Recent-era veterans surge in Congress
According to Stars & Stripes‘ Joyce Tsai, after decades of declining numbers of veterans in Congress, recent era veterans are set to surge there this election season;
Currently 92 members of the House are veterans, Lynn said. Of the 189 veterans who have received their party’s Congressional nomination this year, between 92 to 100 are expected to win, unless there’s a surprise sweep of the House by Democrats in Republican-leaning districts, according to the analysis.
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Only 10 members of Congress currently serving were deployed to the Middle East and Asia in support of the recent wars. All but one of them are Republicans.
For this election cycle, 38 House candidates and four Senate candidates with warzone experience are vying for office, by far the most representation that the Iraq/Afghanistan generation of veterans has seen in national elections since the start of the wars. Thirteen of the 42 hopefuls are Democrats.
This can only be good for the country, irrespective of the party they come from.
Category: 2012 election
Considering that the current generation of High School and College grads who entered the working world between 2000 and 2001 had been at war for a decade (much longer then the generation that lead to McCain and Webb’s time in service) this shouldn’t be a suprise to anyone. They want to make a change in what the consider has been a piss-poor round of old geezers telling them why they are criminals, murderers, rapists, imperial storm troopers and screwed up with PTSD waiting to snap at any second.
Are we seeing a peaceful implimentation of Heinlein’s society from “Starship Troopers”? Hope so.
Sounds good from here!
As a member of the generation now seeking office, and current active duty, I am excited for this. We need more vets in office, it used to be commonplace and routine for our elected officials to have served already. I believe vets bring a sense of duty and civic mindedness that is sorely lacking in our nation today. It’s about damn time my generation is heard.
This is going to be an increasing trend. Hopefully, they aren’t from that “non-partisan” group “VoteVets.org”
@4 I also believe that vets understand the need to work with people who you don’t particularly care for some times…
The diversity of culture that is acclimated in the military to create a common background for mission accomplishment creates an understanding that team effort requires tolerance for opposing views and a necessity to trust that you are working towards the same goals.
There was far more bi-partisanship taking place when more veterans were serving than takes place now. More veterans is a better deal for that reason alone, never mind the myriad other reasons it’s a better deal for citizens to have vets in office.
@4 I also meant to wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!!
Maxed out for Mandel and West, supported McSally and Cotton.
There are even more at the local level. I’m hoping that today, Lang Sias will be our new state rep.