Michael Flanagan holds a B.A. and a J.D. from Loyola University. He served in the United States Army, including a deployment during the Gulf War, before transitioning to a career in law and politics. Flanagan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he chaired several key committees, and later moved to the private sector, founding Flanagan Consulting LLC. He also contributed to democratic institution-building in Iraq through the U.S. State Department.

Michael Flanagan's political identity is marked by a staunchly conservative stance on social issues, contrasting with his support for a robust federal presence in military and defense matters. Flanagan's opposition to abortion and gun control aligns with traditional conservative values, yet his support for the death penalty reveals a nuanced approach to criminal justice. His military background and subsequent work in Iraq for the U.S. State Department suggest a belief in strong federal intervention abroad, even as he criticizes federal overreach in domestic policies. This juxtaposition raises questions about how Flanagan reconciles these seemingly disparate views.