Mission

To encourage, mentor, and prepare veterans for a Second Service in civic leadership.

We believe that by training Veterans to campaign effectively, more Veterans will run for and be elected to public office.

Why veterans?

Leadership

Veterans are a valuable yet untapped resource of superb elected leaders. Military veterans have made difficult decisions under pressure and have accomplished whatever America has asked of them, honorably. As one of the most diverse groups within the United States, they have consistently put their differences aside to work together for the common good. Veterans have demonstrated their willingness to put America and its citizens before their own well-being. Moreover, Veterans’ common bond of service has historically encouraged bipartisanship, cooperation, and better government.

Public Trust

Studies have shown that Americans of all ages have become increasingly confident in the men and women in uniform. Today, the military is the most respected institution in the United States.

82% of Americans express confidence in our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. The confidence Americans have in the military looks likely to continue with the millennial generation (Americans between the ages of 18 and 29), according to a recent Harvard study. Although just 2% have served, millennials have more confidence in the military than they have in the President, the Supreme Court, Congress, the media, the United Nations, and Wall Street. The same study found that by a 6-1 margin, young Americans believe that politics has become too partisan. Given America’s decreasing satisfaction with congress and increasing confidence in those who wear the uniform, it follows that reversing the decline in the number of veterans serving in public office would increase Americans’ satisfaction with their elected leaders.

History of Veterans in Congress

The number of veterans serving in elected office has declined rapidly over the last 40 years. In 1969, 75% percent of senators and congressmen had served in the military. By the beginning of the Afghanistan War, that number had dropped to fewer than 1 in 3.

Currently, just over 1 in 5 serving senators and congressmen has served. U.S. confidence in elected leaders has similarly decreased. This is likely due to ever-increasing partisanship, corruption, and inability to work together for the common good of the United States.

Why now?

Veterans are well-prepared to lead, but not to campaign. Veterans face distinctive obstacles in elected politics. Despite bipartisan efforts to recruit veteran candidates, especially in the last three national elections, few non-incumbent veterans have been elected.

The amount of time veterans have spent away form their districts while serving, the increasing cost of campaigning, and veterans’ general disillusionment with the political process are all obstacles to veterans who might otherwise make outstanding elected leaders. Veterans generally lack a fundraising base, community roots, and political knowledge and experience.

Veterans Campaign’s goal is to demystify the process of running for office, and make it accessible to veterans who are interested in campaigning for the first time or are running for re-election.