I wasn’t born into comfort or privilege.
I am a multiracial kid (Black/White) who grew up learning what it meant to be unwanted. Abuse and rejection were part of my early story, and by thirteen, I was placed in foster care. I was supposed to end up in a group home - but a family I barely knew opened their door and their hearts to me.
They gave me something I had never truly known: stability, love, and the belief that I mattered.
That second chance changed everything. In high school, I found my calling in JROTC - the rhythm of drill, the pride of discipline, the sense of belonging that comes from shared purpose. I rose to captain of the rifle team, and that spark of leadership carried me forward. At seventeen, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a firefighter, supporting emergency operations at various naval installations around the globe.
Six years later, I transitioned into law enforcement within the Navy, serving as a military police officer. While on active duty, I earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I wanted to understand not only how to serve, but how power and policy shape people’s lives. After thirteen years as a non-commissioned officer, I earned my commission as a Surface Warfare Officer, leading sailors as both a division officer and department head.
My military service shaped every part of who I am. Wearing the uniform taught me the meaning of duty, discipline and sacrifice — but more than anything, it taught me the value of serving something greater than myself. I will always cherish those years, because they gave me purpose, and it is that same sense of duty that drives me to serve again, this time in Congress.
“I AM Guided by Integrity, Driven by Service, Grounded in Fairness, and Accountable to You.”
With military life behind me, little did I know that I was in for a new kind of challenge. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was medically retired due to service-connected disabilities. I moved to Texas searching for peace and a fresh start. For the first time in my life, I was in charge of my own time - and it was harder than I expected. Veterans know that silence can be deafening, especially after high speed, low drag military career with tight schedules, competing priorities and changing mission requirements. As a civilian, I struggled — working odd jobs, trying to rediscover a sense of purpose. After nearly a year, I found that purpose in the federal civil service.
I began working for the Department of Defense and later started what I believed was my dream job at the Department of Justice. But instead of belonging, I found bureaucracy without compassion. When I requested a reasonable accommodation for my service-connected disabilities, management responded with resistance, retaliation, and ultimately, a wrongful termination. The same government I had sworn to defend turned its back on the very principles it claimed to uphold. Needless to say, I was devastated.
That experience broke something inside of me - not my spirit, but my patience with a system that punishes vulnerability and rewards silence. I saw clearly how veterans, people with disabilities, and everyday workers are still treated as expendable by the institutions meant to protect them.
That’s when I made a choice. If the system was broken, I wouldn’t walk away - I’d fight to fix it.
Not for power or recognition, but for fairness.
For equality. For every person who’s been overlooked, underestimated, or left behind.
Today, I’m a husband and the proud father of four incredible daughters. Being a “girl dad” is my greatest title - because it reminds me daily who I’m fighting for and why the stakes are so high.
I’m running for Congress to be a voice for the voiceless - to restore faith that government can once again serve the people it represents.
My mission now is no different from the one I swore to uphold in uniform: to protect, to serve, and to stand watch over those who cannot stand alone.
But this time, the mission requires “ACTION.” Real action — not talk, not excuses. That is why they call me Terry “Action” Jackson; because when others stall, I move. When others point fingers and play the blame game, I roll up my sleeves and get to work.
This time, the battlefield is Washington - and I’m ready to fight for the people, not the powerful.
Community conversations with terry
Representation starts with listening — not from behind a podium, but across the table where real conversations happen.
That is why I’m committed to meeting you wherever you feel comfortable. Whether it’s in your neighborhood park, local church, community center, library or favorite coffee shop, I’ll show up ready to listen, learn, and talk about what matters most to you.
If it matters to you, it matters to me. I’ll come to you to talk about it.
Together, we can talk about the future of Maryland and the country at large. We can discuss how to lower costs, strengthen our schools, expand access to affordable healthcare, protect our democracy, and move our country forward with fairness and compassion.
This is a people-powered campaign. No big donors. No special interest. Just neighbors or hosting a town-style chat, I want to hear from you directly.
Let’s have a conversation about the future we can build together.
Ready to Meet?
Use the tab below to propose a date, time and location. Once confirmed, I’ll be there. Whether you’re gathering a few neighbors or hosting a town-hall-style chat, I want to hear from you directly.
U.S. Navy Veteran
Former Federal Employee
Husband
Father
American
Marylander
For the People, Not the Powerful.
For the People, Not the Powerful.
Join the “ACTION”
This campaign isn’t about speeches — it’s about understanding and working to address your concerns. Whether it’s at your doorstep, your church, or online, your voice matters. Your ideas and lived experiences will help shape my platform and how we fight moving forward.
I’m not here to speak at you, I’m here to work with you. Together, we can create a campaign that reflects the people’s interest. I want to hear from you. Your input on policy is essential to creating a people-powered campaign that reflects the desires of our district, not the lobbyist or special interest in Washington D.C.
Join the Conversation. Join the “Action.”.