Martin and St. Lucie Counties - Monday October 31, 2022: Incumbent GOP Congressman Brian Mast faces a challenge from Democrat Corinna Balderramos Robinson in the Florida U.S. Congressional District 21 race.
District 21 covers Martin and St. Lucie counties, as well as portions of Palm Beach County.
(R) Brian Mast
Based on responses provided to and/or compiled by Ballotpedia* and on Congressman Mast's website
Biography: In 1980 Brian Mast was born and raised in Grand Rapids Michigan. Mast is a U.S. Army veteran who served from 2000 to 2012. He was awarded various medals, including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Between 2011 and 2012 he served as an analyst for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
After his military service he went on to serve as an Explosive specialist with the United States Department of Homeland Security between 2012 and 2015.
He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2017 where he has served every since.
Republican Congressman Brian Mast represents Florida's 18th Congressional District in the current Congress. His current term ends on January 3, 2023.
Mast is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 21st Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 8, 2022. Mast defeated Jeffrey Buongiorno, Melissa Martz, and Ljubo Skrbic in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 23, 2022.
During his time in Congress, Mast has served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021
* Cong. Mast voted NAY on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - It Passed 220-210
* Cong. Mast voted NAY on the For the People Act of 2021 - It Passed 220-210
* Cong. Mast voted NAY on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act- It Passed 228-206
* Cong. Mast voted NAY on the Build Back Better Act - It Passed 220-213
* Cong. Mast voted NAY on the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 - It passed 218 to 211
* Cong. Mast voted YEA on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 - It Passed 363-70
* Cong. Mast voted YEA on the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 - It Passed 321-101
* Cong. Mast voted YEA on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act It Passed 364-62
Key Messages:
Mast did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection questionnaire. The following key messages were compiled from the Congressman's website.
Environment: The most important issue for our community is the devastation of our water. This impacts everyone: businesses forced to close, people getting sick, animals killed, and our environment destroyed. Health and safety needs to be made a top priority to prevent these discharges. Our work in this area is not about one party or any individual; it is about defending our community by putting all people and our environment first.
Accomplishments:
-Securing a commitment to authorize the EAA Southern Storage Reservoir
-Passing hundreds of millions of dollars to combat harmful algal blooms, prevent toxic agricultural runoff and restore the Everglades
-Fully funding expedited completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike
Stopping Brightline: I am 100% against Brightline (also known as All Aboard Florida). This is a vitally important issue in our community, as the train routes go right through the heart of our district without stopping. It would bring down property values, disrupt emergency responders, and with so many more proposed train routes, it’s going to put our children in increased danger going to and from school. Our town is against it, our environment is against it, and I’m against it.
Accomplishments :
-Forcing Brightline executives to testify before Congress
-Initiating a Department of Homeland Security study into Brightline’s plans
-Exposing Brightline’s lies and abuse of taxpayer dollars
Economy: Our current spending is unsustainable, which is why I’ve voted against irresponsible spending packages. We must pass a Balance Budget Amendment that will force government to live within its means. The tax cuts passed have allowed you to keep more of your money, stimulated the economy, and led to more investment. Now, we must continue working to close special interest loopholes and lobbyist-driven deductions, while making the individual tax cuts permanent.
Accomplishments:
-Passing major tax cuts for American families
-Doubling the child tax credit
-Eliminating Obamacare’s costly individual mandate
-Voting in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution
Healthcare: There’s no doubt the rising cost of healthcare caused by Obamacare has burdened American families and created a massive increase in bureaucracy resulting in less choice. In fact, Martin and St. Lucie counties now have only one provider on the individual exchange. We need healthcare in the United States that increases choice and enables Americans to choose the doctors and plans that fit their specific needs, while still protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions and drastically lowering costs. We also need to eliminate red tape to speed up the development of life saving cures and drive down costs for prescription drugs. When reforming our healthcare system, we also must protect and improve care for seniors and veterans.
Accomplishments include:
-Eliminating Obamacare’s individual mandate tax
-Securing a new law to lower prescription drug costs
-Voting to decrease individual market premiums
(D) Corinna Balderramos Robinson
Based on responses provided to and/or compiled by Ballotpedia* and Corinna for Congress website
The Democratic primary for this office on August 23, 2022, was canceled. Corinna Balderramos Robinson advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21.
Biography:
After high school, Robinson joined the Army. She later graduated from Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an officer in the Military Police Corps. She served in the Iraq war and then retired after 25 years in the Army. After retiring, she led the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Directorate, Pentagon Force Protection Agency. As part of the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce program, she accepted an assignment with the office of the Commander, United States Forces-Iraq. Working at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, she interacted with many congressional delegations, assisted in Department of Defense communications with Congressional members, and supported negotiations between Iraqi and international diplomats.
On the issues:
Reproductive Rights: Fight for federal laws to protect women's right to choose, including access to contraception.
Social Security & Medicare: Defend against proposed cuts.
Gun Safety Reform: Stands for common sense gun safety legislation to significantly reduce mass shootings while respecting responsible gun-ownership. Mass casualty weapons should be reserved only for those serving in uniform.
Environment & Conservation: In our district, environmental pollution is of the utmost importance, and the health of our neighbors is dependent on the health of our ecosystem. The cyanobacteria and algae blooms in Lake Okeechobee must be monitored and mitigated. Our coastline must be protected, and investments in saving our oceans are a priority. Water quality standards must be enforced, and water-safe practices employed throughout the district. We must restore the mission of the Department of Interior and other Federal Agencies to ensure the health of our water, marine life, and economy. Fines should be increased for environmental lawbreakers, especially those which are agriculturally based hazards, and our officials should be held accountable for failing to practice environmental risk mitigation processes.
Economy: Congress has finally taken action on critical investments in our infrastructure
- Now we must support businesses and communities with a focus on recovery and long-term progress.
- We need to remove the barriers to green energy in our homes and communities, spur job growth and investment that will immediately improve the lives of everyday workers and families.
- We must move away from tax breaks and giveaways for businesses that pay more taxes and invest in our small business and family business by giving them access to capital, support for hiring new workers, and bolstering local markets.
Healthcare: Healthcare is a human right, and affordable health care is necessary in order to ensure affordable access to healthcare for all. We must expand the scope of what is available for families and individuals facing long-term care and disabilities and stop bankrupting those who need help and genuine compassion. We cannot run a country where GoFundMe is the solution and expect to succeed as a nation.
Education: Our children deserve the absolute best in education, and they aren’t getting it. As a product of the public school system, I firmly believe there must be educational equity and investment, not just in charter schools or pet projects.
Teachers need to be paid at a level reflecting the importance to our families and our communities. We need to invest in science, math, and the arts as critical gateways to careers that will help America succeed. We need to restore trade programs to our schools and recognize that not every kid’s path to success is through college and that we must celebrate success in all its forms.
We also must make permanent access to mental health resources and online programs that have allowed students to get the help and additional learning they needed during the pandemic.
Voter Rights: Our democracy must be preserved. We must tackle internal and external threats to our democracy head-on and combat cyber threats and attempts from foreign influence with our modern technology and interagency support. Every citizen of the state of Florida must be given a fair and equitable opportunity to vote to include voting by mail.
Political Career:
- Campaigned for Florida's State Senate District 25 in 2020 earning 43% of the votes
- Served as Chair, Speakers Bureau, League of Women Voters, Palm Beach County
- Performed as one of the FL DEMS top field organizers during the 2018 Nelson-Gillum coordinated campaign
- Served as a 2016 Brookings Legislative Congressional Fellow advising on national security, defense, and veterans’ policy issues; authored talking points and testimony; and regularly met with constituents on the Member’s behalf
- Campaigned as the 2014 candidate for South Dakota’s sole Congressional Representative seat; secured 34% of the votes in 14 months
Government Civilian Career (GS-15):
- Served as a Legislative Affairs Director in Iraq amid interagency and diplomatic officials
- Hallmarked for being a dynamic and effective negotiator
- Led the Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection Directorate at the Pentagon, leading teams responsible for protecting high-risk personnel and safeguarding over 100 facilities
Military Career:
- Completed 25 years of honorable active duty service retiring with the rank of Major
- Coordinated numerous Congressional delegation visits, and liaised with Special Operations forces and other governmental agencies during the “surge” in Iraq
- Joined the U.S. Army at age 17, working up to Sergeant First Class (Promotable)
- Subsequently, attended Officer Candidate School, entering the Military Police Corps
- Commanded paratroopers from Fort Bragg, NC providing immediate response to the Pentagon’s 9/11 terrorist attack, and support to combat operations in Afghanistan
- Served as a Deputy Provost Marshal in Iraq supporting counter-terrorism operations
Education:
- Doctorate of Management (Homeland Security); Colorado Technical University
- Masters of Science degree in Public Policy; Georgetown University (DC); in 2016, she also served as an Adjunct Professor there for a master’s level course in Homeland Security
- Masters of Arts degree in Criminal Justice; Chaminade University of Hawaii
“All-American” Roots:
- Born and raised in America, Corinna is of Hispanic and German heritage
- Raised three sons as a single mother, whom are all college graduates
- Actively supports numerous mentoring and faith-based organizations
*Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics.