Segal was chairman and founder of the federal political action committee Greens for Impact which helped steer the Green Party to endorse David Cobb rather than Ralph Nader, and ran a national media and direct-mail campaign in 2004, encouraging Greens and progressives in swing states to fight the re-election of George W. Bush by voting for John Kerry, and promoting electoral reform.

He has sponsored and overseen the passage of legislation promoting renewable energy and public transit, reform of the criminal justice system, progressive taxation, maintenance of social services, equitable school funding, and more.

[7] Segal ran for Congress in the 2010 elections for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district, for the seat held by Patrick J. Kennedy, who did not seek re-election.

Segal lost in the four-way September 14, 2010, Democratic Party primary to David Cicilline,[8] garnering over 20% of the vote.

[1] As the executive director of the online organizing, policy, and lobbying group Demand Progress, Segal has advocated to defeat SOPA, curtail mass surveillance, protect net neutrality, confront corporate monopoly power, reduce militarism, and promote other progressive causes.