Jack Bergman

Jack Bergman
Born	John Warren Bergman 2 2, 1947
Birthplace	Shakopee, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, retired military officer
Known for	U.S. Representative for Michigan's 1st congressional district; highest-ranking military officer elected to Congress in 2016
Education	Gustavus Adolphus College (BA) University of West Florida (MBA)
Spouse(s)	Cindy Bergman
Children	5
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal
Website	[[bergman.house.gov bergman.house.gov] Official site]

John Warren Bergman (born February 2, 1947), known as Jack Bergman, is an American politician and retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who has served as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district since January 3, 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Bergman represents a sprawling district that encompasses the entirety of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a significant portion of the northern Lower Peninsula. Before entering politics, Bergman had a distinguished four-decade military career spanning from 1969 to 2009, during which he rose to the rank of lieutenant general — making him, at the time of his election, the highest-ranking former military officer serving in Congress. As a naval aviator, he flew both rotary-wing aircraft, including the CH-46 Sea Knight and UH-1 Iroquois, and fixed-wing aircraft such as the T-28 Trojan and KC-130. His military commands included serving as commanding general of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North. In Congress, Bergman has focused on veterans' affairs, national defense, and issues relevant to his rural northern Michigan constituency.

Early Life

Jack Bergman was born John Warren Bergman on February 2, 1947, in Shakopee, Minnesota, a small city located southwest of Minneapolis along the Minnesota River. Details regarding his parents and upbringing in Shakopee remain limited in publicly available records, but Bergman grew up in the Upper Midwest, a background that would later inform his political career representing the northern reaches of Michigan.

Bergman's formative years in Minnesota provided him with an appreciation for rural communities and the outdoor lifestyle characteristic of the region. He went on to pursue higher education at institutions in the Upper Midwest and the American South before embarking on a military career that would span four decades.

Education

Bergman attended Gustavus Adolphus College, a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the institution. He later pursued graduate studies at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Pensacola is home to Naval Air Station Pensacola, the primary training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators, suggesting Bergman's graduate education may have coincided with or followed his naval aviation training.

Career

Military Service

Bergman's military career in the United States Marine Corps spanned forty years, from 1969 to 2009. He served as a naval aviator, qualifying on both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. Among the rotary-wing aircraft he flew were the CH-46 Sea Knight, a medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter used extensively by the Marine Corps, and the UH-1 Iroquois (commonly known as the "Huey"), the iconic utility helicopter that became synonymous with the Vietnam War era. On the fixed-wing side, Bergman flew the T-28 Trojan trainer aircraft and the KC-130, the Marine Corps variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used for aerial refueling and transport.

Over the course of his career, Bergman rose through the ranks of the Marine Corps to achieve the rank of lieutenant general, a three-star general officer rank. His most prominent commands included serving as the commanding general of Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) and Marine Forces North (MARFORNORTH). Marine Forces Reserve oversees all Marine Corps Reserve units and personnel, while Marine Forces North serves as the Marine Corps service component of United States Northern Command, responsible for homeland defense and civil support operations in the continental United States.

Bergman's military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal, among other awards recognizing his service.

Upon his retirement in 2009, Bergman settled in northern Michigan, where he would later enter political life.

Entry into Politics

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Bergman became involved in community and political activities in northern Michigan. In April 2016, he filed to run in the Republican primary for Michigan's 1st congressional district, seeking to succeed incumbent Republican Dan Benishek, who had announced he would not seek reelection. The district, one of the largest in area east of the Mississippi River, covers the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a substantial portion of the northern Lower Peninsula.

Bergman won the Republican primary in August 2016, securing the party's nomination in what was considered a competitive primary field. His military credentials and three-star general rank distinguished him from the other candidates and became central to his campaign identity.

2016 General Election

In the November 2016 general election, Bergman faced Democratic nominee Lon Johnson. Bergman won the race, claiming the seat that Benishek was vacating. At the time of his election, media outlets noted that Bergman was the highest-ranking former military officer to be elected to the 115th United States Congress.

Congressional Tenure

Bergman was sworn in on January 3, 2017, as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 1st congressional district, succeeding Dan Benishek. He has been reelected in subsequent cycles and continues to serve the district as of 2026.

2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting

On June 14, 2017, Bergman was among the Republican members of Congress present at a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia, when a gunman opened fire on the group. The shooting wounded House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several others. Bergman, drawing on his military training, described his reaction to the attack, stating that he "basically went into a low crawl" to take cover during the shooting. The incident drew national attention and renewed discussions about security for members of Congress.

Legislative Priorities

In Congress, Bergman has focused on several key policy areas, including veterans' affairs, national defense, and issues affecting the rural communities of northern Michigan. He has been a member of the House Armed Services Committee, consistent with his military background and the defense-related interests of his district.

Bergman introduced legislation in the 116th United States Congress, including H.R. 729, reflecting his legislative engagement on matters pertaining to his constituents and national policy priorities.

In 2017, Bergman voted with the Republican majority on several key legislative measures during the 115th United States Congress.

Bergman has served as a member of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, reflecting an interest in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan.

Election Integrity and State-Level Advocacy

In early 2026, Bergman joined with the Michigan Republican Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson demanding answers regarding election integrity in the state. The delegation raised questions about election administration practices and procedures in Michigan.

Defense and Infrastructure Initiatives

In February 2026, Bergman worked alongside U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) to secure a Department of Defense drone testing site in Michigan. The bipartisan effort was aimed at bolstering defense technology development within the state and creating economic opportunities tied to defense sector activities. The initiative demonstrated Bergman's capacity for cross-party collaboration on defense and economic development issues relevant to Michigan.

2026 Reelection Campaign and Intraparty Disputes

Bergman's 2026 reelection campaign has been marked by significant intraparty controversy. In February 2026, businessman Matthew DenOtter filed to run in the Republican primary for Michigan's 1st Congressional District, seeking to challenge Bergman for the GOP nomination.

The most notable development in the 2026 cycle involved a public falling-out between Bergman and several Upper Peninsula Republican state legislators. In February 2026, Upper Peninsula state representatives and senators publicly rescinded their support for Bergman's reelection after he made an endorsement in a state Senate race that was perceived as controversial within the regional Republican establishment. Bergman's endorsement of a candidate identified as LaFave in a state Senate contest prompted the backlash.

Republican state Senator Ed McBroom was among the most vocal critics, stating he would never vote for Bergman again and calling him "a liar who's been absent from his" district, according to reporting by The Detroit News. The dispute was described as a significant intra-party "squabble" in the Upper Peninsula's Republican political establishment.

MLive reported that the Upper Peninsula state legislators publicly dropped their support for Bergman's reelection campaign in direct response to what they characterized as a controversial endorsement, marking a rare instance of sitting Republican officeholders openly opposing an incumbent Republican member of Congress from their own state.

Personal Life

Jack Bergman is married to Cindy Bergman. Together they have five children. The Bergmans reside in the northern Michigan area encompassed by the 1st congressional district. Bergman has spoken publicly about his engagement with constituents and interest in issues affecting the region's rural and veteran communities.

Bergman's interest in climate-related policy has also been noted. He was highlighted by the Citizens' Climate Lobby for engagement with climate-conscious youth, indicating a willingness to interact with constituents across the political spectrum on environmental issues.

Recognition

Bergman's military career earned him several significant decorations. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, one of the highest peacetime military decorations, as well as the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.

His election to Congress in 2016 was itself a notable achievement, as he was identified as the highest-ranking former military officer elected to the 115th Congress. His transition from a career culminating in three-star general rank to elected federal office placed him among a relatively small group of retired senior military officers who have served in Congress.

Legacy

As of 2026, Bergman remains an active member of Congress and his legacy continues to develop. His career represents a transition from senior military leadership to civilian public service that has been relatively uncommon in modern American politics. Having achieved the rank of lieutenant general — a three-star rank held by only a small number of officers at any given time in the Marine Corps — before entering politics, Bergman brought a level of military experience to Congress that few of his colleagues could match.

His representation of Michigan's 1st congressional district, one of the geographically largest districts east of the Mississippi, has required engagement with a diverse set of rural, economic, and environmental issues spanning the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. His bipartisan work on defense-related projects, such as the 2026 effort to secure a Department of Defense drone testing site in Michigan, reflects the practical, cross-party collaboration that defense policy often necessitates.

At the same time, the 2026 intraparty disputes with Upper Peninsula Republican lawmakers have introduced uncertainty into his political standing within his own district, illustrating the challenges that even long-serving incumbents can face in navigating local political dynamics.