John Paul Torres

Education

Ending the Student Debt Trap: Education should be a ladder to the middle class, not a lifelong financial sentence. We must cancel predatory student loan debt and move toward making public colleges and trade schools tuition-free. No one should be penalized for wanting to learn and contribute to our economy. Learn more

I’ve spent the last decade on the Waterford School Board fighting to ensure every child has what they need to succeed, and that starts with treating the "whole child". It’s not enough to just fund math and science; we must invest in programs like free breakfast and lunch, expanded affordable childcare, and mental health support that uplifts entire communities. As a former college educator, I also know that education is the great equalizer, which is why I’ll fight to protect and expand low-interest student loans and debt forgiveness programs while ensuring we invest equally in both skilled trades and college pathways. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Championing the Green New Deal: The climate crisis is the greatest existential threat of our time, but it is also our greatest economic opportunity. We must aggressively back the Green New Deal to transition our country to 100% clean, renewable energy. This isn't just a climate plan; it’s a massive infrastructure and jobs initiative. By investing in green technology, we can create millions of high-paying, union jobs right here at home and rebuild our middle class while saving our environment. Learn more

Eradicating PFAS and Corporate Pollutants: No parent should have to worry that the water coming out of their kitchen sink is going to poison their child. Corporate polluters have been recklessly dumping PFAS forever chemicals into our waterways for decades. We must enact zero-tolerance, federal bans on these toxic chemicals, force the corporations responsible to pay for the massive cleanup, and upgrade our public water infrastructure so every community has access to safe, clean drinking water. Learn more

We must approach with specific rules of engagement. No data center should go into a community that doesn’t want it there. They must not drain, nor drive up the cost of electricity in the community, must secure cooling systems for computers that do not drain the resources of our fresh water, and centers should be built by union employees. I would also advocate that data centers be union shops, and pledge to not use AI to replace any union jobs. Learn more

Foreign Policy

The U.S. Government is pursuing foreign policy that prioritizes business interests over human rights and democratic movements. I firmly stand against the war in Iran, and the genocide against the Palestinian people. I believe we must move away from a legacy of interventionism and foreign wars that drain our resources and protect business interests abroad. We should stay away from bombing innocent people and instead focus on being a partner for global stability through beneficial, fair trade. Learn more

Government Reform

Unrigging the System: Getting Money Out of Politics. Democracy is threatened when the loudest voices are the ones with the largest checks. To speak truth to power, we have to weaken the power of the pocketbook.Overturning Citizens United: Push for a constitutional amendment to end the era of "dark money." Our democracy should be a competition of ideas, not a competition of bank accounts. Banning Corporate PACs: Support candidates who refuse to take money from corporate PACs and wealthy donors. When a representative is funded by the people, they are accountable only to the people. Learn more

Redistricting Commissions: End partisan gerrymandering by taking the power to draw district lines away from politicians and giving it to independent, non-partisan commissions. Voters should choose their politicians; politicians should not choose their voters. We have successfully implemented this in Michigan. Learn more

Healthcare

I believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. Everyday Americans are being crushed by rising medical premiums and corporate price gouging. I am committed to achieving Medicare for All. I will fight to expand the Affordable Care Act immediately to lower costs today, while building the long term path towards Medicare For All. Learn more

Strengthening Medicare & Lowering Drug Prices: Healthcare is a human right, especially as we age. John Paul supports expanding Medicare to finally include comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing coverage. He will also stand up to Big Pharma to aggressively expand Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices and cap out-of-pocket costs so seniors aren't price-gouged on the medicine they need to survive. Learn more

Our healthcare system must prioritize patient safety over administrative profit. I will co-sponsor federal legislation to mandate safe nurse to patient ratios and protect our public care systems, including the VA, Medicaid, and Social Security, from any attempts at privatization. We need a representative who sees healthcare as one of the most urgent issues facing our families, who is willing to take on the pharmaceutical and insurance lobbies. Learn more

Housing

Tackling the Housing Crisis & Corporate Landlords: You shouldn't have to outbid a Wall Street hedge fund to rent an apartment or buy your first home. Private equity firms are buying up entire neighborhoods, driving up costs, and pricing a whole generation out of the market. We must ban corporate conglomerates from hoarding single-family homes and implement robust federal tenant protections so your paycheck doesn't just go straight into a billionaire’s pocket. Learn more

Immigration

We need comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship for millions of hardworking undocumented immigrants that are the embodiment of the American Dream. John Paul would support the DREAM Act, which he worked on as a congressional fellow many years ago. It would provide a pathway for the DACA kids, then he would push for citizenship for their parents. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Protecting and Expanding Social Security: Social Security is a lifeline, not a piggy bank for Wall Street. John Paul will fight against any attempts to cut benefits, privatize the system, or raise the retirement age. He supports strengthening the program by making sure the ultra-wealthy finally pay their fair share into the system, ensuring Social Security is fully funded for generations to come. Learn more

Create a stronger economy: Our current system benefits the top 1%, fueled by trillion-dollar tax cuts that leave working families behind. I am fighting to reverse the Trump-era tax breaks for billionaires and corporations and the top 1%. We could use those tax cuts to invest in our communities, children, infrastructure and the middle class.Our country best thrives when we put money in the hands of workers who will spend it in our communities. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Universal Childcare and Paid Family Leave: No mother (parent) should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn or a sick family member. The lack of paid leave and affordable childcare is quietly pushing millions of women out of the workforce. We must establish comprehensive, federally guaranteed paid family and medical leave, and invest heavily in universal childcare so working families can actually get ahead. Learn more