James Martin has won the Democratic nomination for Florida’s 21st Congressional District, setting up a November matchup with Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast.

The Associated Press called the closely contested Democratic primary for Martin, who defeated firefighter Bernard Taylor. Mast was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

The Associated Press called the closely contested Democratic primary for Martin, who defeated firefighter Bernard Taylor. Mast was unopposed for the Republican nomination. (Associated Press)

The Associated Press called the closely contested Democratic primary for Martin, who defeated firefighter Bernard Taylor. Mast was unopposed for the Republican nomination. (Associated Press)

Taylor conceded in a statement Thursday night, congratulating Martin and telling supporters that “the voters have spoken.”

“To my opponent, James Martin, congratulations on your victory,” Taylor wrote. “I wish you well, and I hope you will always remember that the people of this district deserve to be heard, respected and served.”

FLORIDA PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS

Martin thanked Taylor for what he described as a hard-fought race and immediately turned his attention to Mast.

“I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for Florida’s 21st Congressional District,” Martin said in a statement. “But first, we need to unseat Brian Mast.”

Martin, a Coast Guard veteran and reservist, previously served as chief of staff for national security affairs and executive secretary in the Office of the Vice President. He spent nearly a decade on active duty in the Coast Guard, including commanding cutters in Fort Pierce and serving on a cutter deployed to Bahrain.

His campaign has focused on affordability, public service and national security. Martin has argued that voters need a change from what he calls “politics as usual” and has criticized Mast over his record in Washington.

Taylor, a firefighter and EMT, had presented himself as a working-class alternative rooted in public service. The Democratic primary was extremely close, with unofficial results showing the candidates separated by only a few hundred votes.

Martin now faces a much tougher test against Mast, a well-funded incumbent who has represented the area in Congress since 2017.

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Mast, an Army veteran who lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan, launched his reelection campaign for the district earlier this year. He won reelection in 2024 with nearly 62% of the vote.

Florida’s 21st Congressional District includes all of Martin and St. Lucie counties and part of northern Palm Beach County.

Mast will appear on CBS12 News at 6 p.m. Friday to discuss the race and his campaign for another term.

The general election is Nov. 3.