Candidate Profile: James Pericola

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If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

Affordability.Affordability is the number one issue facing families in Florida’s 11th District. The cost of groceries, gas, housing, healthcare, and insurance has stretched working families and seniors too thin. Trump promised to lower costs “on day one,” but all families have seen are higher costs, more uncertainty, and more tax breaks for those already at the top.In Congress, I will fight to lower housing and insurance costs by securing federal funding to expand affordable housing and reduce pressure on Florida’s property insurance market. I will work to cut taxes for working and middle-class families, including eliminating federal income taxes for people making under $100,000 a year. I will also take on price gouging, hold corporations accountable when they raise prices to pad profits, and oppose giveaways to billionaires and corporations.

HealthcareHealthcare is personal to me. My mother is navigating our broken healthcare system right now, and I have seen firsthand how confusing, expensive, and exhausting it is for families trying to get care. No one should have to fight through red tape, delay treatment, or risk financial ruin because they got sick or because someone they love needs help.In Congress, I will fight to lower healthcare costs, protect Medicare and Social Security, restore Medicaid funding, and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. I will support expanding premium tax credits, allowing Medicare to negotiate more prescription drug prices, cracking down on price gouging, and protecting long-term care for seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Florida families deserve healthcare that is affordable, reliable, and centered on patients, not politics or corporate profits.

Protecting our Democracy We are losing sight of who we are as a country. My wife is an immigrant, and our family’s story is rooted in the promise of America: freedom, opportunity, equal protection, and the right to have a voice in our democracy.In Congress, I will fight to protect voting rights, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, end partisan gerrymandering, and defend free and fair elections. I will also stand up for constitutional rights, including due process, equal protection, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy.Democracy is whether every citizen can cast a ballot, every person is treated fairly under the law, and government remains accountable to the people. These freedoms should not depend on your zip code, income, background, or political party.

‍Why do you deserve to elected in this race?

I have the experience to be effective for Florida’s 11th District on day one. I have spent more than 30 years in public service, law, and advocacy, including serving as a Presidential appointee, congressional staff, attorney, and senior government affairs executive. I understand how Washington works, and I know how to navigate the system to deliver results for the people I represent. This race is not about gimmicks or empty talking points. It is about lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, strengthening access to healthcare, and standing up for working families, seniors, veterans, and communities across this district. Voters deserve a representative who is serious, prepared, and focused on solving problems. That is the leadership I will bring to Congress.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

Floridians are being squeezed from every direction, and people are tired of hearing politicians talk about affordability without doing anything that actually lowers costs. Families need relief they can feel in their monthly budget, not more excuses from Washington.My approach is to attack the cost-of-living crisis from multiple angles. I will push for federal housing investments that help increase supply and support storm hardening and mitigation efforts that can help bring down insurance pressure over time. I will support tax relief for working people and middle-class families, including eliminating federal income taxes for individuals making under $100,000 a year.I will also fight to lower everyday costs by cracking down on price gouging, increasing competition, and holding corporations accountable when they raise prices while posting record profits. Florida families should not have to choose between paying rent, buying groceries, filling a prescription, or keeping their insurance. Government should be focused on lowering costs and helping people keep more of what they earn.

Will you vote Yes or No on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?

No. I do not support a constitutional amendment that slashes local revenue without a responsible plan to replace it. If it passes, local governments will be forced to make difficult choices, and my priority would be protecting essential services like public safety, emergency response, roads, infrastructure, libraries, parks, and services for seniors and families.I would not support replacing lost revenue primarily through higher fees or service cuts that shift the burden onto working families, renters, seniors, and people on fixed incomes. Instead, I would push for a full audit of local spending, stronger budget transparency, pursuit of state and federal replacement funding, and fair revenue options that do not gut essential services or make everyday life more expensive. Tax relief should lower costs for families, not create new costs somewhere else or weaken the services communities depend on.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?

Floridians should not be stuck paying higher electric bills because massive data centers and large corporations are putting new pressure on the grid. If a company creates major new energy demand, that company should help pay for the infrastructure needed to support it. Families and small businesses should not be left holding the bill.Florida’s utility regulators need to press utilities harder before approving rate hikes. That means demanding clear proof of need, forcing more transparency, rejecting excessive profit margins, and making sure costs are assigned fairly. A reliable grid matters, but affordability has to matter too.Congress does not set your electric bill, but I would still use every federal tool available to lower long-term energy costs, including strengthening oversight, expanding energy assistance for low-income families and seniors, funding grid modernization, and addressing federal policies that drive up costs.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?

The biggest environmental issue Florida must address is protecting our water while building resilience against extreme weather and climate change. I have spent many years working on climate legislation, so I understand that these challenges require serious policy, long-term planning, and practical solutions.In Congress, I will support federal investments in water quality, Everglades restoration, stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation, and disaster resilience. I will work to hold polluters accountable, reduce harmful runoff, and help communities modernize infrastructure so they are better prepared for stronger storms, flooding, extreme heat, and long-term climate risks.

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