The Palm Beach Post sent questionnaires to candidates in the U.S. House race in Florida’s 21st Congressional District, which covers all of Martin and St. Lucie counties plus the northeastern portion of Palm Beach County, which includes part of The Acreage, Tequesta, Jupiter, Jupiter Farms, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Juno Beach, Juno Ridge, Cabana Colony, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, part of Riviera Beach, Westlake and parts of West Palm Beach.
Candidates for the Democratic primary are Bernard Taylor and James T. Martin.
Incumbent Brian Mast had no challengers in the Republican primary.
Alexander Cooke and David Fabrikant are candidates under “no party affiliation” (NPA), which doesn’t have primaries.
The primary election will be held Aug. 18. Winners advance to the general election Nov. 3.
The candidates’ answers were edited for length.
Democratic primary
James Martin
Age: 33Hometown: Hobe Sound
Previous experience: U.S. Coast Guard officer; White House national security official serving in the Office of the Vice President; candidate for Congress
Education: M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College; B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Employment history: Candidate for U.S. House (2025–present); chief of staff for national security affairs and executive secretary, Office of the Vice President (2022–2025); special assistant to the national security advisor (2021–2022); Joint Interagency Task Force South (2020–2021); commanding officer, USCGC Ibis and USCGC Bluefin (2018–2020); executive officer, USCGC Monomoy (2017–2018); earlier Coast Guard roles (2015–2017)
Campaign priorities:
I am laser-focused on the cost-of-living crisis gripping the hardworking citizens of the Treasure Coast and Northern Palm Beaches. I am also focused on addressing the Treasure Coast’s clean water crisis, and rooting out corruption and big money in our politics.
The cost of living emergency can be tackled by repealing the Trump Administration’s reckless and inflationary tariffs; addressing Florida’s property insurance crisis (which the State legislature has not addressed) because it drives the elderly from their homes, prevents the young from purchasing homes, and squeezes the budgets of working families; and introducing a public health insurance option to inject competition and availability of health insurance.The Treasure Coast’s clean water crisis is also a major priority of mine; there is so much work left to do to complete the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, clean up Lake Okeechobee, and clean up the St. Lucie Estuary. In addition to re-doubling efforts on these fronts, I will be a staunch defender of bedrock environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act which are being curtailed at a breakneck pace by the current Administration.Finally, stringent anti-corruption legislation and overturning Citizens United is critical to making meaningful progress in any policy arena.
Specific areas of District 21 would you prioritize?
The cost of living crisis and the clean water crisis are two issues that touch almost every person that lives in Florida’s 21st district.I talk to too many voters who have too much month at the end of their money, and property insurance and health insurance are most often at the core of those conversations. That is why I am laser-focused on addressing the core drivers of the cost of living crisis.With respect to the clean water crisis, my strong view is that the environment and the quality of our waterways is the lifeblood of the Treasure Coast and Northern Palm Beaches—not as some might suggest “a rich person problem.” Selfishly, I want the same opportunities that I had growing up for my own daughters, including a love of wild Florida that ended up driving me to public service in the U.S. Coast Guard. But I also recognize that the water quality issues not only effect the “blue economy,” but is much more expansive and central to what makes the Treasure Coast and Northern Palm Beaches one of the most sought-after places to live in the country. That is why prioritizing and completing work in this arena in particular is so important to me and for the district.
Campaign website: jamesmartinforflorida.com
Quotable: “I am laser-focused on the cost-of-living crisis gripping the hardworking citizens of the Treasure Coast and Northern Palm Beaches.”
Why should voters choose you?
I am running for this office because I am a patriot and I love my home (I am a proud fourth generation local). I know that if we do not make a change, the opportunities available for my two little girls are not going to be the same ones I had growing up—and that’s the case of tens of thousands of children across the Treasure Coast and Northern Palm Beaches. I am a firm believer in the phrase, that “if you can do something about it, you should,” and when I saw my Congressman more focused on playing D.C. parlor games and toeing his party line, than addressing the problems facing people across the district, I felt strongly that I had the right background, training, and experience to not only win— but to deliver results for the hardworking folks across the district. Four things set my candidacy apart.First, this is not the first time I would be serving the Treasure Coast. One of the unique aspects of my operational military career, is that while it took me all over the world, I also was able to serve in my hometown. From 2018-2020, the ships I commanded protected South Florida’s maritime border.Second, I am the only candidate in this race with substantive policy experience and given the fraught state of the world and our country, we need leaders who are ready to hit the ground running on day one—the halls of congress are not a place to sharpen your policy acumen or find your moral compass.Third, unlike all the other candidates in this race who moved to the district within the last decade (in some instances with the singular goal of running for public office), I am a fourth generation Martin County local and a proud product of Martin County public schools. I have a vested interest in the outcome of this race that is not tied to personal gain.
Bernard Taylor
Age: 37
Hometown: southwest Palm Beach County
Previous experience: Firefighter and paramedic with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue; previously with Polk County Fire Rescue; experience in emergency medical services
Education: Sebastian River High School; attended Livingstone College; firefighter/EMT certification, McFatter Technical Institute
Employment history: Firefighter/paramedic, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (2021–present); Polk County Fire Rescue (2020–2021); JFK Medical Center (2019–2020).
Campaign priorities:
My priorities in Congress are focused on improving affordability, strengthening public safety, protecting our environment, and restoring trust in government. I will fight to lower healthcare and prescription drug costs, support Medicare and Social Security, and expand access to quality care. As a firefighter and paramedic, I will advocate for first responders, veterans, and law enforcement while investing in disaster preparedness and emergency services.
I will work to protect Florida’s environment by preserving the Everglades, defending our waterways from irresponsible development, and promoting sustainable growth. I also support commonsense immigration reform that secures our borders while providing fair, legal pathways that strengthen our workforce and economy.
Finally, I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and putting people ahead of partisan politics. My goal is to bring practical, solutions-focused leadership to Washington that reflects the values and priorities of the families, workers, seniors, and small businesses across our district.
Specific areas of District 21 would you prioritize?
As the representative for Florida’s Congressional District, I will prioritize lowering the cost of living, expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting our environment, strengthening public safety, and investing in resilient infrastructure. Our district faces rising housing and insurance costs, traffic congestion, and increasing threats from hurricanes and flooding.
I will work to reduce costs for working families and seniors while protecting Medicare and Social Security. I will fight to preserve the Everglades, the Indian River Lagoon, and our local waterways from pollution and irresponsible development. As a firefighter and paramedic, I understand the need to support first responders, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure communities have the resources to respond to disasters. I will also champion workforce development, support small businesses, improve transportation infrastructure, and advocate for responsible immigration reform that meets workforce needs while securing our borders.
Above all, I will focus on delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life for every resident in our district, not partisan politics.
Campaign website: bernardtaylorforcongress.com
Quotable: “My priorities in Congress are focused on improving affordability, strengthening public safety, protecting our environment, and restoring trust in government.”
Why should voters choose you?
Voters should choose me because I offer proven leadership, real-world experience, and an unwavering commitment to serving the people, not political interests. As a firefighter and paramedic, I have spent my career protecting lives, solving problems under pressure, and making decisions based on what is best for the community. That same servant-leadership approach will guide me in Congress.I am focused on delivering practical solutions to lower the cost of living, improve access to affordable healthcare, strengthen public safety, protect Florida’s environment, support veterans and first responders, and create opportunities for working families and small businesses. I believe government should be transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves.Unlike career politicians, I bring firsthand experience serving my community every day and understand the challenges families face because I live them too. I will work with anyone, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, who is willing to put the interests of our district ahead of partisan politics. My commitment is simple: to listen, lead with integrity, and fight for the people of this district every single day.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Post voter guide for US House District 21 primary
Reporting by The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
