Meet James Martin

James is a fourth generation Floridian, a dad, husband, national security expert, and proud U.S. Coast Guard veteran.

After spending nearly ten years protecting the United States from enemies foreign and domestic, he’s running for Congress because Brian Mast is failing Florida families. James is laser focused on the economy and cost of living to put more money in the pockets of hardworking Floridians. From curbing chaotic tariffs, to combatting skyrocketing property insurance, ending the clean water crisis, and lowering healthcare costs, James is running to make the economy work better for everyone — Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike.

Born and raised in Hobe Sound, Florida, where his family has called home since the early 1930s. The son of a small business owner and a public-school teacher, James is a proud product of Martin County Public Schools (Go South Fork Bulldogs!). James’ father still runs Diamond Transfer & Garage, the small business his great-grandfather started in 1934.

James was fortunate to combine his love of the ocean–forged growing up surfing, fishing, and diving–with a desire to serve his country by joining the U.S. Coast Guard. James brought the very best of Florida to the Coast Guard, serving on four ships from combat zones in the Middle East to drug trafficking lanes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. He was selected to command two Coast Guard cutters in Fort Pierce, FL, where he spent two years keeping South Florida’s maritime border safe from human traffickers and drug runners.

All told, his Coast Guard teams were responsible for the seizure of more than 200 tons of illicit narcotics with a street value of more than $3.5 billion, the detainment and onward prosecution of more than 450 suspected drug traffickers, and the interdiction of more than 250 migrants at sea.

His last assignment on active duty was the Chief of Staff for National Security Affairs and Executive Secretary of the Office of the Vice President at the White House from 2022-2025, where he served both Vice President Harris and Vice President Vance.

James holds a commission as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and is a proud life member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the nation’s oldest patriotic organization composed of direct descendants of Continental Army and Navy officers who served in the American War for Independence. James carries forward a deep legacy of defending freedom and putting country before self. Now he’s continuing his commitment to public service in Congress, where he will work on behalf of all Florida families with the same character and dedication he brought to his military career.