Democrat · Florida's 21st District · 2026
James Martin
Martin grew up surfing, fishing and diving in Hobe Sound, where his family has run a business since the 1930s.
Biography
James Martin grew up surfing, fishing and diving in Hobe Sound, where his father still runs the transfer and garage business his great grandfather started.1 His mother was a public school teacher, and he attended Martin County public schools, graduating from South Fork High School.1 He and his wife have two daughters.2
He graduated with honors from the Coast Guard Academy with a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering.1 His nearly decade of active service included four ships, assignments in the Middle East, Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and command of two cutters based in Fort Pierce.1 In Key West, he worked with Joint Interagency Task Force South on efforts to intercept drug shipments.2
His final active duty assignment was chief of staff for national security affairs and executive secretary in the vice president's office, serving under both Kamala Harris and JD Vance before leaving in 2025.1 He remains a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard Reserve.1
Martin supports a public health insurance option and stronger scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers.2 His current campaign also proposes a federal property insurance backstop, curbing tariffs, cleaner local waterways and a congressional stock trading ban.3 He is the Democratic nominee against Republican Brian Mast.4