U.S. Army and Navy veteran Tripp Adams announced his bid Monday for a suburban Detroit congressional seat, making him the fifth candidate in the Democratic primary field.

"I'm running because I'm pissed. I'm pissed at the Republican politicians who are attacking our Social Security, our Medicare and Medicaid," Adams, 48, said in a phone interview.

He added that "I don't feel like Democratic politicians are doing enough to stand up and fight back against that."

Adams is the latest Democrat to enter the primary field in Michigan's 10th Congressional District, which covers southern Macomb County and Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County. The party sees the district as a key pickup opportunity, especially since Republican U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township said he is giving up his seat to run for governor.

Adams described himself as a "reluctant candidate." He has not previously run for elective office.

"We have a non-functioning Congress, so rather than picking someone out of central casting and doing the same thing over again, we need to send experienced leaders who are used to getting stuff done," Adams said.

The veteran's campaign website lists lowering costs, standing up against "MAGA" attacks on health care, bringing back "good-paying" jobs and ensuring access to quality education as his top issues.

Adams grew up in Southeast Michigan and lives in Utica. He was born in Royal Oak and attended Farmington High School. He has a law degree from the University of Michigan and additional degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and Old Dominion University.

Running for Congress will be his "full-time job," Adams said, though he also serves as a battalion commander for the U.S. Army Reserve. He previously worked as the chief operating officer for movie theater company Emagine Entertainment Inc., a management consultant for Deloitte LLP and a corporate attorney for Reed Smith LLP.

Adams said his father worked for Detroit-based General Motors Co. for 40 years, and his grandfather worked for Detroit Diesel Corp.

The other candidates in next summer's Democratic primary include Army veteran Alex Hawkins, 30, of Rochester; former special victims prosecutor Christina Hines, 35, of Warren; Pontiac Mayor and former state Rep. Tim Greimel, 50; and Eric Chung, 32, of Sterling Heights, a former Commerce Department attorney. Brian Steven Jaye of Rochester filed paperwork to enter the race but has since withdrawn.

Whoever wins the primary is likely to get significant financial and institutional support, as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included Michigan's 10th in its Districts in Play list released in April. Outside groups spent $17 million on last year’s race, excluding party committees, according to OpenSecrets.

No Republicans have announced their candidacy in the GOP primary, and President Donald Trump himself has questioned John James' decision to run for governor.

Asked what makes him stand out from the Democratic field, Adams said he's "not a politician" and his different leadership experiences set him apart.

He described a ruck march — a walk with weighted military gear on — the day before his campaign launch as emblematic of the race he wants to run: "We had American flags with us ... , and we had people honking their horns, coming up and talking to us. People who voted differently than me just wanted to stop and say, 'Yeah, America. How's it going? What are you out here doing?'

"I think that not being a politician ... that is something people are hungry for."

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