James Pericola
Pericola describes more than 30 years in public service, law, government and legislative advocacy: he started as a staff assistant to U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, was a Presidential appointee in the Clinton administration (Special Assistant to the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, where he worked with Congress and federal agencies on transportation safety and coordinated responses to major aviation incidents), worked as congressional staff and as an attorney, and in 2009 founded Seward Square Group, a government relations and consulting firm. His LinkedIn profile lists a J.D. from The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law (2001-2005). Florida Politics describes him as a Central Florida native from Orlando. He launched his campaign in June 2026 with events in Sumter County, reported raising more than $100,000 in his first three weeks, and won the Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary with about 46.4% of the vote over Royal Webster and Dan Williams. A pre-primary poll commissioned for the race showed him leading the Democratic field and in a potential dead heat with Joe Strada.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Democratic primary with 46.4% (99% of precincts reporting) over Royal Webster and Dan Williams (Spectrum News 13; The Apopka Chief)
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans agree· stated position
Pericola says he will work to eliminate federal income taxes for people earning less than $100,000 a year and cut taxes for middle-class families. He pairs this with calls to restore Medicaid funding and protect Social Security and Medicare, so he does not frame tax cuts as coming at the expense of services.
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
His platform calls for securing federal funding to combat the housing crisis.
"The cost of groceries, gas, housing, healthcare, and insurance has stretched working families and seniors too thin."
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
Pericola lists making health care more affordable among the three most pressing issues for the district. He says he will work to restore Medicaid funding, protect the Affordable Care Act, and lower the cost of prescription drugs and medical care.
"My mother is navigating our broken healthcare system right now, and I have seen firsthand how confusing, expensive, and exhausting it is."
Social Security & Medicare Strongly agrees· stated position
He names protecting Social Security and Medicare as the district's top issue, opposes any cuts to or privatization of either program, and wants to let Medicare negotiate lower prescription-drug prices. He has not specified in sources found how he would finance the programs.
Environment & water Strongly agrees· stated position
In ClickOrlando's questionnaire he named 'protecting our water while building resilience against extreme weather and climate' as Florida's main environmental challenge and supports federal investment in water quality and Everglades restoration.
"protecting our water while building resilience against extreme weather and climate"
Elections & voting Strongly agrees· stated position
He says he will fight to end gerrymandering and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore federal preclearance of voting-law changes.
"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."
Tariffs & trade Leans disagree· stated position
Pericola opposes broad tariffs, which he describes as functioning as a tax on many of the goods people buy every day. No statement on targeted or sector-specific tariffs was found.
Trump administration Strongly disagrees· stated position
Pericola's platform says he will 'defend democracy from MAGA attacks,' and he calls for restoring Medicaid funding reduced by the 2025 federal reconciliation law. He is running to flip the seat from Republican control while saying Democrats must 'give people something to vote for, not just someone to vote against.'
"defend democracy from MAGA attacks"
No public position found on 9 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Immigration, Abortion, Guns, Education & school choice, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Ukraine, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Veterans: No position on expanding VA services found as of Sept 2026. Pericola says his office will help constituents navigate Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits and other federal agencies, which is a constituent-service pledge rather than a policy position.
Positions on issues outside this office's scope (1)
Property insurance Leans agree· stated position
Pericola says he would secure federal funding to help lower property-insurance costs. He has not addressed state-level tools such as rate caps, Citizens expansion or insurer regulation in sources found, so this is coded as leaning toward more government involvement.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Affordability for working and middle-class families — He lists reducing the financial pressure on working and middle-class families as one of the district's three most pressing issues.
- Lower prescription drug costs — He says he will work to lower the cost of prescription drugs and medical care.
- Restore Medicaid funding — He calls for restoring Medicaid funding reduced by recent federal legislation.
- Transportation safety background — He cites his NTSB and White House experience coordinating responses to aviation incidents as preparation for federal office.
- Eliminate federal income tax under $100,000 — He proposes eliminating federal income taxes for people earning less than $100,000 a year and cutting taxes for middle-class families.
- Let Medicare negotiate drug prices — He wants Medicare to negotiate lower prescription-drug costs for seniors and opposes privatization of Social Security and Medicare.
- End gerrymandering / John Lewis Voting Rights Act — He says he will fight to end gerrymandering and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
- Constituent services — He pledges an accessible, responsive district office to help constituents with Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits and other federal agencies.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Won the Democratic primary with 46.4% of the vote on Aug. 18, 2026.
- A poll released in August 2026 showed him leading the Democratic primary field and in a potential dead heat with Joe Strada in a general-election matchup.
- Served as Special Assistant to the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board during the Clinton administration (campaign biography).
- Reported raising more than $100,000 in his first three weeks as a candidate (June-July 2026).
- Founded Seward Square Group, a Washington-based government relations and consulting firm, in 2009; earlier served as a staff assistant to U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
- Participated in the Spectrum News 13 / AARP community conversation for District 11 candidates (July 2026), the ClickOrlando/News 6 Vox Populi questionnaire, the Apopka Chief Q&A and the West Orange Times & Observer candidate questionnaire; outlined his platform at The Villages Democratic Club meet-and-greet on Aug. 8, 2026.Sources: Community conversation with congressional candidates from D… (2026-07-27) · 2026 Voter's Guide - US House District 11, Democratic prima… (2026-07-31) · Q&A: Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 11 discu… (2026-08) · Meet 11th Congressional District Democratic candidate James… (2026-08-05) · Leading Democratic candidate for governor rallies voters in… (2026-08-08)
- Told The Apopka Chief he worked for U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and in the Clinton administration and that 'too little substantive legislation was passed' under retiring Rep. Daniel Webster.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Jaime Harrison, former Democratic National Committee chair
- Barbie Harden Hall, 2024 Democratic nominee for FL-11