Rebecca Bennett, a Democratic contender for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, addresses a crowd at a primary election night gathering subsequent to securing the Democratic nomination, on June 2, 2026, in Bridgewater, N.J. This image, provided without a date by Matt Maasdam For Congress, shows a Democrat vying for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. Captain Nancy Lacore delivers remarks during a transition ceremony at the Camp Lemonier naval installation in Djibouti, on July 20, 2017.Ryan Murphy/AP | Matt Maasdam For Congress via AP | Houssein Hersi/AFP via Getty Images
A segment of the military veterans seeking congressional seats as Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections perceive themselves as instrumental in the party’s strategy to project patriotism, amidst survey data indicating that Democrats generally feel less national pride compared to Republicans.
A poll by Ipsos, conducted earlier this year, revealed that 63% of Republicans strongly agreed with the statement “I feel proud to be an American,” whereas only 14% of Democrats did. The same survey indicated that 65% of Republicans strongly identified with the sentiment “there’s no place I’d rather live than the U.S.,” in contrast to 19% of Democrats.
Captain Nancy Lacore delivers remarks during a transition ceremony at the Camp Lemonier naval base in Djibouti, on July 20, 2017.Houssein Hersi/AFP via Getty Images
One point to consider is that the disparity between Democrats and Republicans in the poll might be partly attributable to Democratic opposition to the current administration and its policies.
However, these Democratic military veterans are campaigning, in part, on the message that patriotism is not exclusive to any single party, or that critiquing the government can stem from a deep-seated pride in the nation and a desire for its betterment.
“I find it rather foolish to believe that patriotism is the sole domain of one particular political party,” stated Nancy Lacore, a retired vice admiral and former Chief of Navy Reserve, who is running for Congress in South Carolina, having been dismissed from her post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in 2025.
“In my view, patriotism isn’t demonstrated by, for example, ‘Oh, I possess the largest flag’ or ‘I am the loudest cheerleader at events.’ For me, patriotism is rooted in service, signifying that you hold such affection for your country that you endeavor to improve it, serve it, fortify it, and uphold its Constitution.”
‘The highest patriotic obligation is to scrutinize’
In Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Leela Gray, a retired Army brigadier general, is among the Democrats vying for an opportunity to unseat incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. Gray shared with ABC News, “I dedicated 30 years to serving in uniform. I had no awareness of whether individuals were independents, Republicans, or Democrats. It was inconsequential. What mattered was the dependability of the person standing beside you.”
Brig. Gen. Leela Gray awaits introduction as the keynote speaker for the Sisters in Arms general session at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., on July 6, 2018.U.S. Army
In Kansas, two former military personnel are among the Democrats competing in a competitive field to challenge incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall.
State Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a former naval intelligence officer based in Topeka who continues to serve in the Army Reserve, informed ABC News that he contests the notion that Democrats must “reclaim” patriotism. He stated, “We are all striving to understand how to connect with more individuals, how to engage with a broader audience, but I believe I reject the idea that we have lost our way.”
Kansas Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Schmidt answers inquiries during an interview with The Associated Press on Oct. 31, 2022, at his campaign headquarters in Topeka, Kansas.John Hanna/AP
Another contender in the race, Noah Taylor of El Dorado, is a former Army infantryman and counterintelligence analyst who co-founded the non-partisan advocacy group Leading Kansas.
“We ceased discussing the attributes that make America exceptional, and being a patriot does not preclude one from critiquing this nation. In reality, your most significant patriotic duty involves questioning and striving for improvements,” Taylor remarked in an interview.
Noah Taylor, a candidate for Congress in Kansas, appears in a video shared on his X account.Noah Taylor/X
‘My affection for this nation is profound’
In New Jersey’s closely contested 7th District, Rebecca Bennett secured the Democratic nomination in early June, setting her up to challenge GOP Rep. Tom Kean. Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, served for over a decade, also working as a test pilot and contributing to the Air National Guard.
She stated that she embraces themes of patriotism without hesitation: “I am a patriot. My love for this country is deep. This is precisely why I enlisted in the military, and it’s why I am pursuing this endeavor now. I explicitly convey this sentiment in my standard speech whenever I engage with people.”
Rebecca Bennett, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, speaks at a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination on June 2, 2026, in Bridgewater, N.J.Ryan Murphy/AP
Democratic veterans campaigning for Congress also reference their military backgrounds when discussing the Iran war and its impact on inflation.
Matt Maasdam, a decorated former Navy SEAL and ex-military aide to President Barack Obama, who is running in a swing district in Michigan, commented to ABC News, “As someone who observed the infrastructure improvements in Baghdad and Kabul while I was stationed abroad, I am keen to see Michigan’s roads repaired. If we lack the financial capacity for healthcare and education within America, why are we allocating billions of dollars to military actions on the other side of the globe?”
This undated image, provided by Matt Maasdam For Congress, features Matt Maasdam, a Democrat running for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.Matt Maasdam For Congress via AP
Maasdam is a contender in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 7th District, with the victor set to face incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Barrett. Barrett, himself a former Army helicopter pilot, has cast votes in Congress aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority regarding the Iran war.
Jason Cabel Roe, a representative for Barrett’s campaign, informed ABC News, “Tom Barrett’s election to Congress was not predicated on his military service; rather, it was due to his strong connections to the 7th District and his shared experiences with the challenges faced by numerous families residing in the district.”
Will this strategy prove effective?
The deployment of a significant number of veteran candidates echoes a past strategy that proved successful for the Democratic Party, notably in the 2018 midterms when Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot from New Jersey, and Abigail Spanberger, an ex-CIA case officer from Virginia, successfully flipped seats held by Republicans. Both subsequently attained governorships in their respective states.
This approach is not without its limitations, even within internal Democratic contests. For example, in Texas’ 9th Congressional District, Terry Virts, a former astronaut and Air Force fighter pilot, did not succeed in the Democratic primary in March. In Kentucky, Amy McGrath, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot and the party’s nominee for a Senate seat in 2020, was unsuccessful in the state’s Democratic Senate primary in May.
Are Democrats deliberately emphasizing or seeking out veterans this election cycle due to the divergence between the parties on the issue of patriotism?
Sawyer Hackett, a Democratic political strategist, told ABC News, “While I would be pleased to attribute the recruitment of an impressive roster of veteran candidates to Democratic Party leadership, I believe, candidly, that the majority of this is a natural occurrence.” He posited that veterans are more attuned to the actions of Trump as commander-in-chief.
Hackett conceded that the party is also actively recruiting veterans, but he feels that veterans already involved with the party are encouraging others to join.
But why do Democrats believe that veterans can emerge as successful candidates?
Emily Cherniack, CEO of New Politics, a group aligned with Democrats, argued that in addition to high living costs, “people are genuinely frustrated that Trump has failed to resolve the issues he pledged to address, leading them to seek a new generation of leadership.”
New Politics supports candidates with military backgrounds and has given its endorsement to Bennett and Maasdam.
Furthermore, Matt Corridoni, a Democratic strategist advising the Democratic organizations The Bench and VoteVets, which are providing support to several candidates including Maasdam and Lacore, asserted, “As veterans, they possess the experience of prioritizing service over self-interest, which fosters public trust on a broad spectrum of issues. … Particularly at this juncture, concerning Iran, their insights carry an additional layer of credibility.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com