Former Army lawyer who resigned because of Hegseth’s policies to run for office in Michigan

U.S. Army veteran Tom Turner announced his campaign for Michigan’s 57th House District seat on Tuesday after leaving a military position over disagreements with the Trump administration’s policies at the Department of Defense.

According to his campaign website, Turner worked as a lawyer after receiving a law degree from the University of Michigan. In 2019, he accepted a position in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate. In addition to serving overseas, Turner says he worked as a prosecutor and advised military commanders on the rule of law.

Turner resigned from the position last year, citing policy changes implemented by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, including deploying soldiers in American cities.

“In 2025, the Department of Defense made policy changes that kicked brave Soldiers out of the military based on their identity, regardless of medical waivers, deploying active-duty military members in American cities, and others,” the website says. “These changes were bad policy and contrary to Tom’s morals, values, and faith. So, Tom chose to resign his active-duty commission and return to Michigan to find new ways to give back to his community.”

Michigan 57

The seat Turner is running for is currently held by Michigan state Rep. Thomas Kuhn (R-Troy). Kuhn has served in the chamber since 2003 and held the competitive district with narrow wins in recent years. Kuhn was reelected in 2024, defeating his Democratic challenger Aisha Farooqui by 6,752 votes, or 14.4 percentage points. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) carried the district, which includes Detroit suburbs Eastern Troy and Western Madison Heights, by eight points in her 2022 gubernatorial victory.

Republicans currently control the Michigan House of Representatives with a 58-51 majority, while Democrats hold the governorship and a narrow 19-18 majority in the state Senate. All three will be up for grabs in the 2026 elections this November, which will decide which party has influence over state laws in Michigan. House Republicans have led a tumultuous session since early last year, mainly having to answer for Speaker Matt Hall’s (R-Richland Township) numerous controversies.