{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJim Torino is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District [1]. He officially declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary, which is scheduled for August 6, 2026 [2]. As of May 2026, the outcome of this upcoming election remains unknown.\n\nTorino has established a principal campaign committee named \"Jim Torino for US Congress,\" with Donald Torino serving as treasurer [4]. Federal Election Commission data indicates that the candidate's committee reported total receipts of $117,034.15 and cash on hand derived from various sources, including individual contributions and loans [3]. The campaign's platform, as self-described by Torino, focuses on affordable healthcare, job creation, affordable housing, and protecting Medicare and Social Security for residents of Tennessee's 9th District [7].\n\nIn addition to his political activities, Torino serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Friend Foundation, a role he co-founded in 2016 [9]. He also holds professional ties to StationMD, where he has worked in operations management and healthcare leadership [10]. Torino resides in Columbia, Tennessee.\n\n## Background and education\n\nHe earned a high school diploma from Uniondale High School and a bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1987 [1]. He later obtained a graduate degree from the Keller Graduate School of Management in 2015 and a Ph.D. from Walden University in 2022 [1]. His doctoral work is identified as a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, and he holds dual Master's degrees in Business Administration and Information Systems Management [9].\n\n## Career\n\nJim Torino holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Walden University, earned in 2022, as well as dual Master's degrees in Business Administration and Information Systems Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management, completed in 2015 [1][2][9]. He also obtained a bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1987 and a high school diploma from Uniondale High School [1][2].\n\nProfessionally, Torino is an operations executive with a background in starting, developing, and leading high-growth organizations, particularly within the healthcare, wellness, and disease management sectors [9]. He co-founded The Friend Foundation in 2016 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer [9][10]. Additionally, he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at StationMD [12].\n\nTorino self-describes his career as one defined by service to communities and building organizations that create opportunities for vulnerable individuals [8]. He resides in Columbia, Tennessee.\n\n## Office history\n\nJim Torino has not held any elected or appointed public office [1]. He is currently running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 9th Congressional District as a Democrat in the primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][2]. This race is upcoming and its outcome is unknown.\n\nTorino has not previously run for federal or state elected office according to available records. He co-founded The Friend Foundation in 2016 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer [9][10]. He also serves as the Chief Operating Officer at StationMD [12].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nJim Torino's professional background is rooted in healthcare operations and organizational leadership. He co-founded The Friend Foundation in 2016 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer [9]. Additionally, he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at StationMD, where he applies his experience in health, wellness, and disease management [12]. Torino states that he has spent over a decade leading healthcare operations for companies in the wellness and disease management space [9].\n\nFinancial disclosures related to his 2026 congressional campaign indicate that his funding comes primarily from individual contributions and loans rather than personal wealth or business sales. As of the reporting period, Torino's candidate committee reported total receipts of $117,034.15 [3]. Of this amount, $16,559.60 consisted of total contributions, including $850.00 in candidate contributions made by Torino himself [5]. The remaining funds were supported by a loan of $100,000.00 received by the candidate [3]. His campaign committee is registered at his residence in Columbia, TN, with his father, Donald Torino, serving as the committee treasurer [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Jim Torino](https://ballotpedia.org/Jim_Torino)\n[2] [James Torino - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Torino)\n[3] [TORINO, JAMES PHD - Candidate overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6TN05355/)\n[4] [JIM TORINO FOR US CONGRESS - committee overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00899450/)\n[5] [TORINO, JAMES PHD - Candidate overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6TN05355/?cycle=2026)\n[7] [Jim Torino for Congress \u2014 Democrat for Tennessee's 9th District](https://www.jimtorino.com/)\n[8] [I just gave to Jim Torino for Congress!](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jimtorinoforcongress)\n[9] [Our Leadership Team - Be an UpStander!](https://www.thefriendfoundation.org/our-executive-team/)\n[10] [Jim Torino, PhD, MBA - StationMD](https://stationmd.com/personnel/james-torino/)\n[12] [Jim Torino - Chief Operating Officer at Stationmd - Wiza](https://wiza.co/d/stationmd/f1cb/jim-torino)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US House District 9"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Jim","fullname":"Jim Torino","lastname":"Torino","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_9","contest_title":"US House District 9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"us_house_9","contest_title":"US House District 9","county":"Lauderdale","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house_9","office_title":"US House District 9","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Jim Torino, a Democrat running for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the 2026 primary, is an operations executive and CEO of The Friend Foundation.","terms":[],"token":"Rw8S9FHmnM"}