Michael Van Meter's campaign for state senator is his first entry into politics.

Michael is a behavioral therapist. He works at a hospital. He used to work for the National Joint Terrorism Task Force, as a professor at the University of Virginia, as an instructor for the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and as a police officer for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also served in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot.

Michael has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Florida, a Master's degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master's degree in Addiction Counseling from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies.