortunately, and unfairly, the resources available for providing education and guidance to students vary considerably. There is great spending-per-student variation within states, and between states, often due to variations in where wealth is concentrated. Variations in concentration of wealth in different areas will alway exist, but this doesn’t mean that children in poorer areas must receive poorer educations. If we truly believe that all American children are equally deserving of education, as one would expect in a land of equal opportunity, that means we should see to it that all American schools have comparable resources per student: or more specifically, the resources needed to provide comparable quality education and guidance to every student. Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma spend approximately 7K per student, whereas at the other end of the spectrum, New York spends over 20K per student. There are cost of living considerations that allow for lower or higher salaries in different regions, but after accounting for such things, our goal should be comparable educational quality in every public school. How do we gauge the quality of education that is being provided to each student? Standardized tests don’t tell the whole story, we need more sophisticated metrics, developed by experts in the field. When we identify an underperforming school, however, the response should be to help improve the school - this only stands to reason. The approach of punishing underperforming schools, as under No Child Left Behind, never made sense. That’s because it wasn’t really a policy designed to help schools, but a only a policy to justify spending less on schools. So to me, the way forward from a nationwide perspective is to use our collective resources (obtained progressive taxation) so that we can: Develop sophisticated metrics for assessing the quality of education at any and all public schools Use these metrics to identify the schools in the country that are most in need of improvement Provide help as needed, funding and guidance, to improve these schools’ performance. foreign policy 4 all We all deserve to live in peace. War is a horror that must be avoided whenever possible. Every life lost in combat is the life of an irreplaceable loved one: a parent, a sibling, a child. We must alway make war a last resort, only to be employed when absolutely necessary, either to defend our nation or to put an end to an enormous humanitarian crisis, as was the case with World War II. The war in Iraq is a good example of an unjustifiable war. In order to sell the war to the public, we were lied to and told that Iraq was harboring “Weapons of Mass Destruction,” yet no such thing was true. The Iraq War resulted in over 3,836 American casualties. Each one of them an irreplaceable loved one. One has to ask, if the war was not for self-defense, which it was not, then what was it for? It appears there are other motivations for war among some people in power other than self defense. The United States Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress. If I were a member of Congress, I would NEVER vote in favor of any war unless I were convinced it was absolutely a war of last resort, necessary either to defend our people from an already-initiated attack, or to intervene in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The question each congressperson should ask themselves before casting a vote for war is: would I be willing to sacrifice my own child for this cause? The amount of money our nation spends on defense is far far too great. Every year our budget increases. This money would be better used to support the needs of the American people, including their need for healthcare, family leave, and employment. a fair economy 4 all We all deserve a chance to make a living. We all deserve diligent public health. The Yale School of Public Health, standing tall near the corner of College and S. Frontage streets in New Haven, should be revered and appreciated by all. Be grateful when you look at that building, because it is there that faculty and students are working every day, driven by a passion for finding ways to reduce the threats to health and safety that we all face. Public health is a science - the science of how to protect the public from illness and violence. The coronavirus pandemic this year is a clear example of the tremendous importance of public health science. Public health science answers questions that we need the answers to: How fast will the virus spread if everyone wears masks? How fast will the virus spread when we shut down the state? What will happen if we reopen bars? Should we ask visitors from out of state to self-quarantine? When is it safe for our children to go back to school? The last thing any of us should be doing, especially our elected leaders in government, is making up answers to these questions. Yes we need to make decisions on public health policy, but we need them to be founded on the best public health science available. That is what I mean by diligent public health. Communicable disease is what many think of when they think of public health, but the discipline is broad and studies any threat to public health and safety. Gun Violence - what measures will most effectively reduce gun violence? Mental Health measures? Gun restrictions? Public science is our tool to find out. Environmental Health- what measures do we need to be sure that our air is safe to breath? Our water is safe to drink? Our food is safe to eat? Climate Change - what threats to public health and safety do climate change present? How will climate change affect our ability to grow crops? How will sea level rise affect our coastal cities and towns? What will the impact be of increased hurricane activity? Will we or our flora/fauna be exposed to more tropical diseases? Mental Health - how can we do a better job in our society to effectively screen for mental illness and be sure that those how need treatment for depression or bipolar disorder or drug addiction or any other mental illness get the care they need and deserve? Violence against women - what public policies will most effectively reduce the plagues of rape and domestic violence that women have to face? Racism - Racism is a public health issue because as a social disease it affects the health and safety of millions of Americans, just because of the color of their skin. Public Health Science offers the hope of better understanding how racism develops and how it can be ended, be it through better integration in schools, better education about race in schools, or better public health messaging our leaders. These are among the many issues public health science can help us overcome. Let’s be wise and let science be a beacon leading us towards a safer and more healthy society.	”
—Justin Paglino’s campaign website (2024)

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Justin Paglino completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Paglino's responses.

Expand All

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 49 year MD, PhD, political activist and musician. Formerly a life-long progressive Democrat, I joined the Green Party of Connecticut in 2020, after deciding that John Adams was correct in saying that a ‘division of the Republick into two great Parties … is to be dreaded as the greatest political Evil, under our Constitution,’ and after realizing that Ranked Choice Voting, as they use in Australia, would allow a healthier, more representative multi-party Democracy to flourish in our country as well. In 2018, I retired from a career in medical research (virology) to pursue my interest in making the world a better place as a political activist. In 2020 this led me to the decision to run for office, as a means towards this end. I teach piano and perform locally. I live in Guilford with my wife Jill and our two children who attend Guilford Public Schools. Originally from Shelton, CT, I graduated Brown and Brown School of Medicine, completed residency in Clinical Pathology at Yale New Haven Hospital, earned a PhD via the Investigative Medicine Program at Yale, and worked ten years as a research scientist, with several first author publications to my name.

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?

• Comprehensive healthcare provided free to all, via Single-Payer Insurance, is a moral imperative for the United States. It will be LESS expensive than our for-profit system, not more.
• Green Party candidates take no corporate or PAC donations. The incumbent candidate's close relationships with the for-profit Health and Defense Industries are against the public interest, in a way that is emblematic of this deep-seated problem in our government.
• Australia has had Ranked Choice Voting for over 100 years and enjoys a far greater diversity of viable political parties. Two-Party Democracy is inherently unrepresentative, and thus toxic to faith in democracy. RCV solves the vote-splitting problem that is responsible for two-party dominance.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I want to see Universal Comprehensive Free Healthcare in America in my lifetime, and that requires Single-Payer Health Insurance. Over 20 studies agree this would save us hundreds of billions of dollars every year, which, together with cutting the swelling Pentagon Budget by a few 100 billion dollars, would easily pay for my Economic Justice and Climate policies. I would like to see Economic Justice and true Equality of Opportunity in America in my lifetime, and that requires an Economic Bill of Rights: Universal Paid Family Leave, Universal free Pre-school, Universal free College or Trade-School, a Universal Basic Income, and a Federal Jobs Guarantee. I want to see America move beyond fossil fuels in my lifetime, to escape the worst consequences of Climate Change, and that will require not only a massive Green New Deal but a Carbon Fee and Dividend policy. I would like to a flourishing Democracy in America in my lifetime, and that requires two things: first that we adopt Ranked Choice Voting to enable multi-party democracy, and second that we adopt 100% public campaign finance to eliminate once and for all the corrupt influence of money in our politics. I want to see America become a force for good on the international stage in my lifetime, and that requires that we end our crippling sanctions against countries like Venezuela and Cuba only to influence their politics. I see America as it could be, and I see a much happier and healthier nation, and a better world.

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

Jill Stein is a role model to me. She's a fellow MD who decided she wanted to do more than help her patients, she wanted to help the whole Nation. And that meant taking on a lot more spotlight than she ever intended, but if you believe deeply in justice, you have to be willing to fight for it.

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

"Listen Liberal, or Whatever Happened to the Party of the People?" by Thomas Frank. Details the descent of the Democratic Party from working class champion to Instrument of the Professional Class.

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

Honesty, compassion, empathy, humility, selflessness, diligence, a sense of responsibility.

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

Honesty, humility, diligence, integrity, sense of responsibility.

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

Stay true to your values.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Universal Free Single-Payer Healthcare, end of the fossil fuel era, Ranked Choice Voting and publicly-funded multi-party democracy for America.

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

I remember Ronald Reagan winning the presidency in 1980, and I remember my parents not being happy about it!

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

I was a paper boy for about 6 years from age 8 to 14. Saved money for college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Myth of Sisyphus, by Albert Camus. Camus teaches that whatever justice there is or will ever be in this world, it is up to us to create it.

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

"Ranked Choice Voting" by Hugh Birdsall. Hugh is a local Green and a friend and a musician who is running for state assembly, and he wrote a great song about the benefits of Ranked Choice Voting.

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

Insomnia. But recently I've been improving.

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

The People's House is meant to be the most representative part of our government. Unfortunately it has lagged so far behind the population in size that instead of 60,000 citizens, a representative now 'represents' 750,000. We need to double the size of the House. And we need proportional representation, which in practice we could implement with Single Transferable Vote Ranked Choice Voting with multi-member districts.

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

It can be, yes. But the first prerequisite of a representative is that their values represent those of the constituents. And on that measure I contend that many of our current members of Congress fail.

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

The waning supply of fossil fuels on Earth, combined with our current addiction to fossil fuels in all sectors of our economy, means we will continue to experience wild price fluctuations and the profound economic consequences of these. The effects of Climate Change will create dramatic additional costs due to infrastructure destruction in flooding and hurricanes.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I would favor limits of 3 terms for a US Senator (12 years), 6 terms for a US Congress Person. We need to combine the implementation of term limits with the implementation of policies that will make it easier for more people to run: including public campaign finance and publicly hosted debates that include all candidates.

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

No, I would like to be the first Green Party member of Congress, unbeholden to the leaders of either major party.

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 will always remember a conversation I had with a man who described the difficulty of re-integrating into society after serving time for a felony. Many of these people have trouble restoring their rights. Their right to vote. Their right to work. Our prison system is full of forgotten souls who are never really given a chance at redemption even after they have served their time.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Dark humor is like food, not everybody gets it.

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

Yes, all the time. But at other times, on fundamental values, it is necessary to stand one's ground and not compromise.

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?

Revenue should be raised primarily, if not exclusively, by progressive income tax. That is what is fair. We need to tax passive income (Stock income) at the same rate as active income (salaries and wages). Close the carried interest loophole and other loopholes the wealthy use to guard their hoarded wealth.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Paglino's campaign website stated the following:

“	medicare 4all We all deserve healthcare Comprehensive Single-Payer Universal and Free Healthcare would be LESS expensive than our current system. 22 STUDIES AGREE ranked choice voting 4all We all deserve better than a two-party system The two-party system is toxic Here's how we change it. a fair economy 4all We all deserve a fair economic system A fair economic system means many things. It means that those who are willing and able to work will be able to find work with good pay. It means having the ability to organize in a union to fight concentrated power for better working conditions, pay, or benefits. It means that if the private sector is not providing an opportunity to work for those seeking employment,, the public sector will jump in to offer work, or if direly needed, direct economic assistance. It means progressive taxation to prevent the rich from getting richer and the poor from getting poorer. It means no one goes homeless or hungry, because the government will provide basic necessities of life to those in need. clean energy 4all We all deserve clean, renewable energy We are facing a number of grave consequences for not taking on the challenge of sustainability seriously. foreign policy 4all We all deserve to live in peace We have a foreign policy that prioritizes profit over peace. Our economic motives for war need a broader discussion. Wars of aggression like our invasion of Iraq in 2003 can only be understood through a lens of understanding that our 'national interests,' as seen by the foreign policy establishment, include leveraging as much control as possible over the world's natural resources on which our economy depends. If we want a world living in peace, we will need to learn to share these resources, and that requires dialogue. public health 4all We all deserve safe and healthy air, food, water, schools, homes and workplaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed several weaknesses in our ability to respond smartly and effectively to public health threats in a way that unites the public together in fighting a common enemy. liberty & justice 4all We all deserve liberty and justice We all have important freedoms and rights that are made law by our constitution, US Code, and judicial case law. Many of these we have had to fight for, and many are not yet well protected or guaranteed. The fight for Liberty and Justice never ends. equal education 4all We all deserve an equal education If we believe in Equality of Opportunity, we have to guarantee Equality of Education.	”
—Justin Paglino's campaign website (2022)

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Justin Paglino completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Paglino's responses.

Expand All

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm an MD/PhD medical virologist running for US Congress because I want to see Medicare for All single payer healthcare in America. I am a member of the Green Party because after 30 years of supporting them, I have given up on the Democratic Party : they don't represent the interests of the disadvantaged or working class anymore - they have been compromised and corrupted. They make Goldman Sachs executives their Secretaries of the Treasury. They advocate for free trade policies such as NAFTA that export jobs. They defend and deregulate and bail out Wall Street companies but not American families. They talk about Peace but only expand our military misadventures more widely. We need more than just two parties, because people who oppose these policies are not represented. In America, the spoiler effect has kept any third party from succeeding. What many don't know is that there is an easy solution: Ranked Choice Voting. With Ranked Choice voting you rank your choices on the ballot, and if your first choice candidate comes in last, your vote switches to your second choice. This eliminates the spoiler effect: no more 'throwing away your vote' or 'tipping the election.' This much-needed reform to end two party dominance will never come from either of the two dominant parties. If you want something, you have to vote for it.

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?

• Unlike my opponents, I will support Medicare for All single payer healthcare. Everyone deserves healthcare. Less Expensive. Fund with progressive income tax.
• Unlike my opponents, I support a Green New Deal that includes a price on carbon pollution and a Federal Jobs Guarantee.
• Unlike my opponents, I support Ranked Choice Voting, which eliminates the spoiler effect. This allows us to have more than just two parties. We need more than just two parties.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about Medicare for All. We are the only industrial nation on earth not to guarantee Healthcare to all its citizens. Medicare for All is *less* expensive than our current system according to the analyses that have been done. This and other programs for the public welfare should be funded by progressive income tax. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, unless you do something about it. And we are not doing enough. We need a Federal Jobs Guarantee - Americans who need jobs can be put to work directly by the Federal Government building green infrastructure like solar farms and wind farms. We need to ban fracking - it is only feeding our deadly addiction to fossil fuels - the Climate Crisis is real and we can't afford to continue to ignore it and pretend it is not a serious threat. Pre-K and College should be publicly provided. US foreign policy should be driven by our interest in peace, not by the economic interests of a select few: otherwise we are destabilizing the world to help a few elites profit. We should cut the Pentagon budget by up to 50% to make these funds available for other priorities. Ranked Choice voting is an essential reform that we need to end two party dominance and end the spoiler effect. We need diligent science-based public health: vital to the health and well-being of our citizens. I believe all Americans deserve the same same things from their government.

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

I can find qualities to admire in most of the people I meet every day. Most people I know are doing a pretty good job doing the best they can do, and that's not easy. Many have struggles to overcome that require their full effort, and these are heroes just as much as any other. Those who have overcome their own struggles and then choose to assist others are inspiring. We should all aspire to do this. There are many examples of individuals that inspire me. Ghandi overcame British colonial rule without violence - just via moral strength. I admire the principle of non violence. Our country has been almost continually engaged in violence, and we need to stop. I admire Bernie Sanders for standing up for non violence and for justice - economic, environmental, and social. He inspired others by standing for clear moral principles and not being deterred. It's unfortunate he didn't understand the urgent importance of escaping the two party system and how we can do that with Ranked Choice Voting. No person is perfect - which is why you should never idolize or idealize any one person - just look for the positive qualities you wish to emulate.

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

I would ask people to read "Listen Liberal" by Thomas Frank. For my whole life I've been a Democrat, hoping to reform the Democratic Party from within so that it would cater less to monied interests and more to the average working person. When I read this book, and when I saw the way Bernie Sanders was treated by the DNC, I came to understand that the party leadership takes an active role in preventing such reform from happening. Reforming from within is worth a try, but it is against a strong headwind from the party leadership. At the same time, I learned about Ranked Choice Voting, a simple electoral reform they have in Maine that allows the voter to rank their choices on the ballot, eliminating the spoiler effect and opening Democracy to more than just two parties. I believe the two party system is toxic. It leads us to vote mainly against the other side, instead of *for* the candidate we like best. This is a low bar that results in increasingly poor candidates over time. It discourages cooperation and encourages divisiveness. The two party system must be replaced with a Ranked Choice Voting system. The two party system is killing our Democracy, Ranked Choice Voting is the cure.

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

I am a compulsively honest person, for one thing. I have a strong sense of fairness, justice and a belief that government has a vital duty to see to it that justice is done. I strongly value non-violence, an important value for members of Congress which alone has the authority to declare war under the Constitution. My medical training impressed on me the value of thinking ahead when it comes to health : both preventative medicine and living wills have tremendous value in people's well being, and are also cost-saving measures. My scientific training helps me to evaluate the strength of evidence behind different problems and different solutions. For example, I have read enough literature on climate change to have a strong appreciation of the strength of the evidence. Science also helps to identify the best solutions to our problems. This applies to almost any field: there is science in public health, for example, that would be extremely valuable in crafting effective public policy. My advantage in talking to scientific experts about issues as a member of Congress would be in that I speak their language and understand their methods, helping me better understand the import of their counsel.

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

The theme song for Lemony Snicket ("look away, look away") . My 10 year old daughter and I were watching the Netflix series together. It's campy and well done. I've always been a music lover, and I play piano at home and in a few bands, including rock and jazz. I never stop looking for new music to listen to, and I occasionally write my own songs as well.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Redistricting must be done in a non-partisan fashion. Currently in many states we have a system where the winners write the rules. After each census the majority party controls redistricting, which of course favors their own party. Thus we end up with absurdly shaped districts that transform every 10 years based on political models. A uniform algorithm-based non-partisan system that endeavors to establish similar demographics for age and income for each district would be better.

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

The US faces the challenge of weaning itself from fossil fuels. Even oil man George W. Bush recognized this is a problem when he conceded that we are 'addicted to fossil fuels.' The problems with this addiction are many. Firstly they are a finite resource - a simple fact that means they will not last forever and we need to be prepared for their inevitable disappearance. Secondly, our addiction to fossil fuels drives our foreign policy in ways that is harmful for world peace. Thirdly, fossil fuel combustion releases pollutants including asthma-worsening particulates and Greenhouse Gases. Climate Change is a one-way problem: once you have overstepped there is no pulling back. The prudent thing to do is to reduce our emissions as quickly as possible. A Green New Deal is needed to provide jobs greening our infrastructure and our economy. This will also help with our other most pressing challenge: wealth inequality and the gradual disappearance of equality of opportunity as a result.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I favor term limits. Perhaps 4 terms for a representative and 2 terms for a senator, maximum. The longer a person is in office, the more 'institutionalized' they become: dependent on a certain way of operating that they know will keep them in office. In this way the interests of the representative and the constituent can diverge. Campaigns are expensive and finding donors is difficult. Once a dependable list of donors has been established, there is an incentive not to disappoint them. In this way policy often ends up being in line with what donors favor, rather than what voters favor. Term limits and Public Campaign Financing are two reforms I support to address this problem and strengthen our democracy.

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Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Justin Paglino campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	U.S. Senate Connecticut	Lost general	$17,850	$17,300
2022	U.S. House Connecticut District 3	Lost general	$16,600	$16,407
2020	U.S. House Connecticut District 3	Lost general	$29,200	$28,670
Grand total			$63,649	$62,377
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

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Connecticut's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Richard Blumenthal (D)

Christopher Murphy (D)

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District 1

John Larson (D)

District 2

Joe Courtney (D)

District 3

Rosa DeLauro (D)

District 4

Jim Himes (D)

District 5

Jahana Hayes (D)

Democratic Party (7)

Capital: Hartford

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