Maria Jukic

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says she wants to represent the "massive middle" of voters and to listen, learn, and find common ground.[1],[3]
• Says her campaign is "for the people," including protecting Social Security and Medicare, restoring Medicaid and SNAP, and improving tax policy for wage earners, small businesses, and farmers.[1]
• Says she will stand up for the Constitution and the rule of law, citing the oaths she took as a lawyer and as a city council member.[1]
• Says expanding health care access and lowering costs is a core priority of her campaign.[1],[4]

Background

• Arts and medicine consultant, Self-employed · 2025–present[5]
• Democratic nominee for U.S. House, Ohio's 14th District (won May 5, 2026 primary with about 51% of the vote), Ohio's 14th Congressional District · 2026[1],[6]
• Independent candidate for U.S. House, Ohio's 14th District (did not qualify for the ballot due to a lack of valid signatures), Ohio's 14th Congressional District · 2024[3],[7]
• Member, Euclid City Council (one term), City of Euclid · 2020–2023[5],[7]
• Senior Director, Arts and Medicine (Office of Patient Experience); position eliminated in 2025, Cleveland Clinic · 2001–2025[5],[7]
• Manager, Public Relations and Education, Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia · 1996–1999[5]
• Fulbright Fellow in Croatia; translator for journalists and human rights groups and worker for international aid organizations, Fulbright Program[2]

Education

• J.D., Cleveland State University College of Law[1],[2]
• M.A., Theology and Religious Studies (2022), John Carroll University[1],[2]
• B.A., American Studies, University of Notre Dame[1],[2]

Where they stand

• Health Care
  Supports lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 62, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, capping insulin costs, and the Break Up Big Medicine Act; says the long-term goal should be universal coverage.[4],[3]
• Immigration
  Supports a pathway to citizenship for long-term residents, a permanent legislative solution for DACA recipients, expanded work visas including a guest worker program, and more immigration judges; says ICE should be "reined in, retrained, and restructured" with due process for detainees.[8],[9]
• Social Security & Medicare
  Supports lifting or eliminating the Social Security payroll tax cap, a Social Security "lock-box," and a bipartisan working group on solvency; opposes cutting benefits for current or near-retirees.[10]
• Taxes
  Supports tax relief for working families for costs such as child care, health care, and school, and closing the carried interest loophole; proposes a bipartisan tax reform working group.[11]
• Energy & Environment
  Supports the Data Center Community Impact Act (H.R. 7858), federal disclosure of data center energy and water use, and ratepayer protections; opposes federal fast-tracking of data center approvals or preemption of local zoning. Also says she would advocate for Lake Erie water quality and restoring EPA funding.[12],[13],[9]
• Elections & Democracy
  Supports campaign finance reform and overturning Citizens United; says she does not accept corporate PAC money.[1],[4]

Voting record

Maria Jukic has not held an office with a recorded voting record. See Background and Where they stand.

In their words