As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a contingent of Democratic candidates who are also military veterans are making a strategic push to redefine and reclaim the narrative of patriotism, seeking to challenge the Republican Party's perceived dominance on the issue.
Recent polling data suggests a significant partisan divide in national pride. An Ipsos poll indicated that 63% of Republicans expressed strong pride in being American, compared to only 14% of Democrats. Similarly, 65% of Republicans strongly agreed that "there's no place I'd rather live than the U.S.," while only 19% of Democrats felt the same.
However, some Democrats suggest this gap may be partly influenced by opposition to the current administration's policies. Nonetheless, veteran Democrats are framing their campaigns around the idea that patriotism is not solely a partisan concept. They argue that critiquing the government stems from a deep-seated love for the country and a desire for its improvement.
"I think that's kind of silly to think that patriotism belongs to one particular party," stated Nancy Lacore, a retired vice admiral and former Chief of Navy Reserve running for Congress in South Carolina. "In my mind, patriotism isn't about, like, 'Oh, I got the biggest flag' or 'I'm cheering the loudest at events.' To me, patriotism is grounded in service, that you love your country enough to try to make it better, serve your country, strengthen it, uphold the Constitution."
In Florida's 13th Congressional District, retired Army brigadier general Leela Gray is seeking to flip a seat held by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. Gray, who served for 30 years, emphasized the non-partisan nature of military service. "I served in uniform for 30 years. I had no idea if people were an independent or a Republican or a Democrat. It didn't matter. What mattered was, could you trust the person next to you?"
Voices from the Campaign Trail
In Kansas, two former service members are among Democrats vying to challenge incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall. State Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a former naval intelligence officer and current Army Reserve member, rejects the notion that Democrats need to "reclaim" patriotism. "We're all trying to figure out how do we communicate with more people, how do we meet more people, but I think I reject the idea that we've lost the plot," he told ABC News.
Another Kansas candidate, Noah Taylor, a former Army infantryman and counterintelligence analyst, believes patriotism involves critical engagement. "We stopped talking about the things that make America great, and being a patriot doesn't mean that you can't criticize this country. In fact, the most patriotic duty you have is to question, to make things better," Taylor said.
Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and Air National Guard member, secured the Democratic nomination in New Jersey's 7th District. She explicitly states her patriotism on the campaign trail. "I am a patriot. I love this country. It's why I joined the military. It's why I'm doing this now. And I explicitly say that in my stump [speech] every time when I'm talking to people."
Service and Policy Priorities
Democratic veterans are also drawing on their military experience to discuss policy. Matt Maasdam, a retired Navy SEAL and former military aide to President Barack Obama, who is running in Michigan's 7th District, connected domestic infrastructure needs to foreign spending. "As somebody who watched Baghdad and Kabul roads get fixed while I was overseas, I want to see Michigan's roads get fixed. If we don't have money to spend on health care and education in America, why are we spending billions of dollars dropping bombs on the other side of the world?"
Republican Rep. Tom Barrett's campaign, however, argues that his election was based on local ties rather than his military service. A spokesperson stated, "Tom Barrett wasn't elected to Congress because of his service in the Army, he was elected because he has deep ties to the 7th District, and faces the same struggles as thousands of other families living in the district."
A Strategic Playbook
This strategy of fielding veteran candidates echoes past successes for Democrats, such as the 2018 midterms when Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, both with military backgrounds, flipped Republican-held seats.
The approach is not always successful, even within Democratic primaries. Former astronaut and Air Force fighter pilot Terry Virts lost in a Texas primary in March, and former Marine Corps fighter pilot Amy McGrath did not advance in Kentucky's Senate primary in May.
Democratic strategists suggest the increase in veteran candidates is largely organic, driven by a greater awareness among veterans of issues raised by former President Donald Trump's actions as commander-in-chief. However, the party also actively recruits such candidates. Organizations like New Politics and groups advised by Democratic strategists like The Bench and VoteVets are supporting candidates such as Bennett and Maasdam.
Emily Cherniack, CEO of New Politics, noted a broader sentiment among voters: "people are really pissed that Trump has not solved the problems he promised to solve, and so they're really looking for a new generation of leadership." Democratic strategists also believe that veterans' experience with "service over self" builds trust with voters on various issues, particularly given current geopolitical events.