Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect additional veterans running for Congress.
More than one-third of all congressional races on the ballot this November will feature a veteran, and several could help decide which party wins control of the House and Senate next year.
The 196 veterans who have won major-party primaries represent the largest group of candidates with military experience in a decade. It includes 130 non-incumbents trying to increase the total number of veterans in Congress next year.
The field also features:
- 17 women veterans running for office;
- 58 veterans who enlisted after Jan. 1, 2000;
- 95 veterans with a combat deployment;
- 90 veterans who served in the Army (the most from any service);
- 18 races featuring two veterans against each other;
- 43 states with at least one veteran on the ballot for national office;
Below is a list of all of the candidates with military experience who won major-party primaries this year and will appear on the November ballot. The list was compiled in partnership with the Veterans Campaign.
(Editor’s note: Some biographical information on the candidates may not display on mobile devices.)
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
