They are part of a surge that has reshaped the candidate pool for the 2026 midterms: the number of veterans running for Congress has jumped 47 percent compared with the 2024 cycle, according to new data from the nonpartisan group Veterans Campaign.
The increase is driven disproportionately by Democratic veterans and by women. More than 90 veterans have filed paperwork or declared candidacies for House and Senate seats so far this cycle, up from roughly 60 at the same point in the last election. Of those, nearly half are running as Democrats, a sharp reversal from recent cycles in which Republican veterans outnumbered their Democratic counterparts by wide margins.
Women account for a growing share of the veteran candidates as well. At least 20 female veterans are currently running for federal office, a figure that represents roughly 22 percent of the total veteran candidate pool. In the 2024 cycle, women made up less than 15 percent of veteran candidates. Advocates say the shift reflects a broader diversification of the military’s officer corps over the past two decades.
The trend carries implications for both parties as they compete for control of the House and Senate. Veterans have historically enjoyed a fundraising advantage and higher name recognition in competitive districts, and their presence on the ballot can influence how voters perceive issues like defense spending and foreign policy. Republican strategists have long treated military service as a core credential for their candidates, but the new data suggests Democrats are now actively recruiting from the same pool.
“The military is not a monolith, and neither is the veteran community,” said Seth Lynn, founder of Veterans Campaign, in a statement accompanying the data. “We are seeing more candidates who reflect the diversity of those who served, and that is a healthy development for our democracy.” His organization provides nonpartisan training for veterans considering political office.
The surge comes as Congress faces a series of high-stakes debates over defense authorization, veterans health care reform, and the role of the U.S. military abroad. Several of the newly announced candidates have cited those issues as motivating factors, along with frustration over partisan gridlock. In interviews, some have described their campaigns as an extension of their service rather than a departure from it.
Not all of the new candidates will survive primaries or general elections, and the overall number of veterans in Congress has declined gradually over the past two decades. But the sharp uptick in filings this year signals that both parties see military experience as a potent credential in a polarized electorate, particularly among swing voters who prioritize national security.
“Voters are looking for competence and credibility,” said Katherine Jashinski, a former Army officer and Democratic candidate for the House in Texas. “When you’ve served, you’ve already proven you can handle pressure and make tough decisions. That message resonates across party lines.” She is one of at least a dozen female veterans running for the first time this cycle.
