Jeromie Whalen
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Jeromie Whalen (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Whalen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jeromie Whalen was born in Nashua, New Hampshire. He graduated from Belchertown High School. He earned a bachelor's and a graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2011 and 2018, respectively, and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2024. His career experience includes working as a teacher and in nonprofit community media.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Endorsements
Whalen received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Whalen's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jeromie Whalen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Whalen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Jeromie Whalen is a lifelong Western Massachusetts resident shaped by the values of hard work, respect, and community. Raised in Belchertown and now living in South Hadley with his wife, he has spent more than a decade as a high school teacher, mentor, and community builder. He earned three degrees from UMass Amherst and built his career around helping young people grow, solving real problems, and lifting others up.
He is running for Congress because he believes this district deserves a representative rooted in the community, not in special interests. His vision focuses on fairness, integrity, and bringing hope and energy back into public service. Jeromie sees this campaign as a movement built by and for the people of Western and Central Massachusetts, and he is committed to showing up, listening, and fighting for a better future for everyone.
- Lower taxes and raise them on billionaires. Raise the tax threshold for working and middle class: Create a Cost of Living Exemption so that federal taxes do not apply to income up to a realistic cost of living for a single adult, set around $45,000 per year. Surcharge on the ultra wealthy: Add a 3 percent surtax on income over $1 million, and an 8 percent surtax on income over $15 million. Close the stepped up basis loophole: End the “buy, borrow, die” system that lets the ultra wealthy avoid taxes while their assets grow.
- Make healthcare work. Implement Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare for every American through a single payer system with full coverage. Expand access to mental health services and preventative care to stop problems early, and cap prescription drug prices so essential medications like insulin stay affordable. Strengthen support for nurses and frontline healthcare staff by raising pay, improving staffing ratios, and ensuring safe working conditions. Finally, bolster EMS services by addressing staff shortages, rising call volumes, and the financial strain facing first responders across Western Massachusetts.
- Empower public education. Raise teacher pay to attract and retain strong educators, and restore the Department of Education so it can set national standards, protect student rights, and promote equity. Guarantee universal, high quality Pre K so every child gets an equal start and working families have reliable early education options. Fully fund public schools instead of diverting money to private institutions, including proper support for special education. Make community college and vocational training tuition free so every American can access higher education, job training, and real paths to economic mobility.
Education, economy, healthcare, technology.
I look up to my campaign team and volunteers, and to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. The amount of work and selflessness they show, and the belief they have in me, is something I am forever grateful for.
Integrity, accessibility, responsiveness, determination, action, leadership, advocacy, charitableness, relatability.
Listening to constituents, meeting them in the community where they are, understanding their questions and concerns, and advocating for the specific needs of the communities you represent.
No matter what, I gave it my absolute all, and my intentions were always good.
Maybe not the very first, but I remember 9/11 clearly. I was in Spanish class when the teacher got the news and became frantic, speaking so fast in Spanish none of us could follow. In her panic, she drew two rectangles on the board, then erased them, then turned on the television. That was when we saw everything unfolding. The world changed from that moment on.
Stocking beer at a local package store. I used to break apart 30 packs and turn them into six packs, and I got pretty damn fast at it. Fun fact, I learned how to whistle while working in the back refrigerator stocking Natty Light. Had it for two years.
Anything by Steinbeck. The simplicity and the depth of his writing get me every time.
Probably Gandalf. First, he has been around for literal ages. Second, he fought and beat a Balrog. Third, he played a crucial role in the survival of Middle Earth. And finally, he got to spend eternity in the Grey Havens. He also routinely sacrificed himself for the greater good.
Saying no. I’m a yes person, and that can stretch you thin if you do not surround yourself with people you can rely on to share responsibilities and help guide the vision.
I see the House of Representatives as the branch that best reflects democratic principles. Its representation by population, combined with the number of people a member interacts with, makes it more closely aligned with genuine, responsive representation than the Senate. This gives you the ability to truly embrace the individuality of your district and the people who live in it.
Absolutely not. At this point it’s more of a liability than a benefit. Congress and the Democratic Party are at historic lows in approval, and a major reason is the corporatism tied to long term politicians and their relationships with wealthy donors. We need real people who understand our communities, who can reflect actual needs, and who bring grounded perspective to the work.
Affordability, addressing healthcare inequities, and overcoming political divides.
I support term limits because they help keep our government accountable and connected to the people it serves. When officials stay in office for too long, they can become disconnected from everyday realities and too tied to special interests. They also reduce the power of career politicians and keep public service focused on service, not self preservation.
There was a long-time representative in Western MA named Silvio Conte, who was beloved for his visibility and accessibility. He was succeeded by John Olver, who continued that tradition of connecting with every part of the district. I have tremendous respect for leaders who show up, stay engaged, and are truly embedded in the community.
I was recently at a healthcare summit and listened as a woman, in tears, described how a certified nursing assistant she worked with, here on a valid visa, suddenly disappeared after being taken by ICE. He had proper documentation, yet he was gone without warning, leaving behind patients who relied on him and coworkers who cared about him. She went on to explain that Massachusetts already faces a shortage of CNAs, and losing him was not only morally wrong but carried economic consequences for their facility and the people they serve. The current immigration crackdown is both fiscally irresponsible and inhumane.
Compromise is always needed in policymaking.
The House needs to step up its game and raise more hell when a president thinks he is above what the legislature appropriates.
Objectively, but frequently when faced with issues.
Track AIPAC, Progressive Democrats of America
There are some truly beautiful people out there, let me tell you. There is a woman who occasionally sends me photos of the sunrise or sunset, no context, just something beautiful she wanted to share. There is also a man who sends me short poems every week. Both are essentially strangers, yet their small gestures remind me how interconnected we all are, and how we can appreciate one another in simple, quiet, and profound ways.
Winning an Emmy. It was a Boston/New England Regional Emmy, and I earned it with a crew of students and volunteers, using equipment borrowed from a community media center and working with a zero dollar budget. We were up against massive, multi million dollar media companies, and we won. It shows how far you can go when you know what you are doing and the people around you believe in you.
The government needs to regulate artificial intelligence and become far more informed about how technology actually works. Right now we have an aging group of legislators who are out of touch with modern tech, yet they are the ones responsible for protecting our privacy and security. Half of Congress can barely remember their passwords, yet they are expected to make decisions that shape the digital future.
Currently, Jim McGovern (MA-02) is pushing for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and get corporate money out of politics. That is a great start.
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Campaign finance summary
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See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 17, 2025
