Juan Pagan

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Juan Pagan

Conservative Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Associate

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2000

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Profession

Retired

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Juan Pagan (Conservative Party) ran for election to the New York State Senate to represent District 16. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Juan Pagan was born in New York, New York. Pagan attended New York's High School of Music & Art and earned an associate degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2000.

Pagan's professional experience includes working as an author, the assistant to the provost for faculty development at the City University of New York's Baruch College, the director of the community centers at Campos Plaza and the Bernard Baruch Houses for the New York City Housing Authority, and a resource officer for the New York State Department of Correctional Services. He has also served as the Manhattan representative to the New York City Department of Education's Citywide Council on High Schools and the president of the Legacy High School Parents Association.

Elections

2024

See also: New York State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for New York State Senate District 16

Incumbent John Liu defeated Juan Pagan in the general election for New York State Senate District 16 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Liu (D / Working Families Party)	79.4	48,470
		Juan Pagan (Conservative Party)	20.1	12,299
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	286

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 61,055
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Liu advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 16.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Juan Pagan advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 16.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Liu advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 16.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pagan in this election.

2023

See also: City elections in New York, New York (2023)

General election

General election for New York City Council District 2

Incumbent Carlina Rivera won election in the general election for New York City Council District 2 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carlina Rivera (D / Working Families Party)	92.9	10,137
		Other/Write-in votes	7.1	780

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,917
= 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.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Juan Pagan (Medical Freedom Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 2

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Carlina Rivera in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Carlina Rivera	60.5	4,688	0	Advanced (1)
		Allie Ryan	38.5	2,980	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	1.0	76	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,744
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for New York City Council District 2

Candidate

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Juan Pagan (R)

Working Families Party primary election

Working Families Primary for New York City Council District 2

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Carlina Rivera in round 1 .

		Candidate
✔		Carlina Rivera

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pagan in this election.

2022

See also: New York's 7th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House New York District 7

Incumbent Nydia Velazquez defeated Juan Pagan in the general election for U.S. House New York District 7 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nydia Velazquez (D / Working Families Party)	80.6	119,473
		Juan Pagan (R / Conservative Party)	19.3	28,597
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	234

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 148,304
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 7

Incumbent Nydia Velazquez defeated Paperboy Prince in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 7 on August 23, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nydia Velazquez	83.0	22,797
		Paperboy Prince	15.7	4,303
		Other/Write-in votes	1.3	363

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,463
= 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.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Juan Pagan advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 7.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Juan Pagan advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 7.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Nydia Velazquez advanced from the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 7.

2021

See also: City elections in New York, New York (2021)

General election

General election for New York City Council District 2

Incumbent Carlina Rivera defeated Allie Ryan and Juan Pagan in the general election for New York City Council District 2 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carlina Rivera (D)	79.8	18,716
		Allie Ryan (Neighborhood Party)	11.5	2,684
		Juan Pagan (Independent Party)	8.2	1,925
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	116

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,441
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for New York City Council District 2

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Carlina Rivera in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Carlina Rivera	72.5	15,464	0	Advanced (1)
		Erin Hussein	26.8	5,709	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.8	169	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,342
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2018

Regular election

See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2018

General election

General election for New York State Assembly District 74

Incumbent Harvey Epstein defeated Bryan Cooper and Juan Pagan in the general election for New York State Assembly District 74 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Harvey Epstein (D)	87.3	36,535
	Submit photo	Bryan Cooper (R)	11.2	4,694
		Juan Pagan (Reform Party)	1.4	586
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	43

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,858
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 74

Incumbent Harvey Epstein defeated Akshay Vaishampayan and Juan Pagan in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 74 on September 13, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Harvey Epstein	63.0	10,517
		Akshay Vaishampayan	19.2	3,202
		Juan Pagan	17.9	2,983

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,702
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for New York State Assembly District 74

Bryan Cooper advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Assembly District 74 on September 13, 2018.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Bryan Cooper

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

Reform Party primary election

Reform Party primary for New York State Assembly District 74

Juan Pagan advanced from the Reform Party primary for New York State Assembly District 74 on September 13, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Juan Pagan

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

Special election

NY Assembly District 74

See also: New York state legislative special elections, 2018

A special election for the position of New York State Assembly District 74 was held on April 24, 2018.

The seat was left vacant after the resignation of Brian Kavanagh (D). Kavanagh resigned after winning election to District 26 of the New York State Senate in a special election on November 7, 2017.

Harvey Epstein (D) defeated Bryan Cooper (R), Adrienne Craig-Williams (G), and Juan Pagan (Reform) in the special election.

New York State Assembly, District 74 Special Election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Harvey Epstein	90.9%	3,900
	Republican	Bryan Cooper	4.7%	202
	Reform	Juan Pagan	2.3%	97
	Green	Adrienne Craig-Williams	2.2%	93
Total Votes				4,292
Source: New York State Board of Elections (104 of 107 precincts reported)

2017

See also: Mayoral election in New York, New York (2017) and Municipal elections in New York, New York (2017)

Pagan filed for the primary election on September 12, 2017, but, as of August 4, 2017, his name did not appear on the official candidate list.

2012

See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012

Pagan ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 74. He was defeated by incumbent Brian P. Kavanagh in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012.

New York State Assembly, District 74 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Brian Kavanagh Incumbent	72.9%	3,286
Juan Pagan	27.1%	1,223
Total Votes		4,509

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Juan Pagan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

Juan Pagan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Juan Pagan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pagan'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.

As a true life-long community member, a citizen representative of New York City, I understand the importance of community and will ensure that our district has the best political representation.

My parents, Rosa and Ramón, migrated from Puerto Rico to lower Manhattan where they met and married. Rosa gave birth to identical twins at Bellevue Hospital; I was her first born.

For the first seven years we lived in a tenement on the Lower East Side. Thereafter, we moved a few blocks north to the East Village in the enclave known as ‘Loisaida’ where I lived in NYCHA’s Housing Developments for well over 50 years.

I have two adult children. My daughter lives with her husband and four-year-old daughter. My son is a sergeant in the NYPD and a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves.

I was educated in New York City public schools, attended the High School of Music & Art, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the importance of maintaining law and order while protecting the civil rights of the people.

To learn more about me please visit my website and click ‘Meet Juan’.

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?

• CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY: The rising crime rate is the result of current political leaders defunding and demoralizing our police and passing bail reform laws that allow repeat and violent offenders back onto the streets while law-abiding citizens live in fear. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the importance of maintaining law and order while protecting the civil rights of the people.
• ECONOMIC RECOVERY: End outsourcing, return jobs and industries to America, and get spending under control to restrain inflation. Rent help and no-interest loans to small business owners harmed by Covid.
• EDUCATION: Protect education from all regulations that undermine parental authority; support school choice; protect gifted and talented programs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Family, education, small business, homeland security, infrastructure, and ethics.

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

The philosophy of Mr. Smith portrayed by James Stuart in the movie ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’.

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

Magnanimity, honesty, fairness, and being consistent are most important in any position of leadership, especially in politics.

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

To truly and faithfully defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States; to repeal, amend, or legislate laws that truly benefit America and its citizens; to make certain that tax dollars are used solely for the benefit of America and its citizens.

What legacy would you like to leave?

True unity among American citizens, united by their love for America and what this country truly stands for despite our differences.

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

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I was just a little boy, but I clearly remember my mother crying and my grandmother sobbing when the news came on our television.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The book titled Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas. Just look at America today; Bonhoeffer serves as concrete evidence that history does in fact repeat itself.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe that there should be limits no longer than three House terms and two Senate terms. A similar fashion of term limits should also apply to State and Local government.

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

There are many politicians I look up to; it’s difficult to choose just one. These are my top three: Congressman Vito Marcantonio, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, and President Abraham Lincoln.

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

Pagan's campaign website stated the following:

“	INFLATION, ECONOMY & OUTSOURCING Under the administration of Democrats, inflation has gotten out of control. Our economy is trending on a downward spiral and we need to take back control. We must ensure Americans are able to live without fear of going into debt or surviving paycheck to paycheck. Here is my plan: 1. Reduce Inflation 2. Promote Economic Growth 3. Slash Outsourcing Reducing Inflation The yearly inflation rate has risen to over 8.5% in 2022 alone. From month to month, this metric keeps going up, putting Americans in situations where they can't afford basic groceries and gas. We need to: 1. Ease spending and and the money supply to reduce inflationary pressures 2. Get the supply chain back up and running to ensure the flow of goods remains stable 3. Reopen the Keystone Pipeline to regain Energy Independence to reduce gas prices Promote Economic Growth We should be relying on our American industry for our own goods, not foreign countries, and especially not our enemies. If we're to stay on top in economic power, we need to promote growth by: 1. Support small businesses with rent, low interest loans, especially after pandemic recovery 2. Rely on American manufacturing to support our industries and imposing tariffs on China 3. Promote New York tourism by creating safer streets and stronger communities Slash Outsourcing Foreign labor, $1 trillion trade deficit, millions of lost jobs, declining standard of living. Inflation. All notorious problems, all interrelated, all solvable. Here is a plan to end the stubborn problem: 1. Promote ethical trading through fair trade deals, proper punishments, and good foreign labor practices 2. Promote immigration reform through work visas, enforcing labor laws, and fair wages 3. Ensuring environmental protections through trade agreements CRIME & JUSTICE Crime continues to rise in our great state everyday. From the issues of bail reform to not being able to walk safely at night, the common citizen cannot rest knowing what might happen to him. We must: 1. Roll back bail reform so that criminals will not be released the same day 2. Instill morale into the police force and back them to keep our streets safe 3. Back security officers and small business owners to defend themselves from dangerous criminals intent on robbing merchandise or harming customers 4. Reform criminals in prisons with vocational schools so that they may return to society as upstanding citizens INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD As your congressman I will work to bring federal funds to improve subways, buses, water/sewage pipes, bridges, and tunnels connecting us to New Jersey - all in troubling disrepair. Bursting Pipes & Sinkholes. Aging infrastructure under streets need modernization. It is senselessly costly to wait for pipes to burst and put lives in danger. Schools. Many schools are aging - mold, poor heating and hot water. They desperately need federal funding. Clean Energy. I propose installation of solar energy and battery equipment on rooftops. Let’s convert buses and city vehicles to electricity. Tunnels. Tunnels serve trains and cars under the Hudson River. They are long overdue for repair. I totally support completion of the project. Same holds true for all tunnels connecting subways to the boroughs. Subways. Our subways are an embarrassment compared to trains running throughout European cities. We need to expedite modernization and regular cleanings in every station. NYCHA. Our public housing is a disgrace. People live without hot water and heat. They endure mold. What a lousy way to treat children. The federal government must provide funds to repair these buildings and ensure that people never again live without hot water and heat. Progressive and Democrat incumbents, with so many empty promises, really stunk up the system. I intend to take action - and quickly. Bridges. What would river-edged Manhattan and the city be without its bridges? Drive across them and you see rust everywhere. We had better take action before this problem becomes a catastrophe. SCHOOLS & STUDENT LOANS As a father and grandfather, I am disturbed about the poor quality of education our young get. I propose a major rebuild of our school system. Regarding K-12 education, here is my plan. Special Schools Entrance Exams. Many politicians want to lower entrance standards or eliminate exams. This is reckless. It will lower academic quality. This is the wrong path. It merely locks out the most highly qualified students. Double the Special Schools. The real solution is to double the number of special schools. Twice as many special schools. Not lower entrance standards. CRT in Schools. Critical race theory (CRT) and cancel culture threaten academic excellence. Biased teachers broadcasting extremist ideas are not how we want students to learn history. Books should not show bias or blame ethnic groups for events that occurred centuries ago. We should ensure history is taught accurately and without racial bias. Cap Salary. Cut and cap administrator pay, now averaging $179,000 in much of the state. This will put more money in classrooms, where needed most. Fire Incompetence. Dismiss teachers who have been expelled from the classroom yet still get paid full salary. Eliminate wasted resources spent on bad teachers. The teacher’s union must protect students, not incompetent teachers. Union contracts must be renegotiated with the understanding that each dismissed teacher will be replaced with competent ones. No jobs will be lost… only incompetent teachers. The sooner the better. Vocational Schools. Create a citywide vocational school system that increases equity among students who wish to pursue a trade verses a college education. Teacher Requirements. Raise requirements to become a teacher. We must require teachers to take at least 60 undergraduate credits in their subject areas. Studies have proven that teachers with in-depth knowledge of their subjects produce better students. Furthermore, every prospective teacher must have an overall 3.0-plus GPA. C-minus teachers yield C-mi students. Safety. Take steps to ensure that schools are safer for students and teachers, as school crime rates have risen 21% in recent years. Drugs. A zero-tolerance approach must be implemented. Those caught using drugs in or out of school must be sent to rehabilitation specialists. Those selling drugs, no matter what age, must be removed from any school and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Cellphones. Distractions are epidemic in many classrooms. There is little of importance justifying students using the Internet, Facebook, or texting during class time. No teacher should have to quarrel with a student about paying attention and putting away a cellphone. The solution is simple: a citywide ban on use of cellphones during school hours. Cellphones will be stored in a safe room during school hours and returned when student leave school. Parents must not oppose the needs of good education. Civics Classes. Create citywide civics classes focusing on important topics not covered: finances, respecting police and acting appropriately, showing courtesy to others, basic understanding of government/Congress/Supreme Court, the need to vote, why democracy and participation are important, acceptance of different peoples and cultures, renouncing and reporting sexual assault and inappropriate behavior, responsible sexual practices, the need to follow news and read newspapers, respecting environment, conserving energy, recycling waste, etc. Restore The Fine Arts. This important part of spiritual life has been gutted for generations. Shame on an system that teaches almost nothing about great music, opera, dance, and Broadway in the cultural capital of the world. We should fund at least two fine-arts teachers in every school. Orchestras, bands, and live music/dance must be part of the young’s upbringing. Finance & Computer Education. These must be an essential part of high-school curriculum: use of basic computer programs (MSW, etc.), checking, banking, spotting scams, etc. Government. Students should become part of local government and learn about it firsthand. All students must be required to offer 20 hours of time during high school by volunteering to work in a government office, from councilman to statewide officials, so that they become more of a part of our democracy and see it working firsthand. Discipline & Attendance. This generational problem — kids behaving badly and disrespecting teachers with no repercussions — sends a terrible message opposite of what students should understand: respecting adults, education and teachers. Systematic change is needed: a) students continuously disrespecting the class must not return and be placed in special classes or schools (newly created for this purpose) where psychology experts trained for troubled kids will address the problem; b) those regularly missing classes will be removed and helped by trained experts; c) parents refusing to make their children attend will be brought to court or fined — whatever it takes to instill a duty to ensure that their children are in class and learning daily. After-School Programs. We must expand such programs to provide kids with activities and tutors to help those struggling in class. Libraries should be more accessible and provide tutors to assist those in need. Social Promotion. This is the practice of promoting students to the next grade even if they fail to meet minimum requirements. It must end! Being left back may be hurtful, but being truthful is essential if kids are to be prepared for the real world. Principals, administrators and teachers caught fudging or changing grades must be dismissed immediately and subject to criminal charges. A completely new view of education is needed. Recreation. Kids play sports on parking lots of concrete. When kids face harsh conditions daily, it conditions them to ugliness and mediocrity. Efforts should be made to improve recreational facilities. Grass and trees are important to a child’s upbringing. Green lands must not belong solely to the suburban privileged. Summer Programs. City kids are rarely exposed to nature and the countryside. They should know what forests, farms, and animals are. Summer exposure must be promoted as much as possible. Learning to respect nature and the environment suggests actually being within it. Districts Autonomy. Create regional districts allowing administrators greater flexibility to innovate. The Board of Education, a huge bureaucracy, snarls innovation. Change comes slowly. Greater autonomy gives schools opportunity to address problems intelligently and quickly. The needs of Harlem and Soho are different from those in Queens and Staten Island. Let administrators innovate quickly with enhanced autonomy. HATE CRIMES, MASS SHOOTINGS & INTERNET HATE SITES Uvalde… Buffalo… Chicago… over 300 shootings this year… over 600 school shootings since 1998… children, teachers and innocent bystanders murdered. While Washington moved forward with (tentative) legislation dealing with mass shootings and mental health, we need stronger action. Read my proposals. Our country is plagued by hate crime, mass shootings, and social media promoting racism and violence. We need comprehensive legislation addressing the multitude causes of violence: growing drug use, opioid and prescription drug addiction, mounting depression and suicide, unstable youth exposed to hate websites, schools failing to locate and help troubled students, ease of deranged people buying semi-automatic guns, a healthcare system that does not promote mental illness treatment, ineffective background checks, easy gun access at fairs... Without legislation on many levels, we will face more monthly (weekly?) massacres. Cyber Crime Police Units. I propose creation of local police cyber units, in cooperation with the FBI, built to seek out and arrest people on websites who threaten violence and death. Shootings in Texas and Buffalo emphasize the need for federal and local law-enforcement designed for 21st-century threats and mentally deranged Internet users who are violent and full of hate. I propose modernized police units equipped to seek out and arrest hate crime criminals on the Internet. Such units would be interconnected with school psychiatrists and nationwide databases focusing on those with severe mental illness who promote violence online. Police are embarrassingly behind, for criminals long ago migrated to the Internet. Locate Mental Illness. A deranged man with crazy ideas about “the great replacement” killed 10 people. He should’ve been found before he got those guns. Social media has bred hate and violence. Terror attacks occur frequently. Locally there have been Chinatown killings and synagogue attacks. Online hate sites encourage mentally ill people to act violently. Let’s Be Realistic. Note these two statistics: 1) mass shootings 1998-2019, U.S. 101, all other countries 38; 2) gun ownership per 100,000, U.S. 125, all other countries under 20 (except Canada at 35). The 2nd amendment protects gun rights. Let’s do what is possible. Democrats repeatedly try to ban assault weapons, to no effect. It would be better if they focus on mental health and national database legislation (as noted above). The only realistic path is incremental improvement and cooperation with Republicans instead of finger-pointing and one-fixes-all legislation, for there is no one thing that will end the problem. Many issues need fixing if we are to see improvement. Don’t let good be the enemy of perfect. Hate Counseling. We need counseling programs that firmly address online hate sites where violent racist hide. This must be equally applied to cyber bullies traumatizing school kids. I propose nationwide programs where local police locate and arrest people on hate sites who talk dangerously, and court mandated requirements that such people undergo mental health counseling addressing their hatred to bring them back to a healthy state of mind… and racial tolerance. Lax Bail. Part of the problem is lax bail. In one attack on Riverdale synagogues, the criminal was released about a week later. It is a notorious example of widespread bail problems in New York and other cities. Bail reform releasing criminals is part of the problem and therefore part of the solution. Local legislators need to stiffen bail requirements. Parents of Mass Shooting Criminals. I support criminalization of online threats. Among my legislative plans: 1) national and local law enforcement databases locating people with serious mental illness who may end up getting guns and killing, 2) criminalize parents who knowingly have mentally ill children and let them get guns, 3) subject such patents to criminal and civil lawsuits and let them go to prison for allowing their deeply ill child get guns and kill. Let’s make every parent who owns guns recognize that they have a responsibility to make sure no one, especially very mentally sick children, gets hold of guns. Arrest Cyber Bullies. Cowardly threats on social media must count as an assault felony. I support federal legislation allowing the FBI to go after hate crimes committed on Facebook and other social media. We’ve got to put a stop to these cowards who threaten people and hide behind websites. This must end. The same goes for teen cyber bullies. Children and teenagers live in fear. It must be addressed. They need to be protected from cyber bullies. SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTHCARE & MENTAL ILLNESS People may pay $10,000-plus for insurance with high deductibles. I will work as your congressman to end this shameful gap in our healthcare system. I will go out of my way to reach across the aisle to create legislation that remedies problems. It is an embarrassment how both political parties squabble about something so obvious as providing affordable healthcare for everyone. I will be the first to shake the hand of my colleagues across the aisle, for it is for the best of all Americans. Mental Illness Mental illness is one of the most overlooked problems of our healthcare system. I think it’s time for us to place emphasis on this. Case in point, read the following excerpt from a New York Times article about the murderer in the Buffalo rampage, when he killed 10 innocent people. “Mr. Gendron’s newly discovered online posts also cast doubt on the thoroughness of his mental health evaluation. ‘I had to spend 20 hours in that ER waiting for somebody to give me 15 minutes to talk to me,’ he wrote. ‘This proved to me that the US healthcare system is a joke.’” Why didn’t the “experts” pay attention and get him treatment? His death spree could’ve been prevented had professionals not been apathetic. It is a scary condemnation of our healthcare system. This deeply sick man made statements online about his plans and was able to buy guns. His high school record indicated he was pulled aside for dangerous and violent comments. They let it slip by. COVID: RETURNING TO NORMAL We cannot live as if Covid is the same killer it was two years ago. It’s not. The CDC estimated there were 52,000 influenza deaths in the 2017-18 flu season. Using that as a reference for “normal”, it averages 142 deaths/day. By comparison, the recent range is 260 to 350 (mostly unvaccinated people!). Even in normal times we witness nearly 150 deaths/day. We are getting closer to “normal”. (We averaged over 2000/day in January.) Dr. Fauci stated on The PBS NewsHour that we are “out of the pandemic phase.“ We need to move to normalcy for we risk permanent overreaction. Plummeting Covid deaths among the vaccinated reinforces this. Covid has mutated many times. We cannot live as if it were the same killer it was two years ago. Beware our becoming a “hypochondriac society.” Virus-Killing Technology. Promote virus-killing UVC ventilation everywhere - subways, buses, stores, elevators, auditoriums, etc. Fear. Perhaps it’s time to call cases “flu” rather than Covid. Covid is a common family of virus species - not a death sentence! Even in the worst of times nearly 98% of people who caught it recovered. Stop overreacting. We are harmed by the obsessive Covid news coverage for over two years, yet 98-99% of people who catch Covid (or a variant) recover. The remaining 1-2% are mostly unvaccinated, old or had underlying health problems. We overreact. 2nd Booster I fear overly zealous officials and employers will force people against their will to get a second booster to keep their jobs. It unfairly threatens careers. As long as deaths among the vaccinated remain low, let people who got vaccines choose whether to get a second booster. Mutations. Covid mutated many times and mutations are behaving like a normal flu. Vaccinated people seem normal. Government officials must calm the fear. Ruined Careers. Ruining careers is wrong - career-ruining mandates further divide our nation. Antibodies. People with natural covid immunity through antibodies deserve to be considered the equivalent of vaccinated. Who arbitrarily decided that natural immunity does that count? Small Businesses. Small business owners were ruined by no fault of their own. We need to help small business owners recover, and those bankrupted must be given no interest government loans so that they can attempt to restore their lost businesses. CLEAN ENERGY JOBS & PLASTIC POLLUTION Imagine investing in a new industry called “petroleum” in 1880. John D. Rockefeller did. By 1920 he was a multi-billionaire. Clean energy now offers such opportunities. If New York invests wisely, imagine the wealth and thousands of jobs we can create. My plan foresees cooperation with industry giants like Exxon and Tesla over the next 30 years. The industries of geothermal, tidal, solar and fusion energy are the Microsofts, Googles and Amazons of the future. Do it… before China does. Let Chevron and Ford, GM and Apple lead the way in ending world dependence on dirty oil from hostile nations like Russia or Iran. I want our city and state to lead the way. I want thousands of jobs to be created in New York as we build internationally admired products providing clean energy. America must do it. Not China. Us. In past times America was at the cutting edge of emerging technologies. Make it happen again! Let’s keep the technology “American” and keep the jobs here. Unleash the genius of American industry with government encouragement. Do it patiently. Let New York City be the headquarters of the enormous clean energy industries of the future. Destroying Our Future. Better put, our own government is destroying our future prospects. Read the following excerpt from the New York Times: “Since then the U.S. share of solar component shipments worldwide fell to less than 1 percent in 2021 from 13 percent in 2004. China’s share of the production of solar components has increased over the past two decades from virtually nothing to nearly 85 percent today. For some solar components, that could rise to 95 percent in the coming years, according to a report this week from the International Energy Agency.” The solution is self-evident: Congress passing legislation to promote domestic clean energy industries. Not angry politicians screaming about stolen elections or left-wing matters instead of managing our economy correctly. I will be different. My congressional opponent is devoid of ideas and will take no action. Some 30 years in office, what has she accomplished? For starters, decimated domestic clean energy industries. You want more of her? Plastics Ocean Pollution. One pathetically overlooked problem with our environment involves plastics. Recent reports indicate that about 8% of plastics thrown out get recycled. Shocking. These plastics end up in the oceans, breaking down into tiny particles poisoning the ecosystem. Plankton, then fish, eat these tiny plastics particles. It’s in our seafood. Every time you swallow that cod or tunafish sandwich, you may be swallowing a bunch of microscopic plastic. Hmm… It’s hard to believe that government is not taking serious action. As your next congressman, plastics pollution will be a high priority for me. I will sponsor legislation that takes real action -starting with thorough nationwide plastics recycling with no loopholes. One wonders why my Democratic opponent claiming concern for the environment has not taken firm action. So much for lip service. If you want cleaner oceans - and safe seafoods - I’m your guy. This is my quest once elected as your congressman. Together let’s make this happen! NYCHA & AFFORDABLE HOUSING Politicians talk about housing but do little to help. I know! I am a NYCHA resident. We endure mold, broken elevators and frequent loss of hot water and heat. I will bring Federal funding for repairs. Expand Housing. Housing is in crisis. It costs more to live here than in most other urban areas in the U.S. New Yorkers’ wages have been stagnant over the past decade, and yet monthly expenses rise without mercy. Housing costs have escalated for all income brackets. That’s why we have to expand and upgrade New York City’s housing stock to meet our growing population demands. We have to concentrate on moderately priced housing because the middle class has been hit the hardest. 25% Income Rent Cap. One proposal I offer is a program guaranteeing low income families with income up to $47,000, about the average NYCHA income, will pay 25% of income for rent but never more. The rest will be subsidized by the government. This will be an important component of creating affordable housing without onerous rent control rules that harm or bankrupt building owners. Oligarch Tax. Midtown Manhattan is filled with luxury high-rise buildings that are empty almost all year. This is some lousy way for a city government to handle the housing shortage. I propose a heavy tax on the super rich, and they can certainly afford it. A 10% tax of the purchase price. And a 20% tax on their yearly rental. The money gained will be used to subsidize rent for the needy in New York. If it has a tempering affect on rich people moving here, so what. They are here so little, what does it matter? End Subsidies for Rich. With an increasing population and a diminishing affordable housing supply, New York is facing a huge crisis. Even though new housing has been built over the last two decades, it is mostly at the upper end of the spectrum. New York is unique in that a large portion of housing is sold to non-New-Yorkers who live here only part-time. About 40% of apartments have been purchased by foreigners in recent years. That’s not counting US citizens buying apartments in New York or New Yorkers buying multiple apartments and combining them into one. If a developer builds a 200-unit luxury apartment building and 60% of the units are bought by foreigners, then that leaves 80 units for US citizens. This is why we have to end all subsidies to luxury building development and direct all tax breaks and other government assistance to building only affordable housing for moderate-income and low-income families. HOMELESSNESS: END THE CRISIS! I offer a 5-part plan for the homeless crisis: 1) Police remove drug addicts and deranged homeless from streets/subways. When we fear being pushed onto oncoming subways, police protection is essential. 2) Confront drug addiction and mental illness among the homeless.. 3) A “what-do-we-get-in-return” plan for free housing to homeless: agree to mental health treatment, drug rehab, or (if willing to work for pay) do work like clearing graffiti or removing garbage in parks or subways. 4) Provide real security in shelters. When homeless say it’s safer to sleep in streets than shelters, it shows how ridiculous shelters are. 5) No shelters in theater and tourist districts. They are centers providing some 280,000 hospitality jobs. Crime and widespread homelessness scare away tourists. Focus on those 280,000 jobs. The homeless deserve compassion and shelter, but only job-creating tourists belong in hotels. Increase Minimum Wage. We need to recognize that many of the homeless are people with children who cannot afford rent yet have jobs. People work full-time yet can’t afford to pay the rent or buy food. This is unacceptable! If someone works full-time, wages must be sufficient to cover basic human needs. Camp LaGuardia. I support the reopening of "Camp LaGuardia" offering the homeless a rural environment with psychiatric and drug rehab help. We should purchase land upstate and re-create the facility that was closed during the Bloomberg administration. This is a better solution than letting thousands of people live in streets, subways and tent “villages.” Shelters. Homeless shelters are run horribly, dangerous, and apparently thousands of homeless think it’s safer to sleep on the streets than go to shelters. This is what your current leaders have done. Talk about incompetence! I propose a complete rebuild of the shelter system. Clean and safe dormitories. Ample security and police to ensure people are safe and treated with dignity. Plentiful staff to treat violent people, drug addicts and alcoholics much in need of help from trained professionals. Houston Success. Reports indicate that Houston has lowered its homelessness by nearly 63%. It created environment of cooperation between various groups, including charities. New York City must study Houston’s approach as a source of ideas. Let Churches Help. I support allowing religious institutions to serve the homeless. Extremists think people are endangered because they are asked to say a prayer before eating. I think separation of church and state is important, but let’s not be crazy about this. So what if people say a prayer before eating in return for a quality place to sleep and eat? Many churches have done an excellent job housing the homeless. Let them play a role. If they do a good job, give them more money to expand. The Working Homeless. Many homeless are people who have a job (and children!) but are forced out of their homes because of soaring rent. That needs a whole separate program. I propose a new rent subsidy program where people who work full time never pay more than 25% of their income for rent. The state will subsidize the rent remainder. FOREIGN POLICY PLANS The world is constantly changing, and America needs to act in accordance with these changes. Here are my strategies when dealing with our foreign adversaries. Russia. Russia must be severely punished for its brutal war in Ukraine. We must help Europe end reliance on Russian oil and natural gas by rapidly expanding its LNG infrastructure. Banning Russian oil/gas, some 36% of its government budget, is essential. The Russian dictator and complicit multibillionaires oligarchs must be severely punished until the Russian people themselves conclude that they must put in power a government that doesn’t behave with Nazi-like barbarism. Russians are overwhelmed with lies and propaganda. It may take years for the truth to emerge about the horrors the government inflicted on Ukraine. Russia must be a pariah state for many years until its people recognize such truths. This barbarism was supposed to be left in the 20th century with its two World Wars, but here we are again. We still have much work to do. NATO. Ensure Eastern European and Baltic NATO members (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) remain free. Europe needs full German cooperation to end European dependence on Russian oil. Our foreign policy since World War II has protected democracy and this remains essential policy. Russian and Chinese aggression must be confronted firmly. NATO Article V (threat to one is threat to all) is being tested. Russia must know that the 1930s world of Lord Chamberlain appeasement and Sudentenland capitulation to Nazi Germany is long gone. Placing significant NATO forces in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states is a necessary means to deter aggression. This includes cyber attacks on America and Europe posing threat to our way of life. Nuclear War. Some worry about Russia using nuclear weapons. This is a distraction. They don’t want annihilation any more than we do. Instead they wage economic and political warfare. Election Interference. Russian (and possibly China) promotes fake news and reckless political candidates in Europe. It happened in France with Marine Le Pen, who lost a presidential bid. It’s a harbinger of what may happen again if inflation and economic instability grow. Putin and his kleptocrats are committed to this strategy. American foreign policy must firmly address such Russian sabotage and election interference Israel Support. Renew peace talks in the Middle East, improve Israel/Arab relations, continue to fight against terrorism, and prevent Iran and Syria from harming the Middle East. Mexican Drugs. It’s time to address the war south of our border. Some 100,000 Americans die yearly from drugs coming from Mexico and the Central American countries of Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Why is this overlooked by my congressional opponent? Officially name Mexican and Latin American drug cartels as terrorists and take action to disarm and dismantle networks selling drugs that kill Americans. Drug cartels effectively control northern Mexico. Work with the Mexican government (perhaps force it) to defeat heavily armed gangs terrorizing Mexico and feeding drug addiction to Americans essentially paying “taxes” to criminal cartels. Cartels abet illegal immigration from Central America. It’s time to firmly address these crises. China. The near $350 billion trade deficit with China must be addressed. Our economic decline requires restoration of domestic manufacturing. This must be high priority. China’s threat to Taiwan mounts. Protect Taiwan independence. Middle East, Iran & Terrorism. We must forever oppose terrorists and Middle East factions (i.e. Iran) causing problems. Iran must never get a nuclear weapon. Peace in Israel is of utmost importance, as is peaceful relations among Arab nations. An American exit from that region, inviting trouble from Russia and China, cannot be allowed.	”
—Juan Pagan's campaign website (2022)

2021

Juan Pagan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2017

Pagan's campaign website highlighted the following issues. Click "show" on the boxes below for more information about his positions.

SENIOR CITIZENS

"For ten years, our District has been hit hardest with the loss of certified nursing home beds and medical facilities. Downsizing and closures are like a cancer eroding our communities, eating away at facilities that deprive our senior citizens, and those with disabilities, of medical facilities, nursing home beds, and hospices. St. Rose’s Home – Lower East Side, CLOSED 2009 Archdiocese Hospice – East Village, CLOSED 2009 Bialystoker Center – Lower East Side, CLOSED 2011 Cabrini Hospital – Gramercy Park, CLOSED 2012 (now a luxury residential complex; construction almost completed) St. Vincent’s Hospital – Greenwich Village, CLOSED 2013, which served residents from the three Districts, including our District. (now a luxury condominium with multi-million dollar condos) Rivington House – Lower East Side, CLOSED 2015, a nursing home which served seniors on a short-term basis, now becoming a luxury condominium. Beth Israel Medical Center – East Village, will be CLOSED in the coming year and converted to a luxury residential complex. We need to effectively fight to preserve whatever nursing home beds and medical facilities are left in our District and in our neighboring Districts. And for the sake of our elders, we must create more long-term care facilities. This will be one of Juan’s top priorities."

ENVIRONMENT

"It’s not often that we can escape from this concrete jungle contaminated with so much noise, and pollution, and other forms of stressors... for this reason, the gardens throughout our District deserve the same status as the landmarks in New York City—so they can never be touched by any landlord or developer, kept and maintained as a permanent, natural refuge for the benefit of those who live and work here, and for those who visit our neighborhoods."

CRIME & SAFETY

"Juan is formally educated in Criminal Justice and will bring his education and experience as well as his personal connection to our community to keep our focus on Crime & Safety. The best crime prevention tool I’ve ever worked with was the guitar... give a young person a musical instrument, your time and patience; connect with and get their parents involved… and I guarantee, that young person will make it in life no matter how impoverished or dysfunctional their family is... The phrase 'Tough on Crime' seems to be associated with more police, bigger prisons, and more laws that criminalize people rather than protect the public... I’ve learned that sometimes the best way to be tough on crime is by giving another chance to the ex-offender; welcome them back into society; help them to reconnect with family, or to find new family; give them a job… Or, spend quality time with children from the neighborhood, even if they are not your children; help an elderly person shop for their groceries, carry it for them and walk them home; know your neighbors; hire young people from the neighborhood to do odd jobs; share your skills... Building Community is the best defense we can take against crime."

COMMUNITY

"Culture, Diversity, Commerce – Juan has a platform to support all of these critical aspects of community life and will work with individuals and groups of all classes, races and cultural backgrounds, religious traditions, and lifestyles, and find common ground. For example, Juan has been a musician since childhood and understands the importance of the arts. He will promote arts and culture in our community."

CHILDREN
"Juan – closely involved with the children of our community for many years, coaching and mentoring them in wholesome directions. He was the director of two of our cherished Children’s centers. He will ensure our kids have the best representation."

CYCLING NYC
"Juan is an avid cyclist riding the streets of New York City all his life. Juan will enhance and maintain safe bike lanes throughout the city, especially within our District, that will promote safety for pedestrians and cyclists."

2012

In 2012, Pagan told The Politicker, "One of the big issues is public education." He said, "What's happening in the public schools and the co-locations are destroying the quality of the neighborhood and discriminating against the majority of families."

2009

In response to a question from the New York City Campaign Finance Board about the most important issue he would address if elected, Pagan said:

“	Protecting our future by safeguarding our children: I was appalled when I read that 17 out of 36 kindergartners would not have seats this September; the closing of three day care centers; poor children living in Public Housing are worse off academically; the fastest growing group of violent felony offenders today are teen girls; thousands of children from NYC ages 7 to 15 were admitted to detention facilities; our teens are getting infected with HIV at a higher rate this year; ACS is desperately searching for foster homes for thousands of kids. Our children are my most important issue.	”
—Juan Pagan, 2009

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Juan Pagan campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New York State Senate District 16	Lost general	$0	$0
2022	U.S. House New York District 7	Lost general	$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.

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Candidate

New York State Senate District 16

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Footnotes

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Current members of the New York State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Minority Leader:Robert Ortt

Senators

District 1

Anthony Palumbo (R)

District 2

Mario Mattera (R)

District 3

Dean Murray (R)

District 4

Monica Martinez (D)

District 5

Steven Rhoads (R)

District 6

Siela Bynoe (D)

District 7

Jack Martins (R)

District 8

Alexis Weik (R)

District 9

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R)

District 10

James Sanders (D)

District 11

Toby Stavisky (D)

District 12

Michael Gianaris (D)

District 13

Jessica Ramos (D)

District 14

Leroy Comrie (D)

District 15

Joseph Addabbo (D)

District 16

John Liu (D)

District 17

Steve Chan (R)

District 18

Julia Salazar (D)

District 19

Roxanne Persaud (D)

District 20

Zellnor Myrie (D)

District 21

Kevin Parker (D)

District 22

Sam Sutton (D)

District 23

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D)

District 24

Andrew Lanza (R)

District 25

Jabari Brisport (D)

District 26

Andrew Gounardes (D)

District 27

Brian Kavanagh (D)

District 28

Liz Krueger (D)

District 29

Jose Serrano (D)

District 30

Cordell Cleare (D)

District 31

Robert Jackson (D)

District 32

Luis Sepúlveda (D)

District 33

J. Rivera (D)

District 34

Nathalia Fernandez (D)

District 35

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)

District 36

Jamaal Bailey (D)

District 37

Shelley Mayer (D)

District 38

William Weber (R)

District 39

Robert Rolison (R)

District 40

Peter Harckham (D)

District 41

Michelle Hinchey (D)

District 42

James Skoufis (D)

District 43

Jacob Ashby (R)

District 44

James Tedisco (R)

District 45

Daniel Stec (R)

District 46

Patricia Fahy (D)

District 47

Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D)

District 48

Rachel May (D)

District 49

Mark Walczyk (R)

District 50

Christopher Ryan (D)

District 51

Peter Oberacker (R)

District 52

Lea Webb (D)

District 53

Joseph Griffo (R)

District 54

Pamela Helming (R)

District 55

Samra Brouk (D)

District 56

Jeremy Cooney (D)

District 57

George Borrello (R)

District 58

Thomas O'Mara (R)

District 59

Kristen Gonzalez (D)

District 60

Patrick Gallivan (R)

District 61

Sean Ryan (D)

District 62

Robert Ortt (R)

District 63

April Baskin (D)

Democratic Party (41)

Republican Party (22)