Joseph Perez (Maryland)

Joseph Perez (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Maryland. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 14, 2024.

Biography

Joseph Perez was born in Manila, Philippines. He earned a bachelor's degree from The Catholic University of America in 1999 and a graduate degree from Marymount University in 2009. His career experience includes working in consulting.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Maryland

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Maryland on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Angela Alsobrooks (D)	54.6	1,650,912
		Larry Hogan (R)	42.8	1,294,344
		Mike Scott (L)	2.3	69,396
	Submit photo	Patrick Burke (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	879
		Billy Bridges (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	70
	Submit photo	Robin Rowe (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	17
	Submit photo	Christy Helmondollar (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	3
	Submit photo	Irwin Gibbs (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	2
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	5,755

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,021,378
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Moshe Landman (G)
Nancy Wallace (G)
Shaunesi Deberry (Unaffiliated)
Keith Packer (No Party Affiliation)
Emmanuel Osuchukwu (Unaffiliated)
Michael Sigmon (Progressive Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland on May 14, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Angela Alsobrooks	53.4	357,052
	David Trone	42.8	286,381
	Joseph Perez	0.7	4,688
	Michael Cobb Sr.	0.7	4,524
	Brian Frydenborg	0.5	3,635
	Scottie Griffin	0.5	3,579
	Marcellus Crews	0.5	3,379
	Andrew Wildman	0.3	2,198
	Robert Houton	0.3	1,946
	Steven Seuferer	0.2	1,664

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 669,046
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Juan Dominguez (D)
William Jawando (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland on May 14, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Larry Hogan	64.2	183,661
	Robin Ficker	27.8	79,517
	Chris Chaffee	3.2	9,134
	Lorie Friend	2.1	5,867
	John Myrick	1.7	4,987
	Moe Barakat	0.8	2,203
	Laban Seyoum	0.3	782

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 286,151
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Perez in this election.

2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Maryland

Incumbent Chris Van Hollen defeated Chris Chaffee, Scottie Griffin, and Andrew Wildman in the general election for U.S. Senate Maryland on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Chris Van Hollen (D)	65.8	1,316,897
	Chris Chaffee (R)	34.1	682,293
	Scottie Griffin (D) (Write-in)	0.0	334
	Andrew Wildman (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	89
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,723

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,002,336
= 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

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

Incumbent Chris Van Hollen defeated Michelle Smith in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland on July 19, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Chris Van Hollen	80.8	535,014
	Michelle Smith	19.2	127,089

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 662,103
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Jaden Thomas Farris (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland on July 19, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Chris Chaffee	20.8	50,514
	Lorie Friend	14.7	35,714
	John Thormann	13.7	33,290
	Joseph Perez	10.8	26,359
	George Davis	8.7	21,095
	James Tarantin	8.4	20,514
	Reba Hawkins	7.4	18,057
	Jon McGreevey	5.8	14,128
	Todd Puglisi	5.6	13,550
	Nnabu Eze	4.1	9,917

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 243,138
= 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.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Joseph Perez did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joseph Perez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Perez's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Joe Perez. I have lived in PG County since 2013. I was born in the Philippines and took my oath of allegiance to the United States in the 1990s.

I made two attempts for a health care career. I studied nursing and respiratory therapy. After doing the clinical courses, I realized that health care is not for me. I admire people in health care!

Early in my career I was an editor helping to create training materials for a non-profit then known as APICS. Key principles I learned in this job from reading about them daily are continuous improvement, quality management, lean principles, and root cause analysis. These helped me throughout my career as a consultant.

In my free time, I read non-fiction books, play guitar, have world-transforming conversations with my friends, and spend time with my golden retriever puppy. One of my favorite things to do is to read at mass. I also help out with prayer ministry at a church in D.C. I volunteer occasionally when the need arises. I used to play guitar and sing for a local nursing home. I got canceled a few times because of Bingo (nobody can compete with Bingo). And then the pandemic happened.

I felt a call to get directly involved in the political discourse, so here I am. For many years, we have Government by the Government for the Government. Nobody wants that anymore. I intend to be a Senator who ensures our Government by the People is working for the People.

I am Joe Perez. I have lived in PG County since 2013. I was born in the Philippines and took my oath of allegiance to the United States in the 1990s.
Early in my career I was an editor helping to create training materials for a non-profit then known as APICS. Key principles I learned in this job from reading about them daily are continuous improvement, quality management, lean principles, and root cause analysis. These helped me throughout my career as a consultant.

In my free time, I read non-fiction books, play guitar, have world-transforming conversations with my friends, and spend time with my golden retriever puppy. One of my favorite things to do is to read at mass. I also help out with prayer ministry at a church in D.C. I volunteer occasionally when the need arises. I used to play guitar and sing for a local nursing home. I got canceled a few times because of Bingo (nobody can compete with Bingo). And then the pandemic happened.

I felt a call to get directly involved in the political discourse, so here I am. For many years, we have Government by the Government for the Government. Nobody wants that anymore. I intend to be a Senator who ensures our Government by the People is working for the People.

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?

We need responsible Government spending and debt accrual, and stop doing the things that led to the current inflation and upcoming recession.
We need healthy and robust police force in our all communities.
Nobody is above the law. There should be real consequences Government officials who violate our freedoms and the Constitution.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Health care, criminal justice, technology and 1st amendment rights.

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

One person I admire is Yasuhiro Yamashita, a Japanese judo legend. I met him! He told me my technique was "very good." But then again he also said that others around me. He is undefeated in international competition. He worked diligently on his craft to be the best. I would like to emulate his determination and fighting spirit.

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

Plato's Republic.

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

Character is important. Honesty, integrity, good will towards others, and intelligence are necessary for an elected official.

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

I am intelligent and educated. I have integrity and good will towards others. And I am truthful.

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

Core responsibilities include upholding the law and preserving justice. Also in our system of government in the United Staes, it is important to be a voice for the people rather promoting one's own agenda.

What legacy would you like to leave?

It is not my goal for my name to be remembered in history. However, I would like people to be able to say, this man did a lot of good for our country.

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

The People Power Revolution in the Philippines was the first historical event I remember. I had no idea the president then was a dictator. I remember seeing images of tanks surrounded by unarmed people. I did not understand what was happening, but I'm glad that it did not end in a massacre. Interestingly, his son is now President of the Philippines.

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

My first job was working as a busboy/dishwasher at IHOP one summer. The first day was rough and it felt like a week. The man who was working alone in the position for several months took his lunch break at noon, and left me to bus tables and wash dishes by myself. Things were great until we ran out of clean utensils.

What is your favorite book? Why?

There are so many. I really enjoyed reading Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, because it is a great story and gives penetrating insight into human nature.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Samwise Gamjee, known as Sam to his friends, in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. He was the most loyal friend of the hero Frodo. He shared in the adventures of the hero and helped him to accomplish his mission.

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

Nice try. Not gonna let it get stuck again.

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

Public speaking. I used to get very nervous and anxious when I was younger, so I forced myself to talk more in front of more than a few people. I used to read at mass for a small monastery. Proclaiming the word of God in front of seven religious sisters helped me to overcome my fears.

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

The national debt is too high, and will cause difficulties for the American people for more than a decade. Why would anyone who as been in Congress for more than 18 years allow the national debt to grow over $30 Trillion? It is unconscionable that our representatives willed for this to happened.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Power corrupts. I signed a pledge that I will support term limits.

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

The Senate gets to vet, deliberate, and confirm presidential appointees and nominees. Approving the wrong person can have catastrophic consequences.

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

Yes, of course experience is definitely beneficial, but it is not necessary. For example, experience means nothing when someone may have been in Congress for 19 years, but contributed nothing significant to resolve persistent national problems. That person doesn't need more time in office. It's time to retire and give someone with fresh perspective a chance to resolve issues you watched worsen in your tenure.

What do you think of the filibuster?

It's fine.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

The Senate has the challenge of determining whether or not the quality and qualifications of the person actually match what is claimed. Are they really the person who they say they are, or does the person have a secret agenda and is trying to hide some ideology? Will the person do the job well and do what is right? I would be suspicious of appointees who misrepresent information about themselves.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes, to name a few, I would like to participate in the health, justice, technology, and finance committees.

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

I am familiar only with video clips and soundbites of most senators. I have not followed the work of any particular senator closely enough to model myself after him/her.

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

I would look at his/her qualifications and judicial record, and see if there are any inconsistencies or questionable decisions. I would try to determine whether or not he/she will uphold the constitution. I vote base on the person's merit, qualifications, and trustworthiness.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

I plan to build cordial professional relationships with other senators. I can passionately disagree with someone without feeling the need to silence that person. I can strongly disagree with ideas without hating the person. I am a people person. Among my top five CliftonStregths, four are in the relationship bucket.

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

It depends on the compromise.

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

Perez's campaign website stated the following:

“

RISING COST OF LIVING

SAFE COMMUNITIES

EDUCATION

MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS

FARMING AND AGRICULTURE

HEALTHCARE

OUR FREEDOMS

DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE^[2]

”

—Joseph Perez's campaign website (2022)^[3]

Campaign finance summary

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.

Joseph Perez campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. Senate Maryland	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
2022	U.S. Senate Maryland	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. Senate Maryland

Twitter

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 11, 2022
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Joseph Perez U.S. Senator for Maryland, “Home,” accessed June 19, 2022

[show]

Maryland's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Angela Alsobrooks (D)

Chris Hollen (D)

Representatives

District 1

Andrew Harris (R)

District 2

John Olszewski (D)

District 3

Sarah Elfreth (D)

District 4

Glenn Ivey (D)

District 5

Steny Hoyer (D)

District 6

April McClain-Delaney (D)

District 7

Kweisi Mfume (D)

District 8

Jamie Raskin (D)

Democratic Party (9)

Republican Party (1)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 11, 2022

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Joseph Perez U.S. Senator for Maryland, “Home,” accessed June 19, 2022

[1]

[2]

[3]

	v • e State of Maryland Annapolis (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? \| Elections in 2025 \| How to vote \| How to run for office \| Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? \| U.S. President \| U.S. Congress \| Federal courts \| State executives \| State legislature \| State and local courts \| Counties \| Cities \| School districts \| Public policy

Joseph Perez (Maryland)

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Maryland

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Maryland

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Maryland

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

SITE NAVIGATION