Captain Mike Bouchard launched his campaign for Michigan's 10th Congressional District after returning home from a nine-month deployment in Iraq. (Bouchard for Congress)
"I spent about nine years in the Army, most of it was active duty," Bouchard said. I was an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division, and I did intel for the 82nd. And then after that, I got out and joined the National Guard. And as soon as I got back, they asked me to go to Iraq, so I spent the last nine months in Iraq. I got back from Iraq two weeks ago, and we're hitting the ground running."
After former President Joe Biden completed the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, when 13 U.S. service members were killed in the Kabul airport bombing, Bouchard said he expected Russia, China and North Korea to become "more aggressive in their spheres of influence." About six months later, Russia invaded Ukraine.
"Peace through strength isn't just a slogan to me," Bouchard told Fox News Digital. "I've seen it. I've lived it. I've led soldiers on the frontline that serve under what those decisions mean."
Bouchard said his military background has been central to his decision to run for Congress. The Michigander said he has witnessed first-hand what happens when leaders step up and "stand for this country," as well as what happens when they don't.
"I've led soldiers at the ground level. I've led negotiations at the strategic level. And I've made life and death decisions to hunt down our enemies abroad. And then the other part is, I have served at our border here. So I've faced down terrorists abroad, and I've defended our country here," Bouchard said.
Signage outside the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C. Bouchard said he is committed to supporting military families, expanding career resources and improving healthcare efficiency at the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I want to rebuild this economy to, not just win future wars, but to prevent them. I think if we truly stand up this economy to what it can be, we won't have the future war that everyone keeps talking about because we have built the best equipment in this district," he said.
Given his background, Bouchard said security is his number one priority, but housing affordability is also top of mind.
"Right now, housing costs are through the roof," he said. "The interest rates are too high, and people can't afford to buy the home that they want. There are a lot of things that we can do at the federal level to reduce that regulation, cut red tape and make it easier for people who are starting families to buy a house, move into the house that they want and own that home."
Bouchard emphasized that maintaining Republican control of the House runs through Michigan's 10th Congressional District.
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"This race has national ramifications," he said. "If we lose this seat and a couple others, we will lose the House. If that happens, I'm worried that the Democrats are gonna impeach the president for the next two years, so I want to stand with him and prevent that from happening."
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/from-combat-boots-campaign-trail-army-veteran-marches-michigan-congressional-race