James Martin

James Martin is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran running as the Democratic nominee against incumbent Brian Mast. According to his campaign website, he grew up in Hobe Sound, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and served on active duty for nearly ten years, ending as a White House national security staff member. He is campaigning on cost of living, clean water, and anti-corruption measures.[1][2]

According to his campaign website, Martin was born and raised in Hobe Sound, Florida, where his family has lived since the early 1930s, and he is a fourth-generation Floridian. His father runs Diamond Transfer & Garage, which his great-grandfather founded in 1934.[2] He attended Martin County Public Schools, including South Fork High School, and earned an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he says he graduated with honors in naval architecture and marine engineering.[2] He says he served on four Coast Guard ships, from Middle East combat zones to drug-trafficking lanes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, and commanded two Coast Guard cutters in Fort Pierce for two years.[2]

Martin's campaign website says his last active-duty assignment was Chief of Staff for National Security Affairs and Executive Secretary of the Office of the Vice President at the White House from 2022 to 2025, serving Vice Presidents Harris and Vance.[2] He holds a commission as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and is a life member of the Society of the Cincinnati, according to the same site.[2] He won the Democratic primary on August 18, 2026, defeating Bernard Taylor.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.