Kamala Harris endorses ‘patriot’ James Martin in race to flip CD 21

It’s one of the strongest endorsements a Democratic candidate on any stage can secure, and James Martin just got it.

Kamala Harris is backing Martin in his bid for Florida’s 21st Congressional District, his campaign announced in a press note that included a statement from the former Vice President.

“James is a patriot, a distinguished Coast Guard veteran, and a fighter for the people of Florida’s Treasure Coast. At the White House, he showed strong judgment and a devotion to our country. He is focused on making life better for working people, and he will be ready to deliver on Day One,” Harris said.

“I am proud to endorse James Martin for Congress.”

Martin served as Chief of Staff for National Security Affairs and Executive Secretary of the Office of the Vice President during the Joe Biden-Harris administration, providing high-level counsel on defense and homeland security issues to the White House.

He said he is “honored” by Harris’ support, adding that his goal in running to supplant Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast is “to bring real leadership to the Treasure Coast and this great country.”

“For nearly four years, I had a front-row seat as she fought for the American people — asking hard questions and always looking out for the ‘little guy’ in policy discussions,” he said. “I’m running to bring that same leadership to the halls of Congress.”

A Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Martin, 42, spent nearly a decade on active duty commanding two cutters in Fort Pierce and leading operations against drug trafficking, human smuggling and transnational criminal networks.

Over his career, his campaign said, his Coast Guard teams seized more than 200 tons of narcotics worth $3.5 billion and brought hundreds of traffickers to justice.

He also served as second-in-command of a Coast Guard cutter deployed to Bahrain.

The nod from Harris adds to others Martin notched from Veterans for Responsible Leadership, the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, state Rep. Debra Tendrich, Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon and numerous local elected leaders.

Martin is competing in a Democratic Primary against paramedic Bernard Taylor. No-party candidate Alexander Cooke and write-in candidate David Fabrikant are also running.

CD 21 is a coastal district stretching from Royal Palm Beach in Palm Beach County north through Martin and St. Lucie counties.

About 57.5% of voters in the district, whose bounds were changed under a new congressional map Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-dominated Legislature pushed through in April, voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

Mast won re-election last cycle with nearly 62% of the vote.

The Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.