Economy, Jobs and Trade

Federal minimum wage

125 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: It sets the floor for what many entry-level and hourly jobs pay, which affects both workers' paychecks and employers' costs.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

The lowest hourly wage employers can legally pay in the US, which has been $7.25 since 2009, though many states set higher minimums.1,2

  1. Keep at $7.25 or leave to states
  2. Raise it to less than $15, such as $10 or $12
  3. Raise to $15 or more

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Raise to $15 or more (44)

  • Amanda N. Pusczek AL-4
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour right away, tying later increases to living costs and inflation, and ending lower minimum wages for tipped workers, farmworkers and workers with disabilities.3
  • Connie Chan CA-11
    Her campaign website says she would raise the federal minimum wage to at least $25 and end the lower minimum wage for tipped workers.4
  • Scott Wiener CA-11
    His campaign website says he supports the Living Wage for All Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2031 for large employers.5
  • Salud Carbajal CA-24
    His campaign website says he has backed bills in the House to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.6
  • Angélica María Dueñas CA-29
    Her campaign website calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 nationally and to a living wage.7,8
  • Gil Cisneros CA-31
    His campaign website says he is committed to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide.9
  • Robert Garcia CA-42
    His campaign website says he fights for a nationwide $15 minimum wage.10
  • Adam Withrow CO Senate
    His campaign website says the federal minimum wage should be at least $25 an hour and tied to the Consumer Price Index.11,12
  • Joe Neguse CO-2
    His campaign website says he is fighting to raise the minimum wage to $15 through the Raise the Wage Act.13
  • Jim Himes CT-4
    His campaign website says he has fought to raise the minimum wage to $15 nationwide.14
  • Sarah McBride DE-AL
    Her campaign website calls for raising the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and tying it to inflation.15
  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's platform says every worker should earn at least $17 an hour, with the minimum wage indexed to inflation and productivity, and its bill tracker lists him as supporting the Raise the Wage Act.16,17
  • Mark Davis FL-16
    His policy platform says the minimum wage should be at least $20 an hour.18
  • Caitlyn Gegen GA-9
    Her campaign website says she will fight to increase the national minimum wage to $20 an hour.19
  • Delia Ramirez IL-3
    Her campaign website says she co-sponsored the Raise the Wage Act to raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour.20
  • Sean Casten IL-6
    His campaign website lists cosponsoring the Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour.21
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says the federal minimum wage should be raised to $17 an hour and indexed to inflation.22
  • Juliana Stratton IL Senate
    Her campaign website says she supports a $25 federal minimum wage.23,24
  • Drew Cox IN-4
    His campaign website says he will fight to pass the Raise the Wage Act, which it says would raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour and require it to keep pace with inflation.25
  • Brad A. Meyer IN-9
    His campaign website says he would establish a $20-an-hour national minimum wage.26,27
  • Morgan McGarvey KY-3
    His campaign website says he supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and then indexing it to inflation.28
  • Zach Dembo KY-6
    His campaign website says everyone should make a living wage of at least $15 an hour and notes that Congress has not raised the minimum wage in 17 years.29
  • Conrad Cable LA-4
    His campaign website says the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, which would raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030, is not enough, and that workers deserve a wage that rises with inflation each year.30
  • "Matt" Gromlich LA-4
    His campaign website describes his proposed Small Business Wage Bridge Act, which it says would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 over five years and then index it to the national median wage, with a temporary refundable payroll-tax credit for qualifying small employers.31,32
  • Adrian Boafo MD-5
    His campaign website says he would lift the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, up from $7.25, and index it to inflation.33
  • Nancy Wallace MD-8
    Her campaign website says she would raise the minimum wage to $17.07 an hour.34
  • Zebulon Featherly MI-1
    His campaign website says he supports a nationwide minimum wage increase, starting between $15 and $20 an hour and adjusted for regional cost of living.35,36
  • Brenda K. Sanders MI-12
    Her campaign website says she wants to sponsor efforts to set the federal minimum wage at $25 or more and have it rise regularly along with cost-of-living increases.37
  • Lydia Christensen MI Senate
    Her campaign website says she would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.38
  • Peggy Flanagan MN Senate
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the federal minimum wage to at least $17 an hour and tying it to inflation.39
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    Her campaign website's economy page says she wants a national minimum wage of $17 an hour, and notes she co-sponsored the Raise the Wage Act, which passed the House.40
  • Jeffrey Hulum III MS-4
    His campaign website’s FAQ page says he backs a $15 hourly federal minimum wage that would adjust along with living costs.41
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she would raise the federal minimum wage to at least $17 an hour by 2030, phased in and then tied to inflation.42
  • Sam Forstag MT-1
    His campaign website says he would set the federal minimum wage at $15 an hour or higher and link it to inflation so that it rises over time.43
  • Michael Dublin NC Senate
    His platform supports raising the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, adjusted each year for the cost of living.44
  • Bo Whitehead NC-8
    His campaign website says he supports a $25 minimum wage and lists raising the minimum wage among the first legislation he would introduce.45
  • Donald Norcross NJ-1
    His campaign website says he wants the federal minimum wage raised to $15 an hour and that he is leading the fight for higher pay, describing the Raise the Wage Act, which would lift it to $15 an hour over seven years.46
  • Rob Menendez NJ-8
    Its affordability page says he cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, which it says would lift the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour by 2027, and lists raising it to $17 by 2028 and adjusting it to keep pace with inflation among his goals.47
  • Analilia Mejia NJ-11
    Her campaign issues page says she wants to raise the national minimum wage to $25 an hour.48
  • Andres Jinete NJ-12
    His campaign website calls for a federal minimum wage of $25 an hour, up from $7.25, with future increases tied to inflation.49
  • Melanie Ann Stansbury NM-1
    Her campaign website says she wants the federal minimum wage set at $15 an hour.50
  • Curtis Stinnett OK Senate
    His campaign website proposes tying the federal minimum wage to the MIT Living Wage Calculator for a single adult, set county by county and updated every January, and says he would vote for any measure raising the minimum wage.51
  • Chris Henry OR Senate
    His platform calls for a federal minimum wage of $21 an hour indexed to inflation, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for tripling the $7.25 minimum wage.52,53
  • James Talarico TX Senate
    His campaign website says he would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, with tax credits and subsidies to help smaller businesses adjust.54,55

Statements that don't match one option (81)

  • Clyde Jones AL-1
    His campaign website says workers deserve a livable wage and notes that the federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour.56
  • Lee McInnis AL-3
    His campaign website argues that raising the minimum wage would benefit workers and the economy, and says the minimum wage was meant to be a living wage.57
  • Jeff Wadlin AR Senate
    His campaign website says he supports gradual and predictable minimum wage increases.58
  • Hallie Shoffner AR Senate
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage.59
  • Terri Yarbrough Green AR-1
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage so that work pays.60
  • James "Rus" Russell, III AR-4
    His campaign website says the minimum wage has not kept up with the cost of living and calls for laws that raise wages and guarantee equal pay for equal work.61
  • Mike McGuire CA-1
    His campaign website calls for increasing the minimum wage.62
  • Doris Matsui CA-7
    An earlier issues page still on her campaign website says she strongly supports raising the national minimum wage to keep pace with rising costs.63
  • Mai Vang CA-7
    Her campaign website says she would raise the minimum wage and tie it to inflation.64
  • John Garamendi CA-8
    His campaign website says he supports a package of bills that would, among other things, raise the minimum wage.65
  • Aisha Wahab CA-14
    Her campaign website says she would raise the federal minimum wage so work pays enough to live on.66,67
  • Ro Khanna CA-17
    His campaign website says he wants to raise the national minimum wage to a livable wage and require large companies with federal contracts to pay a living wage.68
  • Randy Villegas CA-22
    His campaign website says the federal minimum wage of $7.25 should be raised so that everyone who works hard can meet their basic needs.69
  • Jimmy Gomez CA-34
    His campaign website says he is committed to raising the minimum wage.70
  • Samantha Mota CA-37
    Her campaign website says she would support the Raise the Wage Act.71
  • Nanette Diaz Barragan CA-44
    Her campaign website says she is fighting to raise the minimum wage, and its 2016 Issues page calls for a federal minimum wage higher than $7.25 an hour.72,73
  • Derek Tran CA-45
    His campaign website says he is fighting to make the minimum wage a living wage so families can keep up with rising costs.74
  • Mike Levin CA-49
    His campaign website calls for raising the federal minimum wage so that people who work full time do not live in poverty.75
  • Melat Kiros CO-1
    Her platform calls for raising the federal minimum wage to a living wage.76
  • Gaylon Kent CO-2
    His campaign website says the government must not mandate wages.77
  • Manny Rutinel CO-8
    His campaign website says he would raise the federal minimum wage.78
  • Angie Nixon FL Senate special
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the federal minimum wage to a living wage that rises with inflation, covering every worker.79
  • LaShonda "L.J." Holloway FL-4
    Her campaign website says full-time work should pay a living wage that covers food, housing, health care and transportation without government assistance.80
  • Todd Schaefer FL-4
    His campaign website proposes a Fair Minimum Wage Act under which the federal minimum wage would rise each year with the cost-of-living formula used for Social Security and be adjusted by region using military housing allowance data.81,82
  • Bale Dalton FL-7
    His campaign website says he supports raising the federal minimum wage.83
  • Kimberly Overman FL-12
    Her campaign platform says she supports raising the national minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.84
  • Deva Simmons FL-18
    Her campaign website lists raising the minimum wage to a living wage among her economic priorities.85
  • Nicole Locklin FL-26
    Her campaign website says one full-time job should be enough to survive and that she will push for wages that match the cost of living.86,87
  • Eliott Rodriguez FL-27
    His campaign website says he would push to increase the federal minimum wage.88
  • Maura Keller GA-3
    Her campaign website says she is committed to raising the minimum wage.89
  • Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr. GA-4
    His campaign website says he voted for the Raise the Wage Act to increase wages.90
  • Kevin E. Martin GA-6
    His campaign website says the federal minimum wage has to clear the cost of living and keep pace with inflation, while keeping a gap between entry wages and the pay people earn by taking on more responsibility.91
  • Tony Kozycki GA-7
    His campaign website says he supports raising the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.92
  • Chris Harden GA-11
    His campaign website says he supports raising the minimum wage.93
  • Jordan S. Conley HI-1
    His campaign website lists a higher minimum wage and universal basic income among the topics on its home page.94
  • Josh Turek IA Senate
    His campaign website says he would raise the minimum wage and tie future raises to inflation.95
  • Dave Dawson IA-4
    His campaign website says he supports raising the federal minimum wage, which it notes has been $7.25 for 17 years.96
  • Matt Loesby ID Senate
    His campaign website says he would push to repeal minimum wage laws.97
  • Kaylee Peterson ID-1
    Her campaign website says she will increase the federal minimum wage, benefit packages and overtime protections.98
  • Patty Garcia IL-4
    Her campaign website lists raising the federal minimum wage among her top priorities.99
  • Mike Quigley IL-5
    His campaign website says he supports legislation to increase the minimum wage.100
  • La Shawn K. Ford IL-7
    His campaign website says he will support and sponsor legislation that raises federal wage standards beyond outdated levels, and will fight to end subminimum wages for tipped workers and workers with disabilities.101
  • Jamee Decio IN-2
    Her campaign website says she would propose a federal minimum wage tied to the local cost of living and adjusted automatically each year for inflation.102
  • Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth IN-6
    Her campaign website says she will work to raise the minimum wage so that Hoosiers have a better quality of life.103
  • Mary Allen IN-8
    Her campaign website says she supports a national minimum wage tied to inflation.104
  • Sharice L. Davids KS-3
    Her campaign website lists voting to raise the federal minimum wage among her actions.105
  • John "Drew" Williams KY-1
    His campaign website proposes a Living Wage Standard Act that would set cost-of-living-based regional wages, with a permanent wage schedule starting at $8 an hour for microbusinesses that rises with the number of employees.106
  • Megan Wingfield KY-2
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the minimum wage and a living wage for workers.107
  • Mikel Wein KY-5
    His campaign website lists the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, which it says raises the minimum wage to $17.00 by 2030, among the pending legislation on its Wealth page, and lists supporting pending legislation to redistribute wealth back to workers among actions needed immediately.108
  • Jay J Bowman KY-6
    His campaign website says it supports raising the federal minimum wage to a level that reflects the cost of living in different regions and indexing it to inflation.109
  • Pete Lynch KY-6
    His campaign website says he supports minimum wages that reflect local living wages, with annual adjustments based on changes in the local cost of living.110
  • "Jamie" Davis LA Senate
    His campaign website says he would raise the federal minimum wage, which it notes has been $7.25 since 2009.111
  • Lauren Jewett LA-1
    Her campaign website says she will raise the federal minimum wage and index it to inflation.112
  • Priscilla Gonzalez LA-3
    Her campaign website's Davis Parish poverty page says she would support federal legislation to raise the minimum wage so that full-time workers earn a living wage.113
  • Gordon Heslop LA-4
    His campaign website lists increasing the minimum wage among its goals.114
  • Lindsay "Rubia" Garcia LA-6
    Her campaign website's Issues page says she supports raising the federal minimum wage so that no full-time worker lives in poverty.115
  • Edward J. Markey MA Senate
    His campaign website says he supports a higher minimum wage and eliminating subminimum wages.116
  • Lori Loureiro Trahan MA-3
    Her campaign website lists increasing the minimum wage among her priorities for women's rights and opportunity.117
  • Jake Auchincloss MA-4
    His campaign website lists raising the minimum wage as part of the fix for Social Security's finances.118
  • Stephen F. Lynch MA-8
    His campaign website says he is fighting for increasing the minimum wage, along with equal pay and paid leave.119
  • Dan Schwartz MD-1
    His campaign website says he would raise the federal minimum wage.120
  • April McClain Delaney MD-6
    Her campaign website says a minimum wage increase is long overdue and that she supports raising it with an added index for inflation.121,122
  • Charlotte Magoon MI-2
    Her campaign website says she supports a higher federal minimum wage, so that a full-time worker could cover rent, groceries and utilities without needing a second job.123
  • Christian Vukasovich MI-5
    His campaign website says he supports raising the federal minimum wage to reflect the cost of living.124
  • Ray Pooley MI-9
    His campaign website says he supports raising the minimum wage while setting a maximum ratio for CEO pay.125
  • Fred Wellman MO-2
    His campaign website says Congress must immediately raise the federal minimum wage.126
  • Scott Colom MS Senate
    His campaign website says he would work to raise the minimum wage and tie it to the cost of living.127
  • Brian J Miller MT-2
    His campaign website says he wants to consider raising the minimum wage for big employers like Walmart and Amazon, and to use wage subsidies for small and mid-size employers.128,129
  • Chuck Hubbard NC-5
    His campaign website says the minimum wage should be raised.130
  • Kimberly Hardy NC-7
    Her campaign website's Priorities page says she supports raising the federal minimum wage.131
  • Richard N. Ojeda II NC-9
    His campaign website's Standing Up for Working Families page says he supports raising the federal minimum wage so that people who work full time are not left in poverty.132
  • Ashley Bell NC-10
    Her campaign website says she supports a national minimum wage.133
  • Alma S. Adams NC-12
    Her campaign website says she wants a higher minimum wage that rises automatically with inflation.134,135
  • Lakesha Womack NC-14
    Her issues page says she supports raising the federal minimum wage.136
  • Helene Neville ND-AL
    Her campaign website's political platform lists raising and indexing the minimum wage.137
  • David J. Else NE-3
    His campaign website says he will work toward an economy that encourages every American who can work to do so, and calls for raising the minimum wage.138
  • Rachel Peace NJ-4
    Her campaign website says she believes in a national living wage that reflects economic conditions and price increases and moves with inflation, and notes that the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009.139
  • LaMonica R. McIver NJ-10
    Her campaign page on social justice lists raising the minimum wage among the ways she would promote economic equity.140
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says the minimum wage should be raised to a living wage.141,142
  • Teresa Leger Fernandez NM-3
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the federal minimum wage.143
  • N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas OK Senate
    Her campaign website says she would fight for a minimum wage that is a living wage.144