Originally from Denver, Colorado, Chris attended Macalester College and then the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where he majored in studio arts and also studied political science and became involved in the peace community of the twin cities.  Early in his activist work he had the opportunity to meet former Senator Paul Wellstone and was inspired to get involved in local politics as an advocate for progressive political action by organizations such as the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action.

In 1996 Chris moved to Nashville, Tennessee with to be supportive of a good friend for a short period of time before moving to California.  But life happened as it often does and Chris became involved in the Nashville community with the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and began a business and established residency in Nashville.

Shortly after moving to Nashville Chris also became active in the Green Party and supported Ralph Nader in his 1996 initial run for president, having met Nader in Knoxville in 1996.  Since living in Nashville Chris has been an active member and supporter of the Nashville Peace and Justice Center, having served on the board for ten years. Since 2001 Chris has been involved in the Nashville Peace Coalition, an organization dedicated to ending the war in Iraq.

While getting to know members of the Nashville Greenlands community Chris became interested in adopting a philosophy of simple living.  He started a small business which would allow him to earn a living and sustain himself at a minimal level while dedicating the majority of his time to social justice advocacy.  He was active in the struggle to save Tenncare in 2005 when 323,000 people were kicked off of the State's health care roles and also active in support of an income tax in 2002 when then Governor Don Sundquist proposed adopting a state income tax.

In 2002 Lugo along with a coalition of independent media activists started the Tennessee Independent Media Center, an independent progressive news service which operated for four years providing news and information regarding progressive and liberal politics for Tennessee.  He was also supportive in the founding of Radio Free Nashville, Tennessee's first low power fm community radio station currently operating in Pasquo, Tennessee.

In 2006 he decided to step up his politics a level by running as the Green Party of Tennessee candidate for US Senate.  Having been active in the campaigns for Ralph Nader for President, David Cobb for President, Tom Burrell for US Senate and Jonathan Farley for Congress, Lugo decided to step in the race in 2006.  He cited the need for a peace alternative in the 2006 race after having interviewed Harold Ford Jr. at an open meeting where Ford encouraging a stepping up of the US war effort in Iraq. 

In 2008 Chris decided to run for the US Senate in Tennessee again to advocate for peace and social justice issues that he feels are being ignored by political insiders including the crisis of poverty in Tennessee, the lack of adequate health care for hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans, and the need to bring an end to the war in Iraq.